Ikea folders

I picked up one of the Ikea folding bikes yesterday (including bag for
£40!) and turned a few heads on the way back including someone
commenting "f**in hell I've not seen a folding bike for years".

I'm quite impressed with it but I'm surprised that it seems heavier
than my mountain bike (which isn't particularly light) and I'm glad I
took the tyre off to sort out the wonky innertube as I found the rim
tape wasn't covering the spoke eyelets!

I was wondering if anyone could offer some advice on folding the
thing? The bike folds in the middle of the frame and the handlebar
post folds down to the side but this means the handlebars stick up and
I can't get it into the bag! Am I doing it wrong or missing something
obvious? The only picture I can find on the internet of it folded up
is this one http://www.bikebiz.com/news/25105/Ik...ikes-to-staffH
but that seems to have the handlebars detached and as there aren't any
pedals on it I think this is how they were delivered.
At the moment it won't fit under my desk at work so it might have to
be stored (or displayed!) in reception.

peter

A few pictures on ebay ...

On Jul 29, 12:11 pm, "elyob" wrote:
A few pictures on ebay ...

Unfortunately they seem to show it as it came in the box with the
handlebars taken out of the forks - unless there's others that don't
come up when I search for Ikea folding bike!
If if did this easily there would be no need to have them fold down as
that's the sort of size/shape I think it needs to be to get in the
bag.

peter

"naked_draughtsman" wrote in message
ps.com...
On Jul 29, 12:11 pm, "elyob" wrote:
A few pictures on ebay ...

Unfortunately they seem to show it as it came in the box with the
handlebars taken out of the forks - unless there's others that don't
come up when I search for Ikea folding bike!
If if did this easily there would be no need to have them fold down as
that's the sort of size/shape I think it needs to be to get in the
bag.


Where did you get it? I could do with a cheap folder for a few months ...

On 2007-07-29, elyob wrote:

"naked_draughtsman" wrote in message
ps.com...
On Jul 29, 12:11 pm, "elyob" wrote:
A few pictures on ebay ...

Unfortunately they seem to show it as it came in the box with the
handlebars taken out of the forks - unless there's others that don't
come up when I search for Ikea folding bike!
If if did this easily there would be no need to have them fold down as
that's the sort of size/shape I think it needs to be to get in the
bag.


Where did you get it? I could do with a cheap folder for a few months ...


Ebay is a good place to start.

Go to Sporting Goods Cycling Bikes and search for "Ikea".

--
Jon
____________________________________________
jondotrogersatntlworlddotcom
============================================

On Jul 29, 12:44 pm, "elyob" wrote:
Where did you get it? I could do with a cheap folder for a few months ...

Via Ebay - had to go and collect though but still worked out a lot
cheaper than having it posted here. Most seem to sell for about £50
without the bag but I got lucky.

Just been out for a 17 mile ride with my friend on it including some
rough stony tracks. The gears seem to be a compromise because they're
a bit low for going on the flat (I could only manage 16mph spinning on
it with the wind behind me) but a bit high for going up big hills (OK,
so the mountains of north wales aren't a typical commute) but probably
ideal for riding to and from work every day. I might see if I can put
a mega range cassette on it although I don't think the derailleur will
be too happy about it. The chain kept coming off at the front too if
I tried changing through too many gears too quickly so I might have to
try and do something about that.

The two of us still couldn't work out how to get it into the bag
though.

peter

On Sun, 29 Jul 2007 04:27:22 -0700, naked_draughtsman
said in
om:

Unfortunately they seem to show it as it came in the box with the
handlebars taken out of the forks - unless there's others that don't
come up when I search for Ikea folding bike!

I think you have to remove handlebars (1) from forks (2), insert
into downtube (3), fix using a 32mm hexagon bolt type A...

Last time I went to Ikea I completely filled the Volvo, front to
back, floor to roof, plus three layers on the roof. I have spring
assisters, it bottomed a couple of times. Nightmare place, Ikea.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

"Just zis Guy, you know?" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 29 Jul 2007 04:27:22 -0700, naked_draughtsman
said in
om:

Unfortunately they seem to show it as it came in the box with the
handlebars taken out of the forks - unless there's others that don't
come up when I search for Ikea folding bike!

I think you have to remove handlebars (1) from forks (2), insert
into downtube (3), fix using a 32mm hexagon bolt type A...

Last time I went to Ikea I completely filled the Volvo, front to
back, floor to roof, plus three layers on the roof. I have spring
assisters, it bottomed a couple of times. Nightmare place, Ikea.

And I bet that was just the bits you found were missing from the kits after
you got home from your previous trip .

On Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:28:32 +0100, "Doki" said
in :

And I bet that was just the bits you found were missing from the kits after
you got home from your previous trip

Something like that :-)

Three Billy and four Benno cabinets, a TV cabinet, doors for all of
them, four full height CD shelves, and a partridge in a pear tree,
if memory serves.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

On Sun, 29 Jul 2007 08:48:44 -0700, naked_draughtsman wrote:

The chain kept coming off at the front too if
I tried changing through too many gears too quickly so I might have to
try and do something about that.

Well, the chainwheel is made from cardboard ...

For the best fold (such as it is), drop & reverse the saddle, then fold
the frame, then the handlebars. Don't let it rest on the chainguard or
you'll have trouble much later.

--
Stephen Patterson :: :: http://patter.mine.nu/
GPG: B416F0DE :: Jabber:
"Don't be silly, Minnie. Who'd be walking round these cliffs with a gas oven?"