Folding mini bike - cheap - for Le Mans
Discussion
To cut down on my hours of walking at 24 hrs Le Mans, mainly on roads to bars on the Mulsanne straight, I'm thinking of getting a folding mini bike.
It will only be needed to cover say 10-12 miles on smooth tarmac.
I have limited carrying space, a full size bike or folding bike is out of the question.
All I need is something a little quicker than walking, nothing else - I'm even considering roller skates!
Does anyone know anything about these? I can modify / fabricate most things if needed. Any related advice would be appreciated.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8-Mini-Folding-Bike-Fold...
It will only be needed to cover say 10-12 miles on smooth tarmac.
I have limited carrying space, a full size bike or folding bike is out of the question.
All I need is something a little quicker than walking, nothing else - I'm even considering roller skates!
Does anyone know anything about these? I can modify / fabricate most things if needed. Any related advice would be appreciated.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8-Mini-Folding-Bike-Fold...
Edited by wsn03 on Wednesday 26th July 11:27
dontlookdown said:
Those wheels look too small. Like trolley wheels. Soild tyres. Not great for a bike.
Prob better off with a micro scooter than one of those. Lighter too.
In context this is up against roller skates and trainers. Its to be used to go along a smooth country road once a year. My biggest pain would be a puncture, so solid tyres would be perfect for this particular scenario.Prob better off with a micro scooter than one of those. Lighter too.
My issue with the scooter, I'd like an electric one but the battery life and price is working against me.
The alternative of course is stick a rack on the back of the car and bring a normal bicycle...I'll give it some thought. Thanks for the feedback.
Yep, consider a scooter, they're no worse than that silly tiny-wheeled clown bike above.
You can get adult ones from Decathlon and elsewhere with bigger wheels that take the weight. They fold up smaller and are a lot quicker than walking. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-781131-adult-scooter...
Else if you want a bike - a sensible secondhand buy of a Brompton and selling it when you get home will cost you less than that thing (that will just end up in the bin). Buy in winter and sell in summer after you get back and you may not lose anything at all.
You can get adult ones from Decathlon and elsewhere with bigger wheels that take the weight. They fold up smaller and are a lot quicker than walking. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-781131-adult-scooter...
Else if you want a bike - a sensible secondhand buy of a Brompton and selling it when you get home will cost you less than that thing (that will just end up in the bin). Buy in winter and sell in summer after you get back and you may not lose anything at all.
wsn03 said:
In context this is up against roller skates and trainers. Its to be used to go along a smooth country road once a year. My biggest pain would be a puncture, so solid tyres would be perfect for this particular scenario.
My issue with the scooter, I'd like an electric one but the battery life and price is working against me.
Why an electric scooter but not an electric bike? A scooter will be vastly better than roller skates, and almost half the weight of the Chinese folding mini bike. Stuff from Decathlon tends to be decent quality as well.My issue with the scooter, I'd like an electric one but the battery life and price is working against me.
sjg said:
Yep, consider a scooter, they're no worse than that silly tiny-wheeled clown bike above.
You can get adult ones from Decathlon and elsewhere with bigger wheels that take the weight. They fold up smaller and are a lot quicker than walking. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-781131-adult-scooter...
Else if you want a bike - a sensible secondhand buy of a Brompton and selling it when you get home will cost you less than that thing (that will just end up in the bin). Buy in winter and sell in summer after you get back and you may not lose anything at all.
My wife and kids bought me one of these for my birthday, so I can have a scooter like the kids.You can get adult ones from Decathlon and elsewhere with bigger wheels that take the weight. They fold up smaller and are a lot quicker than walking. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-781131-adult-scooter...
Else if you want a bike - a sensible secondhand buy of a Brompton and selling it when you get home will cost you less than that thing (that will just end up in the bin). Buy in winter and sell in summer after you get back and you may not lose anything at all.
I use it when the kids want to go out for a short ride on their bikes, (they're 4 and 2,) and really enjoy it. On the smooth flat prom in Sidmouth, for instance, it's not that much work compared to a bike. I'm 6'8'', 100kgs, and look like a loon on it though, not that I care!
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/town-7-xl-adult-scoote...
Mr2Mike said:
Why an electric scooter but not an electric bike? A scooter will be vastly better than roller skates, and almost half the weight of the Chinese folding mini bike. Stuff from Decathlon tends to be decent quality as well.
Clown Bike? That's funny :-)Never thought of a scooter, guess I've never used one, but looking at some stats they would save a lot of time.
Having done a bit of research I might end up with an electric after all, I'll mod it to take a 2nd battery.
Mr2Mike said:
Why an electric scooter but not an electric bike? A scooter will be vastly better than roller skates, and almost half the weight of the Chinese folding mini bike. Stuff from Decathlon tends to be decent quality as well.
I did a little bit of digging, and a scooter is vastly better, I never considered before for some reason. Thankslouiebaby said:
My wife and kids bought me one of these for my birthday, so I can have a scooter like the kids.
I use it when the kids want to go out for a short ride on their bikes, (they're 4 and 2,) and really enjoy it. On the smooth flat prom in Sidmouth, for instance, it's not that much work compared to a bike. I'm 6'8'', 100kgs, and look like a loon on it though, not that I care!
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/town-7-xl-adult-scoote...
Thanks for that, I'd never considered one, seems they really are a very viable option. See my general reply belowI use it when the kids want to go out for a short ride on their bikes, (they're 4 and 2,) and really enjoy it. On the smooth flat prom in Sidmouth, for instance, it's not that much work compared to a bike. I'm 6'8'', 100kgs, and look like a loon on it though, not that I care!
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/town-7-xl-adult-scoote...
Thanks for all your replies with this.
Thanks to you I'll not be investing in a clown bike, and will find other ways to look a t1t if the need arises.
Thanks to you I can now consider scooters as a viable alternative to walking, I'd never considered it before, thought they were just for kids to go up and down the garden path on, but over 3 miles considerable time saving according to the info on the internet.
My total travel to / from the venue from the campsite is about 6 miles I worked out, then add another say 3 miles within the circuit itself following.
My real need is getting to an from the venue on the Mulsanne straight. At 10mph I think that's 36 mins in total, or thereabouts on back roads that are largely closed to traffic.
I'm going to look at buying an elec scooter with a 40 minute range. I'll make a box for a 2nd battery, and put in a switch to change from one to the other. I'll also connect an inverter to the car connected to a trickle charger to keep the batteries topped up in the 7 hrs or so driving to Le Mans.
The extra range will enable me to also use it for the jaunt to the main village at the Grandstand for a late night beer or two (by this stage I'm totally trashed, revelling in the whole thing), followed by the usual hang out at La Tetre Rouge to watch the cars.
The scooter strips down quite well taking up far less space than a folding bicycle too, so all good. Option 2 would be a push manual scooter.
I should be buying the manual scooter, but I can't help going on a ridiculous quest to build something that I don't really need - I am after all a bloke.
Roll on Le Mans 2018.
Thanks to you I'll not be investing in a clown bike, and will find other ways to look a t1t if the need arises.
Thanks to you I can now consider scooters as a viable alternative to walking, I'd never considered it before, thought they were just for kids to go up and down the garden path on, but over 3 miles considerable time saving according to the info on the internet.
My total travel to / from the venue from the campsite is about 6 miles I worked out, then add another say 3 miles within the circuit itself following.
My real need is getting to an from the venue on the Mulsanne straight. At 10mph I think that's 36 mins in total, or thereabouts on back roads that are largely closed to traffic.
I'm going to look at buying an elec scooter with a 40 minute range. I'll make a box for a 2nd battery, and put in a switch to change from one to the other. I'll also connect an inverter to the car connected to a trickle charger to keep the batteries topped up in the 7 hrs or so driving to Le Mans.
The extra range will enable me to also use it for the jaunt to the main village at the Grandstand for a late night beer or two (by this stage I'm totally trashed, revelling in the whole thing), followed by the usual hang out at La Tetre Rouge to watch the cars.
The scooter strips down quite well taking up far less space than a folding bicycle too, so all good. Option 2 would be a push manual scooter.
I should be buying the manual scooter, but I can't help going on a ridiculous quest to build something that I don't really need - I am after all a bloke.
Roll on Le Mans 2018.
Edited by wsn03 on Friday 28th July 15:03
Edited by wsn03 on Friday 28th July 15:05
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