Low Roller
Well-Known Member
- Location
- East Yorkshire
Hello all. I thought I would share my experiences in using a new DAHON MU P27 , a folding bike with 20” wheels kitted out for touring. I have just returned from a short overnight camping trip with interesting results.
I normally use a full sized Galaxy for touring and used the European Bike Express to get to the south of France. I read experiences of others using folders to get flexibility on public transport and thought I would try it.
The Dahon came with mudguards and a short rear rack so the first thing I did was remove the rack and kit it out with the Tern alloy racks front and back from Evans. The back rack is tall rack that leaves a space between the mudguard and the rack for storing the bike bag. Standard Carradice panniers fit exactly. The front rack fits with the addition of an additional home-made bracket to clear the front brake The Tern, closely related, has brakes behind the forks. Also the Tern rack has attachment points for 20 and 24 inch wheels. I used the latter to get the necessary clearances.The smaller Carradice front panniers fit on this well although the bottoms don’t clip on. The outcome of this was what seemed to be a very well balanced set of wheels with a low centre of gravity.
So I set off - about 30 miles on a fully laden touring bike with small wheels over the edges of the Yorkshire Wolds to Scarborough. I was very pleasantly surprised at the Dahon’s performance. It crawled up and over a few steep hills at 4 miles per hour where previously I have had to get off and push. It cruised comfortably and reached over 20 mph downhill without the slightest wobble or feeling of insecurity. The gears worked impeccably. The upright riding position and standard saddle seemed fine to me. I have previously always used Brookes for thousands of miles. The little prop stand holds up the loaded bike without fuss. I arrived at the campsite unflustered and pleased with myself.
The following morning I packed up and set off along a bumpy cycle track to Scarborough. This is when the snags started. The front rack has tiny welded alloy tabs to secure it. One of these snapped off clean. Not a major snag - a piece of string made a temporary fix.
The main outcome though was that I decided to cut my journey short and go home on the bus. I got to the bus stop. The driver said he was going in exactly 5 minutes. Panic stations - I bundled the panniers and the tent into a blue IKEA carrier and hastily dismantled the bike and popped it into the bike bag much to the great amusement of the old ladies already sat on the bus. I managed this with two minutes to spare.
At home I found a rack clip, the steel plastic coated “P” type and fixed the rack within seconds. I shall probably fit another two off these to cover the remaining two alloy tabs on the rack.
All in all, I am delighted with this new set-up and look forward to next Spring - Yorkshire to Barcelona by train perhaps?
Hope this helps anyone else thinking of trying this.
I normally use a full sized Galaxy for touring and used the European Bike Express to get to the south of France. I read experiences of others using folders to get flexibility on public transport and thought I would try it.
The Dahon came with mudguards and a short rear rack so the first thing I did was remove the rack and kit it out with the Tern alloy racks front and back from Evans. The back rack is tall rack that leaves a space between the mudguard and the rack for storing the bike bag. Standard Carradice panniers fit exactly. The front rack fits with the addition of an additional home-made bracket to clear the front brake The Tern, closely related, has brakes behind the forks. Also the Tern rack has attachment points for 20 and 24 inch wheels. I used the latter to get the necessary clearances.The smaller Carradice front panniers fit on this well although the bottoms don’t clip on. The outcome of this was what seemed to be a very well balanced set of wheels with a low centre of gravity.
So I set off - about 30 miles on a fully laden touring bike with small wheels over the edges of the Yorkshire Wolds to Scarborough. I was very pleasantly surprised at the Dahon’s performance. It crawled up and over a few steep hills at 4 miles per hour where previously I have had to get off and push. It cruised comfortably and reached over 20 mph downhill without the slightest wobble or feeling of insecurity. The gears worked impeccably. The upright riding position and standard saddle seemed fine to me. I have previously always used Brookes for thousands of miles. The little prop stand holds up the loaded bike without fuss. I arrived at the campsite unflustered and pleased with myself.
The following morning I packed up and set off along a bumpy cycle track to Scarborough. This is when the snags started. The front rack has tiny welded alloy tabs to secure it. One of these snapped off clean. Not a major snag - a piece of string made a temporary fix.
The main outcome though was that I decided to cut my journey short and go home on the bus. I got to the bus stop. The driver said he was going in exactly 5 minutes. Panic stations - I bundled the panniers and the tent into a blue IKEA carrier and hastily dismantled the bike and popped it into the bike bag much to the great amusement of the old ladies already sat on the bus. I managed this with two minutes to spare.
At home I found a rack clip, the steel plastic coated “P” type and fixed the rack within seconds. I shall probably fit another two off these to cover the remaining two alloy tabs on the rack.
All in all, I am delighted with this new set-up and look forward to next Spring - Yorkshire to Barcelona by train perhaps?
Hope this helps anyone else thinking of trying this.
and 
nice way to tour though.
