[Closed] Airnimal

My Dad's got the Chameleon, but he's switched to flat bars and a more upright position.

It felt fast and solid underfoot, nice build quality as well. He's definitely happy with it. Apparently quite twitchy on fast long downhills, although it was my mum who noticed this, and she isn't exactly a seasoned road cyclist..

Had an Airnimal Chameleon a few years back. Must say I loved it but eventually sold it as it was neither fish nor fowl in my opinion and therefore I found myself not using it. It did ride *nearly* like a proper road bike but then I got a mid range Trek road bike (nowt fancy) and I realised that the Airnimal wasn't really as good as a proper road bike. Plus the folding etc is a bit of a hassle - don't be thinking this is a Brompton you can fold in 20 secs!

So it was neither one nor other. I got it as I was travelling a lot at the time so wanted something I could take with me and break out for a quick ride, but just didn't hit the spot for me.

As a piece of engineering, it is a thing of beauty. The ride was great when pacing along, but not great for high speed descents or standing on the pedals. If it fits your needs, go for it - but it I felt the compromises on both the ride and the folding sides left it a bit of a curate's egg.

Joey and Chameleon ride really nicely - very road bike esk

poor show you need to take the wheel out to fold the joey.. should have an offset hinge and also a foldin gstem would help

they are welding up my Pacific who make the Reach - v good with suspension

http://www.pacific-cycles.com/ - smaller wheels than Airnimal but smaller equals a more common size

though still need to remove wheel!

Uk supplier
http://www.foldingbikes.co.uk/pacific_reach.htm

I've got a Joey with an 8 speed Nexus hub which gets me up the 1 in 4 climbs that abound in our neck of the woods. I've changed the twitchy original spec bars for some wider & more stable On One Marys and also changed the saddle for a Brooks.

It's comfortable enough for all day epics and sturdy enough for less bumpy bridleways (I did a 90Km ride back home from East Devon on it last week). It's not as fast as a 700c road bike but miles faster than a Brompton.

The fold ain't great (you can't do a 'Brompton' and carry it around a department store or into a pub) and I use a couple of those rubber thingies for holding saplings to stakes to secure it all together when taking it on trains, etc.

I'd be happy to do a 200K Audax or a bit of light touring on mine but I haven't got around to doing that yet as I've got more suitable bikes. HTH
[center]
[img] [/img]

[img] [/img][/center]

[img] [/img]

don't you just love the toilet smell on Virgin trains...

Older Cadenza is very good. Run mine with Midge bars, Tiagra double and Avid brakes. Regularly hit 35+mph down the hill from Southborough to Tonbridge station. Newer ones with the 'Lockjaw' are very poor quality.

What's the issue with the SL? I'd love one!

Nothing wrong with the SL, only I've had a reasonable number of mechanicals (broken wheels, knackered brakes, loose hinges etc) which, 'cos I only have one foldy bike (and I can't take anything else on the train), I always need to fix that evening. Since I'm often leaving work not much short of midnight, I really don't want to be fettling when I get back, 'cos I'm up again at 5am to walk the dogs.

Hence the thought of a second train-acceptable bike. I mean, I've only got [b]one[/b] road bike, which is a pathetic number, and it was my wife who suggested a backup.

Kansi bikes are supposed to be pretty good.

how about building a Swift Folder

you can get this as frame only if you want to build as you wish

I went from a Dahon MU SL to a Joey Explorer Elite with rohloff, for longer distance commuting it's head and tails above the Dahon; I'll break the 10,000 mile mark on mine by the end of this month. The only maintenance has been oil changes, one new headset and I'm on my third bottom bracket. I've had CB pedals fall apart on me and my shiny Royce upgraded hub collapsed but they're bits I upgraded so not fair to criticise.

Good; more like a 'proper' bike; as above covered a high mileage in the 2 years odd i've ridden it too and from work with ease, not sure I could have done it on m old brompton or Dahon. Well made (though i've heard about Chameleon frame problems) and with the rohloff, ok on parts and maintenance. It does fold so is 'train legal' - I have to endure southeastern rail twice daily and it's folding bikes only.

Bad; nt the best, smallest or fastest folder. As mentioned it's doable in 30 secs or so but not a brompton. Tyres can be limited in the 507 and 520 24" wheel size - I've found an ok CX tyre that's been good in the snow and rain though. And expensive! retail on mine without upgrades is north of £2000 now I think.

But I would heartily recommend one - if you do more than 10 miles a day it'll be worth it IMO

Thanks woffle, exactly the sort of info I'm looking for. I'm not bothered about the folding - I probably only have to fold my Dahon on one journey in 20.

Had a Joey with Nexus hub for a few years for commuting into London. It was great and I was sad to see it go - both me (6ft5) and my wife (5ft6) could comfortably use the same bike. The fold isn't as quick as some but the ride is great, and so fast.

I probably only have to fold my Dahon on one journey in 20.

I luxury!

fold my Brompton [i]at least[/i] 8 times a day...

Rootes, it's one of the few benefits of being on a train at 0630 into London and only coming out at c.2300

The early morning trains are reasonably empty, and the people going hime late are usually pissed and really don't care what I do with the bike.

Have a look on ebay right now, there's a couple of Airnimals coming up.