|
|
Post by Sotontraveller on Jun 1, 2007 8:00:42 GMT
 As I'm going off to the Nethelands in July, it seems obvious that I should take a bike. As I've done this by car in the past I've put my normal bike on a car tow rack. Easy. Now with the Romahome, the options are a little more limited. I visited the Excel Caravan Show last autumn and saw a (relatively) cheap folding bike which sold at around £150. I tried it and it seemed very good for purposes I had in mind - getting a few places faster than just walking and quicker / easier than getting Freda (my Romahome) into action. I've looked for the producers business card but can only come up with one for the agent of a folding bike in the £450 category. Not for me ! Does anyone know who and what I am talking about ? It would be really good if I could find out who the supplier is - he is in the UK, somewhere Midlands direction, if I recall correctly. Thanks a lot.
|
|
|
|
Post by Graham on Jun 1, 2007 9:15:38 GMT
Hi Sotontraveller There are several folding bikes in that price range on this site www.bikesandprams.co.uk/section.php?xSec=234&gclid=CNvC2tnJuowCFQfolAodbQjpXQThey also do next day delivery, best of luck and hope you have a great time in the Netherlands it will be interesting to see what the Dutch think of your Freda, whenever we have been to France when we had a Duo the locals were fascinated by it, they had never seen anything like it before. Hope you get a bike Graham |
|
|
|
Post by jimconnachan on Jun 1, 2007 15:12:40 GMT
Try Halfords. The last time I was there they had several models for sale at reasonable prices.
We put our bikes in the central passge covered with a tarpaulin.
Jim Connachan
|
|
|
|
Post by Sotontraveller on Jun 1, 2007 20:16:18 GMT
Graham / Jim - thank you for your replies. The web link was very useful, Graham, and started me down some useful paths.
As I'm going off on Tuesday for a different trip, I will put bicycles on hold for a couple of weeks and then sort out in advance of the Dutch trip. I will check out Halfords then, too Jim.
It turned out here were a few up for grabs on e-Bay as well.
As for curiosity amongst the Dutch - it will be interesting to see. The British are also very curious and Freda provides conversation initiatives at all sorts of places .......
|
|
|
|
Post by lunnie on Jun 1, 2007 21:23:27 GMT
Hi my Romahome is also called Freda this stands for Freedom Ý am now on to Freda 2.
Ý have a folding bike for sale but Ý am in the Midlands
Welcome to this forum - Joan
|
|
stevef
15+ posts.... a Uni wheeler!
Posts: 23
|
Post by stevef on Jun 2, 2007 8:26:24 GMT
Hi,
Like most things you get what you pay for and bikes are no different. The biggest manufacturer in the world is Dahon and their biggest seller is the Speed 7. They cost nearly £300 but unlike cheap folders you can actually ride them for many miles in comfort and the folding mechanism is excellent. I have just sold ours and with a £35 transporter bag it still went for £220 on e-bay.
Why have I sold it, because we have purchased Bromptons. Expensive but the best and smallest 'usable' folder on the market. I have picked 2 up off e-bay second hand for £350 each. The great thing for romahome is that I can get both of them side by side in the overcab area of our C15, and still have space for the table, silverscreen and folding chairs. Try that with a cheap folder or even a pair of dahons.
We took the bikes on the plane when we went to Spain last Winter and did several rides of 20-30 miles with no problem.
Steve
|
|
|
|
Post by Sotontraveller on Jun 2, 2007 17:34:38 GMT
Joan (Lunnie) - thank you for your welcome. I am going to Northern Ireland this coming week via Scotland from Southampton so will be going through the Midlands on the way in both directions. ...... What have you got to sell ? How much do you want for it ? why are you selling it ? (Lots of questions - sorry !).
Thanks a lot.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sotontraveller on Jun 2, 2007 17:37:45 GMT
Steve - thanks for your comments. I'm not as keen a cyclist as you are !!! I just want something to get me around faster than my feet when I don't want to drive. This is going to be particularly relevant in the Netherlands as I need to leave Freda on site - the traffic will be awful for the NSJ Festival. I do also have the issue of a Duo HyLo Plus so no Luton to speak of ! A couple of folder blankets and the table just about fills it up !
|
|
|
|
Post by yamaha on Jun 2, 2007 20:16:06 GMT
Sounds like you need my Quick-n-Easy Hylo awning as an overflow space! See Romahome items for sale.  Mike |
|
|
|
Post by romingtim on Jun 3, 2007 7:57:57 GMT
Hi, Kris and I have just bought some folding bikes from AS Bikes. He is predominantly a 'show seller' but you can order through the website too. We are very please with the bikes we bought which are the Explorer Plus. 20 inch wheels so not the most compact bikes but they will fit in the aisle in the back for travel. The website is: www.folding-bikes.net/ I would suggest buying the bag too if you are going to put them in the aisle though or the fabric on the benches is going to suffer!! Tim |
|
|
|
Post by Sotontraveller on Jun 3, 2007 15:23:21 GMT
Hello, Tim - I have a suspicion that AS Bikes might well be the supplier I saw at Excel last year. I assume you went for the more expensive of the two bikes - if nothing else on the basis of availability ? Thanks a lot.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sotontraveller on Jun 3, 2007 15:41:52 GMT
Graham - where is "Romahome items for sale" ? Is it on this site or ano ?
I do have a full blown Romahome awning which I'm learning to use - currently with a love / hate relationship ! It's great when it's up but it can be pain getting it there and then drying it out once I'm on the road again. (It always rains when I use it). It does provide brilliant space. I think it is well worth the effort for 3 nights +, anything less is questionnable.
I have just bought a utility tent for the short stops. This is being put to the test in the next two weeks. More on this anon.
What does yours offer over / above / different to the two I have, please ?
(Should I have put this reply under "Awnings" string ?.....)
|
|
|
|
Post by Sotontraveller on Jun 3, 2007 15:53:52 GMT
Graham - I "accidentally" found the site you were referring to ! (It didn't show up on my screen intitially and, of course, I wasn't looking properly.)
It looks as interesting little awning and I like the fit over the raised HyLo back. I haven't got this on my utility tent so let's see how I get on in the next couple of weeks and I'll get back to you.
Thanks a lot.
|
|
|
|
Post by romingtim on Jun 4, 2007 6:03:03 GMT
HI, Yes I suspect he was the same supplier as he does attend all the shows. We chose the Explorer Plus because we liked the model. He did have the standard Explorer and also the compacts there, although they were in shorter supply.
Tim
|
|
|
|
Post by lunnie on Jun 4, 2007 19:34:05 GMT
Hi Ý am in Turkey at the moment not due home until 13th June. Decided that Ý did not need it only used it the once down the drive and back it has everything lýghts bags pump and an exta large carrying bag red colour.
Joan
|
|
|
|
Post by Sotontraveller on Jun 4, 2007 22:03:52 GMT
Sounds interesting, Joan. I'm away until at least the 20th June and I won't be logging on whilst I'm away. Perhaps I can catch up with you on my return ? I'll log on then.
Enjoy the rest of your trip in Turkey. Are you "Roming" ?
Carole
|
|
|
|
Post by lunnie on Jun 10, 2007 22:04:11 GMT
No Ý have an apartment here Ý just love this village
|
|
|
|
Post by Sotontraveller on Jun 21, 2007 18:29:57 GMT
Hi, Joan - I'm just back from my Irish trip which was great: lots of sun initially (8 days) then torrential rain and flooding for three days & nights, followed by one glorious last full day in Ireland on Rathlin Island with the puffins.
I'm not starting to think about the bicycle for the next trip. Thinking about taking up your bike seemed like a good idea but given I will now need a special trip to the Midlands to effect a purchase, it makes the economics of a transaction between us probably a nonsense !
I saw an excellent bike today (Dahon from Action Bikes for £150 or £200) which seem to fit the bill so I'll probably go that route. If anyone has any comments / experience of Action Bikes or Dahon, I will be interested to hear - especially as I have to do the deal tomorrow (price increase next week ;-)
|
|
|
|
Post by Sotontraveller on Jun 21, 2007 18:51:03 GMT
Hi, Joan - I'm just back from my Irish trip which was great: lots of sun initially (8 days) then torrential rain and flooding for three days & nights, followed by one glorious last full day in Ireland on Rathlin Island with the puffins.
I'm not starting to think about the bicycle for the next trip. Thinking about taking up your bike seemed like a good idea but given I will now need a special trip to the Midlands to effect a purchase, it makes the economics of a transaction between us probably a nonsense !
I saw an excellent bike today (Dahon from Action Bikes for £150 or £200) which seem to fit the bill so I'll probably go that route. If anyone has any comments / experience of Action Bikes or Dahon, I will be interested to hear - especially as I have to do the deal tomorrow (price increase next week ;-)
|
|
As I'm going off to the Nethelands in July, it seems obvious that I should take a bike. As I've done this by car in the past I've put my normal bike on a car tow rack. Easy. Now with the Romahome, the options are a little more limited.
