I live right in the middle of the city, but I want to get back into cycling. I was planning to buy a folding bike that I could put in the back of the car - I have a very small car and can't get a bike rack or roof rack to fit.
There are three bikes I'm looking at, in quite different price ranges, are as follows.
A Dahon Jack, 2008 model. £230
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/14967/Dahon_Jack_Folding_Bike_2008
This bike has no suspension, but does seem to have bouncy tires!
A Land Rover City Elite 2008 model. £230
http://www.foldingbikehut.co.uk/product_info.php/pName/land-rover-city-elite-2008/cName/folding-bikes-land-rover-folding-bikes
This has some suspension at the front of the bike.
A Dahon Martix, 2008 model. £430
http://www.awcycles.co.uk/brands/Dahon/Matrix,%202008/12714/index.aspx#specification
This bike seems to have the best suspension - hydraulic at the front.
I'm looking for a bike that will cover bumps if I ride "off road", say through woodland paths. I'm not that serious a cyclist, so it's not going to be speeding up mountains and across logs, but at the same time, I'd expect to be able to have some bounce-factor.
At the moment, I've got a standard mountain bike with front and back suspension, which I use anywhere - on or off road - which I find fine. But I need one that folds to be able to transport it.
I'm assuming that in order to get this "smooth" ride over bumps, the Dahon Jack would be unsuitable as there is no suspension. Would there be a significant difference between the Land Rover model (city elite...city riding?) and the Dahon Matrix?
I'm looking for a bike that'll last me a decent amount of time, and I don't want to find out that the Land Rover isn't really suitable. I'm wondering if the extra £200 is a worthwhile investment in the ride...I can't afford to buy the Land Rover one, find it's no good, and then buy the Dahon Matrix on top. Though I don't mind spending the money on the Matrix if it'll fit my purpose. Any suggestions?
There are three bikes I'm looking at, in quite different price ranges, are as follows.
A Dahon Jack, 2008 model. £230
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/14967/Dahon_Jack_Folding_Bike_2008
This bike has no suspension, but does seem to have bouncy tires!
A Land Rover City Elite 2008 model. £230
http://www.foldingbikehut.co.uk/product_info.php/pName/land-rover-city-elite-2008/cName/folding-bikes-land-rover-folding-bikes
This has some suspension at the front of the bike.
A Dahon Martix, 2008 model. £430
http://www.awcycles.co.uk/brands/Dahon/Matrix,%202008/12714/index.aspx#specification
This bike seems to have the best suspension - hydraulic at the front.
I'm looking for a bike that will cover bumps if I ride "off road", say through woodland paths. I'm not that serious a cyclist, so it's not going to be speeding up mountains and across logs, but at the same time, I'd expect to be able to have some bounce-factor.
At the moment, I've got a standard mountain bike with front and back suspension, which I use anywhere - on or off road - which I find fine. But I need one that folds to be able to transport it.
I'm assuming that in order to get this "smooth" ride over bumps, the Dahon Jack would be unsuitable as there is no suspension. Would there be a significant difference between the Land Rover model (city elite...city riding?) and the Dahon Matrix?
I'm looking for a bike that'll last me a decent amount of time, and I don't want to find out that the Land Rover isn't really suitable. I'm wondering if the extra £200 is a worthwhile investment in the ride...I can't afford to buy the Land Rover one, find it's no good, and then buy the Dahon Matrix on top. Though I don't mind spending the money on the Matrix if it'll fit my purpose. Any suggestions?