Folding bike for birding. (1 Viewer)

[JCLynn]

I'm getting fed up with the two mile hikes to my favourite hides on some of my favourite birding spots and am considering bying myself one of those folding bikes. Question is, has anybody else had the same idea and bought one. If so, did it prove useful, or just one of those 'good idea at the time' things that sits in the shed, never used?
Joe

 

[etudiant]

Folding is the issue.
Bikes and birding mix very well as is.
Folding bikes tend to be heavier and more expensive than their conventional counterparts. If part of your route involves mass transit, then folding may be a requirement, but usually the driver is home storage.
You have a shed already, so you have the option to use either a solid frame or a folding model. Why not pick up a low cost conventional bike first to see if you are getting value from it, before you make the larger investmenty that a folder would entail?

 

[David Smith]

I was at a reserve hide recently when a guy turned up on one-he had left his car some distance away. He was on his way to a hide which I wasn't going to as it would have taken 30 minutes each way (time I didn't have).....I thought "brilliant".....I had a brief look at it and was impressed.
(his wife bought it for him as an aniversary present.......did she love him or want him out of her hair :-O )

 

[joannec]

I was at a reserve hide recently when a guy turned up on one-he had left his car some distance away. He was on his way to a hide which I wasn't going to as it would have taken 30 minutes each way (time I didn't have).....I thought "brilliant".....I had a brief look at it and was impressed.
(his wife bought it for him as an aniversary present.......did she love him or want him out of her hair :-O )

LOL, my husband bought me one for my birthday.........I like to think it was for love.:-O

One of the places I bird is Rye Harbour and it is miles to the hides and due to a problem with my knees I can no longer walk it. The folding bike is great as it fits easily into the back of the car and I can now effortlessly get to the hides, scope and lunch on my back in a 'mule pack', bins round my neck. It's soooooooo much easier!!

The one I've got is quite heavy, steel framed. It wasn't very expensive, less than £100, I think, off ebay. Getting it in and out of the car takes a bit of effort but it's do-able. You can get lightweight aluminium ones but they are very expensive.

 

[Wildmoreway]

Folding is the issue.
Bikes and birding mix very well as is.
Folding bikes tend to be heavier and more expensive than their conventional counterparts. If part of your route involves mass transit, then folding may be a requirement, but usually the driver is home storage.
You have a shed already, so you have the option to use either a solid frame or a folding model. Why not pick up a low cost conventional bike first to see if you are getting value from it, before you make the larger investmenty that a folder would entail?

I hve a Dahon Jack and a Brompton, both are lighter than conventional bikes, the Dahon cost under £250 and has conventional 26" wheels, I use it like a normal bike and cover miles on it, it has an aluminium frame which makes it very light,

 

[JCLynn]

Thanks for the input everyone! Much appreciated.
Joanne : It was ebay's prices that put the idea into my head!
Like many of us I do 'two sorts of birding', the leisurely walks around the local patch, through the woods, or down the coast, and those trips out to 'reserves' that often have just a long, featureless, concealed walk to hides and viewpoints along a track below a bank.
It's the 'reserves trips' that I'm thinking of using a folding bike for. Seems like it's just the thing for you. I reckon I'll treat meself.

 

[AndyP]

Have just gone down the getting a Bike to get to the Hides route.

Have to say it works very well and has opened up the potential for getting further than I could cover on foot (old age creepiing on).

But having looked at how to transport the bike in the car decided against a folding bike as it seems that it is almost impossible to keep the muck outside.so went for a full size Hybrid bike (cross between a Mountain Bike and a Normal one with a comfy saddle, sit up and beg handlebars which are great to help with looking over the hedge and mudguards).
Also purchased a bike rack that sits on the Tow-bar and is a very neat way to carry the beast.

End result is that I can now have a proper day's Birding because I can cover dead ground very quickly to get to the good bits.

Hope this helps

Andy P

 

[a.dancy]

Don't think getting a bike will solve all your problems.

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/277630/limit/recent

 

[oleaf]

Cheersm8,

Excellent idea about using a folding bike for getting to your hides. I use one to get around a very large nature preserve in the states. Paved, gravel, dirt. The benefit is covering ground so much faster and hearing the birds at the same time (vs a car)

Good thing is most folders come with a bag so if your bike gets dirty... place it in the bag before it goes in the car.

I work for a company that makes a folding bike so it's a natural for me.

Put the widest tires available for the rim size so you'll have a little float over soft sand
and grass.

Plenty of used bikes around. Get a used Dahon or Brompton and put a big bag on it!

Cheers

 

[JCLynn]

Don't think getting a bike will solve all your problems.

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/277630/limit/recent

As my years in the manufacturing industry remind me, there are no problems, just opportunities. :-O :-O

ps: in one way, you are absolutely correct!! I didn't even spot the robin til I had a second look at that photo! :-O

 

[Leicaman]

I bought a Brompton some years ago as I don't have a car and travel to reserves by train and then use the bike to get from the nearest station to the reserve. I wouldn't be without mine. I use a light tripod on a bag and a 62mm scope which gets me around nicely. I haven't used it much on a reserve as I find that the tracks get muddy or worse are clay and this can get jammed between the wheel and the frame.