Didn’t think the bike market needed any more niches? Well you were wrong: welcome to the budget sports folding bike! The Carrera Intercity Disc 9-Speed might not boast the engineering genius of more famous folding rivals, but with very enthusiastic road manners, excellent specification including a Shimano Sora rear mech and Tektro hydraulic discs – and £50 left over from £500 – this is a folder with significant appeal beyond just the traditional commuter set.
Ride
The first thing you notice when hopping aboard the Intercity Disc 9 is that this is a very pleasurable bike to pedal and especially to get up to speed. I’ll talk about the gearing in more detail later, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this enthusiasm is found on a folding bike with a ‘proper’ 1×9 setup. This thing just asks to be pedalled and I think virgin folding bike riders will be surprised by the ID9’s brisk turn of pace and its ability to transfer power into forward motion.
One thing that heightens the sense of speed is the ID9’s quick steering. Folding bikes often tend to feel a bit flighty at the front with their straight fork-cum-steerer-cum-stem, and this is no different: I almost wheelied away on my first go, the handlebar lifting in my hands like the reins of a bucking mustang.
To some extent, that’s a sign of the bike’s inherent eagerness and you quickly get used to the steering’s nuances at slow speeds, while at high speeds it doesn’t prove a problem at all. Incidentally, the ID9’s head tube has a bracket for a carrier, should you want to put a bit more weight over the front.
With exciting handling and excellent power transfer, there’s the distinct possibility that comfort could take a hit, but not so. Even with diddy 20in wheels – which for some reason really punch above their girth here – very little knocks the ID9 off its stride. I took it on some proper rough country roads, potholes ‘n’ all, and it breezed over most things.
This is a fantastically fun bike to ride – and all the more amazing when you remember it’s a folder. Rather than it being just a basic A-to-B transport tool, you may well find yourself looking to detour to enjoy a longer session in the saddle. It’s also quite nice that you can get your head down for super-stable high-speed cruising, but then sit up a bit for more reactive intra-city ducking and diving.
Frame
At its core, the ID9 is a fairly standard modern folding bike design, with a main locking hinge in the middle so that it can fold laterally in half along its length, and another hinge where the stem meets the head tube, so the front end can effectively fold in half vertically as well. Halfords says the time it takes from folded to unfolded, or vice versa, is 30 seconds but I think it’s underselling the bike there – it can be pretty quick once you get the hang of it.
In unfolded form, there’s a nice sporty-looking curve to the seatstay, and a curved mini-down tube to the bottom bracket. Both the frame and the fork are made from aluminium and the all-up weight of 12.5kg (Halfords again undersells the bike by listing it as 13kg) is fine at this point in the market, especially when you factor in the substantial clamps and quick releases for altering the seatpost height, stem height, and handlebar position. There’s also a bottle cage mount on the top of the main tube, and mounts for mudguards and a rear rack.
Everything seems pretty much spot on, with one quirky exception: the quick release clamp for the handlebar is ever so slightly off centre, so it doesn’t sit directly over the front wheel in your line of sight. It’s not a big deal, but if you have a touch of the OCDs like me then it’s just a little off-putting initially.
In terms of fit, as with most folders the ID9 is a bit short in length but it’s no biggie and handlebar height is certainly not a problem because the stem has its own quick release with a good range of up and down adjustment. I left it quite low as I felt a more sporty position – relatively speaking – seemed to fit its character very nicely and also helped to rein in the quick steering.
In fact, the only significant negative I have for the ID9 is saddle height. On the Halfords website it says the ID9 is suitable for riders up to 6ft 3in. I would question that. I’m 6ft tall, and not a leggy 6ft at that, but I had to run the seatpost at the very limits of its available range and I still didn’t have quite the leg extension I’d ideally like (I’m talking about only a few mm here, but still). If you’re anywhere near 6ft, I’d suggest you test ride before you buy. (It’s not me in the photos, by the way, that’s Liam, who’s about 5ft 9in.)
Gears and brakes
A good selection of gears is another detail that really fits the ID9’s character. The 53-tooth chainring might look a bit awkward aesthetically but, in performance terms this, allied with the 9-speed 11-34 cassette, means you’ve got the option to venture way beyond benign city slopes and take on some proper hills.
The fact that the rear mech is Shimano Sora adds to the notion that this bike can do almost anything. It’s not a speccing choice that’s so precious it will baulk at the hard graft of daily commuting, but it offers more than enough slick shifting to feel super satisfying when you want to really enjoy the ride.
Almost equally satisfying is the Tektro M275 hydraulic brakeset. I’ve been a bit dismissive of Tektro hydraulic brakes in the past because, in my view, they don’t quite match up to Shimano’s entry-level options, but on the ID9 they felt fine. Certainly modulation or ‘feel’ is very decent and while all-out power might be lacking at the top end, perhaps the fact you’re riding on small wheels lets you give it a bit of leeway.
In any case, they’re brand-name hydraulic discs and whatever quibbles I might have about whether they’re the absolute best, they’re near the top and certainly better than mechanical discs or rim brakes, especially for wet weather riding.
Wheels and tyres
Talking of wet weather, I’m afraid I’ve only ridden the ID9 in the dry and in those conditions the Vee Speedster tyres have been very good. With their ability to accept 110psi, you can really reduce rolling resistance, although even firm tyres didn’t have any knock-on effect in terms of comfort. Grip was good enough for dry days but I suspect you’d want to run them a bit softer in the wet.
The ID9’s wheelset is also more than adequate. The aluminium double-wall Carrera-branded semi-deep-section rims actually look quite funky and aesthetically give the ID9 a hint of speed, while the quick-release hubs rolled perfectly fine.
With lots of use, I suspect these will be the scene of the first upgrade or replacement, but ‘out of the box’ they offer a very acceptable ride experience.
Other components
There are a few other speccing options to mention. For example, both pedals are of the folding variety. The handlebar grips are very comfy. And the Entity saddle is fab.
Unlike a lot of brands who go big on the utility angle of their folders, the ID9 doesn’t come with mudguards or a rear rack – although all of that can be fitted. Personally, I think that omission is a good idea as the ID9 deserves to look a bit more exciting than just being seen as a daily workhorse. A kickstand is fitted as standard for extra convenience, though.
Value and conclusion
If possible, I like to hop aboard and test a bike before I’ve read its specs and especially before I’ve seen its price. That way, I can have as close as possible to an unprejudiced test ride. Of course, this isn’t my first rodeo and hard-to-miss details like brakeset, gearset and brand name tend to lead you in one direction.
In this case, those influences were a bit mixed: yes, the ID9 is ‘only’ a Halfords own-brand Carrera folder, but then it has a Shimano Sora rear mech and Tektro disc brakes. In my mind, and in the saddle, I’d valued the bike somewhere around the £600-£700 mark. So to find it retailing at £450 is really something of a bargain. (If you want an even less expensive option, Halfords has the Carrera Intercity Disc 8-Speed with mechanical discs and Shimano Claris gears for £375.)
In terms of everybody’s go-to folding brand, Brompton’s range starts at £850 – almost double the price. However, perhaps Halfords’ closest rival in high-street bike sales, Decathlon, has the B’Twin 900 Folding Bike for £499.99. Like the ID9 it features a smart aluminium frameset and even the same Shimano Sora rear mech. But it goes without disc brakes, opting instead to fit V-brakes. I also have to say, the B’Twin 900’s brown colourway isn’t very rock’n’roll.
> Buyer’s Guide: 6 of the best folding bikes
I hate giving a gushing review for two reasons: a, because it offers smart-Alecs in the comments section the chance to level accusations of reviewers being paid off (for the record, it’s charmingly naïve to think there’s enough money in the cycle industry for cash-inducements to be ‘a thing’, or even that our words carry enough weight for any bribe to be worth it); and b, because it causes road.cc’s illustrious production editor Tass to grill me to check the product warrants its score. And she doesn’t muck about.
So let me put this to rest right here and give the Carrera Intercity Disc 9-speed the highest recommendation possible: if I could have just an extra inch on saddle height, I’d buy it. If it had fitted me perfectly, I would have literally not returned this test bike and asked if I could pay to keep it instead, that’s how much I like it – and I’m not even in the market for a folder.
If you think a folding bike might come in useful, you want a surprisingly rewarding ride with good quality components, you don’t want to spend Brompton money – and you’re definitely no taller than 6ft – this is way more fun than you’d probably ever expect.
Verdict
Fantastic fun and fast folding bike that will leave you questioning why you’d want to spend any more
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Carrera Intercity Disc 9-Speed Folding Bike
Size tested: one size
About the bike
List the components used to build up the bike.
Frame: Aluminium
Fork: Aluminium
Headset: Steel 1 1/8in semi integrated
Bottom Bracket: BSA BB
Chainset: Aluminium 2-piece hollotech crank 53T
Cassette/Freewheel: Shimano CS-HG200, 9-speed, 11-34T
Gear Shifters: Shimano M2010 Altus, 1×9
Rear Mech: Shimano RD-R3000 Sora, 9-speed
Chain: KMC 9-speed
Brakeset: Tektro HD-M275, hydraulic disc, 160mm rotor
Hubs: Black alloy 9mm quick release
Rims: Black alloy double wall
Tyres: Vee Speedster 20×1 3/4in
Handlebar: Alloy 560mm
Grips: Entity
Stem: Adjustable folding
Pedals: Black folding
Seatpost: Alloy 34.9x580mm, 40mm QR clamp
Saddle: Entity
Tell us what the bike is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?
Without wishing to coin a new bike market niche, and despite its ‘Intercity’ moniker, this is a sport-orientated budget folding bike for people who fancy doing more than just commuting. Halfords’ website says: “The Carrera Intercity 9-Speed Folding Bike is constructed from lightweight aluminium making it a breeze to carry to carry but also meaning you can easily lift it into the boot of your car. Tektro HD-M275 hydraulic brakes offer superb braking even when loaded up, no matter the weather. A large 11-34T cassette offers a wide range across the bike’s 9 gears meaning you’ll feel ready to tackle any hill. When folded, the dimensions are just L:750, W:350mm, H:650mm so it is nice and easy to store away too.” Can’t argue with that.
Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options
There are seven Carrera folding bikes currently listed on the Halfords website. However, five of those are more traditional, utilitarian commuting folders – the Intercity Disc 9 and its cheaper sibling, the Intercity Disc 8 (£350) are distinct from the rest of the range by being more sports/leisure/fun focused.
Frame and fork
Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?
By modern folding bike standards, there’s nothing particularly special about the ID9’s frame, but it’s perfectly smart, well constructed and nicely finished.
Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?
Aluminium throughout.
Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?
Again geometry is fairly standard fare for a modern folder, although the extendable steerer/stem allows you to tailor front-end geometry to your tastes. (I kept handlebar height quite low as that seemed to fit the character of the bike in my eyes.)
How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?
My one and only negative with the ID9 is the available height. Despite Halfords saying it’s suitable for riders up to 6ft 3in, my bang-on 6ft frame maxed out the available length on the seatpost and could have done with a few mm more. Reach on folders is always a bit limited but this was pretty good.
Riding the bike
Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.
Yes, impressively comfortable and not just a ‘big bike’ ride quality, but a fun and enjoyable ‘big bike’ ride quality.
Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?
Folders aren’t rigid in the same way as other bikes, but there seemed to be no issue with undue flexibility – again, impressive!
How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?
…and probably the best quality is power transfer – this is a folding bike that really wants to be pedalled and the rider’s effort is repaid handsomely.
Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem?
Nope.
How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? Lively initially due to quite a light front end, but that can be tamed by moving weight forward or using the head tube carrier mount.
Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?
This was a really fab bike to ride. Yes, handling is a bit lively initially at slow speeds but you quickly get used to that, and at cruising or high speed it actually settles very well.
Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s comfort? would you recommend any changes?
I was impressed by the Entity saddle and the grips were pretty good too.
Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s stiffness? would you recommend any changes?
I wouldn’t recommend any changes at this stage. Perhaps new wheels in time, but everything works well out of the box.
Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s efficiency? would you recommend any changes?
The gearset worked very nicely and really helps to make the most of the bike’s abilities.
For a folding bike, this is very good.
The nature of folding bikes and their tiny wheels means out-of-the-saddle efforts are a bit tricky.
The drivetrain
Fantastic performance – easy and faultless shifting.
Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn’t like? Any components which didn’t work well together?
The drivetrain here is a vital ingredient in the ID9’s overall zesty nature. It’s classy enough to feel great to use, swapping from gear to gear, but should be hardy enough to survive years of use.
Wheels and tyres
Surprisingly good, despite not being anything flash. They look quite funky, too.
My one question in longevity – I suspect the wheels will be the first component to go.
Tell us some more about the wheels.Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the wheels? If so what for?
I admit it: I’m not an aficionado of 20in folding bike wheels, so I don’t know what the hottest set of hoops for folders is right now. These felt perfectly fine for most riders.
Reliable grip in dry conditions, and nice speedy performance.
Tell us some more about the tyres. Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the tyres? If so what for?
I particularly liked the fact these could be inflated to 110psi, meaning good high-speed performance. I’m not sure how they’d fare in the wet, so you might need to swap them out for more rain-specific rubber come winter.
Controls
Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components? How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders?
Everything works and goes together well to form a very competent complete package.
Anything else you want to say about the componentry? Comment on any other components (good or bad)
The inclusion of Tektro hydraulic disc brakes is a huge win at this point in the market – these bring stopping performance that is a signifiant step above rim brakes.
Your summary
Did you enjoy riding the bike? Oh yes.
Would you consider buying the bike? Very much so.
Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes
How does the price compare to that of similar bikes in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
Halfords also has the Carrera Intercity Disc 8-Speed with mechanical discs and a Shimano Claris rear mech for £375. In terms of rival folding brands, Bromptons start at £850 – almost double the price. However, perhaps Halfords’ closest rival in high-street bike sales, Decathlon, has the B’Twin 900 Folding Bike for £499.99. Like the ID9 it features a smart aluminium frameset and even the same Shimano Sora gearing. But it goes without disc brakes, opting instead to fit V-brakes.
Use this box to explain your overall score
Carrera’s Intercity Disc 9-Speed quite frankly blows apart any expectations of what a sub-£500 folding bike can provide. It’s fitted with really good components in important areas, but more importantly, as a complete package it offers the sort of enjoyable ride quality that will surprise many people. Aside from the fact it’s just a few mm too short for me, if I was planning to buy a folding bike with my own money, this would be my first port of call.
About the tester
Age: 39 Height: 6’0 Weight: 16 stone
I usually ride: Islabikes Beinn 29 My best bike is: 25-year-old Dawes Galaxy
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb, Leisure
49 thoughts on “Carrera Intercity Disc 9-Speed Folding Bike”
I’ve literally been looking
I’ve literally been looking at getting one of these for my walk across Manchester. I’d love a Brompton but they are daft money, not disc braked and I know I’d spend silly amounts making it all blingy and light.
No doubt I’ll swap things on this to make it lighter too. Also need mudguards, lets hope Halfords sell specific ones and not those crappy generic ones.
Great review.
You might have a better
You might have a better chance at speccing this one up. Brompton bling is also pricey – and they are all bespoke parts – and doesn’t really add / take away much
I’m already thinking carbon
I’m already thinking carbon wheelset, titanium seatpost and a few other things…
Surprisingly Halfords don’t
Surprisingly Halfords don’t sell any upgrades, add ons or even spares for this bike! Generic mudguards from eBay went on ok with a bit of fettling. Likewise a front luggage block (Term -> Brompton) went on easily. Barends gave me another position.
Which luggage block did you
Which luggage block did you use?
Great write up for what
Great write up for what appears to be a great bike.
Those tyres look like Schwalbe G-One ripoffs – and thats a good thing.
They’re closer to BMX tyres
They’re closer to BMX tyres actually but they hold 100psi easy , grip well wet or dry and haven’t punctured yet (500 miles). Thicker and heavier than G-ones but on a 20″ wheel that’s not the end of the world!
Actually for the price..
Actually for the price.. makes me consider one of these for my 13year old daughter. Looks a great bike.
As people have mentioned
As people have mentioned there’s room for customisation for the taller rider such as extended seatpost. I ride a Dahon Vigor P9, i’m 6’4″ and extend the seatpost to its limit and it’s okay however this bike has a suspension seatpost which makes it slightly longer and the ride even more plush.
You’ll need a solid pair of mudguards on your budget of £450 but that goes for any bike.
As for folding, once you get used to it, a few seconds is all it takes.
Heartily reccomend folders. I gave up the car and took up train commuting and apart from the extra time I have to work or read on my commute riding my bike at either end of the journey rain or shine has been well worth it for my health and general well-being.
Don’t knock 20″ wheels. The
Don’t knock 20″ wheels. The late, great Sheldon Brown considered the Raleigh 20 to be the pinnacle of bike design and this looks like a close relation.
IanMSpencer wrote:
Smaller wheels are far more aerodynamic. Not quite as forgiving of potholes, though.
Wow! If I didn’t already have
Wow! If I didn’t already have an ageing Birdy I’d be considering one of these. Looks good and I was impressed by my daughter’s cheap Carrera road bike. I think Halfords road bikes are pretty good these days.
Funnily enough this does 95%
Funnily enough this does 95% of what my ex-Birdy did for 25% of the cost! Only omission on a commuter imo is the mud guards.
Had one of these for about
Had one of these for about 500 miles now commuting in London. The review is spot on, great value and great fun. Added mudguards and a luggage block and put my own saddle on. The plastic folding pedals didn’t last long, replaced with MKS folding alloy pedals I’ve used loads in the past. All in I’ve spent about £90 over and above the initial £450. Very impressed. If this were a Dahon or Tern it would be a grand.
And from the front…
And from the front…
What mudguards did you fit? I
What mudguards did you fit? I can’t find any that are compatible ?
You beat me to the question
You beat me to the question by 15 mins. (I actually made an account in order to ask the same q!)
Really really want this bike after so much research. Don’t want to downgrade to the cheaper black one that comes with mudguards and a pannier. Would much rather get this and add both. Halfords suggested the pannier that they think would fit (item 184422) but couldn’t suggest specific mudguards. Seeing @Andyman’s pictures is what is giving me the confidence to buy… but would be helpful to know which ones to get!
@danohhsee – have you got this bike too? Any mods?
@Kvman22 yep got the bike, no
@Kvman22 yep got the bike, no mods as yet though. Sick of getting wet on the commute though ?
Ok so I’ve been to Halfords
Ok so I’ve been to Halfords today working this out- the lad there was really good
His view is that generic eBay 20″ mudguards shouldn’t be an issue and they can install them for me. The issue was that I couldn’t have a pannier and mudguards both as there was only one set of eyelets. It’s taken a bit of googling but (in case others have this issue) the answer seems to be Dia Compe end fender stay adaptors for £5…
desperately want to get on and order now!
@Andyman, would be good to see what you’ve got at the front to hold your bag there? I did notice two screwholes at the front but assumed they were for lights? Are they actually for a Brompton-style luggage block??
Any luck?
Any luck?
So sort of. I have a pannier
So sort of. I have a pannier rack and mudguards on but (a) the pannier rack is higher than I would like – stops the seat froM coming all the way down but does help hold my pannier bag higher off the ground I guess but strangely not high enough, my heels keep hitting it! and (b) the front mudguard had to be done with cable ties – not great. Going to need to sort that. @Andyman has done a better job.
What I want to do is get a front block like that lad has done and then put a smaller clothes bag on the pannier for the commute. I can live with the pannier height.
(Photo attached)
I got a brompton style block but it didn’t fit – the screws were too small and holes on the front head tube were too far apart- not sure how @Andyman has done it but dying to know!
also, do you find the magnet doesn’t hold it closed amazingly well? If I’m lifting it I need to hold it closed together. And the front handlebars flop around too??
Looks a similar shape to the
Looks a similar shape to the Tern Verge. I wonder if their mudguards (and maybe the rack, etc) would fit?
https://www.ternbicycles.com/uk/accessories/471/sks-mudguards-20
Thanks for the tip! Will take
Thanks for the tip! Will take a look
Sorry, somehow turned off my
Sorry, somehow turned off my notifications. This is the luggage block I got via Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/hpqUjvY . Took a while to arrive but worth it. Adapts to fit Dahon/Tern etc to carry Brompton luggage.
These are the mudguards:
These are the mudguards: https://amzn.eu/d/476RETm
And the (much better) pedals:
And the (much better) pedals: MKS FD-7 Folding Pedals: https://amzn.eu/d/8zjzxDQ
MKS FD-7 Folding Pedals
MKS FD-7 Folding Pedals
Thanks for that useful recommendation. I think I’ll get some for my Birdy, or this Carrera 9-speed if I give way to temptation
Thanks so much!
Thanks so much!
can I ask a couple of qs please mate:
1. Would you be able to share a pic of the front wheel from the left (your left as you’re sitting on it) – want to see what eyelet you’ve been able to use for the mudguard, Halfords had to cable tie mine and it’s a pain!
2. When you carry it around (or roll it around holding the seat) while it’s folded, just it constantly come unfolded? Trying to work out whether I have dodgy magnets or that just the design!
thanks a lot
I used a spacer (from an old
I used a spacer (from an old lowrider pannier) to attach the left hand mudguard stay at the front in order to clear the disc brake. I haven’t had to carry it far folded but, yes, the magnet doesn’t seem strong enough and it sometimes pops open. That said, if folded right, it can be hard to get open! I’ve usually got a bungie cord with me that I use to hold everything together if I’m using the escalator on the tube or similar.
Hi, first time commenting
Hi, first time commenting here and bit rushing, and from my old tablet i’m bit struggling to make out the main comments, their replies, etc. – sorry. Dear Andyman, your tips are great, cheers. I’d have a question to you all – would anyone, at a convenient moment, maybe have a look at the seatpost size (diameter) and full extended length bb to the saddle rails? The main article above, has me wondering (am 6’2″. but i’d be positive the seatpost is upgradable, in case?)
About your front suitcase arrangement, that’s very interesting, just asking – don’t you find a bit of slowing-down aero effect, having it so facing forwrds with the flat side? (I mean, not laying the suitcase down/side flat on a longer/rear rack). Well i suppose many will have asked you so, so please bear with me – just asking – if ok, of course. We all have personal preferences and it’s actually great to share different loading styles.
Many many thanks (and sorry for my bad bad English – from Italy and got so rusty – alas!). Cheers!
Yeah – its so like my Tern
Yeah – its so like my Tern Verge that I’m surprised Tern hasnt started legal action!
Still, thrilled if it gets more people riding.
My Verge has guards and luggage rack so if you want measurements, let me know …
Been looking at this with
Been looking at this with interest as a potential budget option for commuting 12 miles a day, 6 miles each way. Was pondering an ebike, would adding a swytch kit to this like a year later be a bad idea?
You could fit a Carradice QR
You could fit a Carradice QR saddlebag carrier to that seat pillar, and only lose a little of the seat pillar dropdown when folding. Then you could use the large saddlebags such as the Camper Longflap- although they insanely still only offer this in ‘old knacker’ style with cotton-duck, leather and bloody awful buckles- I am an old knacker and I hate these rubbish features of a good capacity bag!
Hi all, this is my first
Hi all, this is my first comment ever on road.cc, and from Italy and the English I got (from living several years in the UK, back a decade ago) has gone bit rusty – sorry.
I went through, and tested, and shared views with owners, many folding bikes – then had these 10 years on sportive big ones (gravel/fatbike/tourers) and now going back to my old folding love, with a bit of a new eye to look at them.
This *Carrera 9* curiously has the same rear mech as my huge sturdy graveller (Speccy AWOL 2017): a Sora with 9 gears. Very good.
Now, after a couple of weeks since reading the review here, and the comments, I have to say I wonder why the author (Hi ?, all said with much respect – it’s just questions ??) is so praising about the whole bike, but also bit unforgiving about specs like the seatpost length – which I would hope is upgradable? I’m 6’2″ with about 36″ inseam, it would be great to know the size/diameter of the seatpost, or the length from the bb when fully extended. Well – I do perfectly well understand you’ve done an awesome job already and one should have to reach out to the manufacturers. But who knows, maybe some owner here will know and tell, for the record and the sake of everyone passing by.
The bike as a whole, hands down, has me wondering how it is possible to cut down the costs/price so much – don’t get me wrong – it sure does look very appetizing to me (review and all) and I sure keep it in mind for a future purchase.
I just genuinely wonder what technical aspects there might be at its roots to make it so (thankfully) affordable. (example: some entry level components one would just need to use with a bit extra care for, fair enough?)
Cheers!
Well, I did give way to
Well, I did give way to temptation, and the review is completely correct: this is a fantastic bike and an amazing bargain at this price. It’s a build it yourself job at £450, but it’s perfectly packaged inside the box and almost completely set up. There aren’t any instructions- presumably this is some legal thing free-ing Halfords from blame if you do it incorrectly. The gears were perfect, and all I had to do with the brakes was loosen the 2 bolts fitting the caliper to the adapter, pull on the brake lever to ‘centre’ the caliper on the disc and tighten again. The brakes are excellent! The only thing which could cause problems to people like me not thinking quickly enough is the spring attached to the folding stem clamping bolt. – with the bars folded down you see an allen-head bolt through the star-nut which fixes the assembly into the bottom of the long stem. You have to take that out and thread it through the ring at the free end of the spring- then replace the bolt in the star. The spring aids the placement of the clamp bolt over the flange on the stem. You then fix bar L-R alignment with the big clamp bolt on the head tube- an excellent arrangement I wasn’t expecting
There’s not much else except fit the front wheel and pedals. I already have a mid-90s Birdy and I spent some time comparing them. You don’t lose much when you save all that money on the Carrera. The fold is not so techno and not so compact, but it’s rock solid, and the ride is hardly distinguishable from the Birdy despite all the latter’s suspension. I think the Carrera bigger wheels, wider tyres and admirable saddle help here- the saddle is mid-way between a mattress and a racing style saddle.
There were virtually no faults- I think it could do without the clamps for bar height adjustment and bar rotation about it’s long axis: there’s only a couple of inches height adjustment anyway, and ordinary clamp bolts would suffice for the latter.The brake pad retention is by a split pin rather then the expected 3mm allen head bolt, but it could be argued that this is safer and the bending of the bin will probably last through a few pads.
In the end, if you have the money and have to keep changing from bike to bus or train and fold again at work then the Brompton or Birdy would be better, but if you have only a couple of folds a day and the bike doesn’t have to fold as small as possible then this is a great choice.
I’ve just bought one of these
I’ve just bought one of these, but being a roadie whose never owned a folding bike, I have no idea what size inner tubes it takes. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks,
Same as the tyre! 20 x 1 3/8
Same as the tyre! 20 x 1 3/8 or 1.5
20 x 1 3/8 and 20 x 1.5 are
20 x 1 3/8 and 20 x 1.5 are very different sizes, 451mm vs 406mm diameter.
You will note that we were
You will note that we were asked about inner tubes
They’re different size inner
They’re very different size inner tubes.
I desperately need a new tyre
I desperately need a new tyre but cannot find one anywhere. The tyre says 20inch but the wheel is 22inch. Other tyres just don’t fit. Can anyone help please
Me again – the bike got
Me again – the bike got delivered today and was packed with the handlebars sideways. I can’t work out for the life of me how to straighten them especially as I presume the locking mechanism is supposed to be at an angle. I tried Halfords online chat but then the advisor started going on about removing the brake cables (I was like what?) before advising me to take a bike that I paid to get built and delivered to my home address to a store for them to sort it out. Can someone advise, as I’m not used to working on these types of bikes at all.
There’s an unboxing and setup
There’s an unboxing and setup video here, not got time to watch the 40 minutes myself but hopefully somewhere in that it will answer your question:
Thanks Rendel – I couldn’t
Thanks Rendel – I couldn’t find anything discussing straightening the handlebars in that video unfortunately.
If you fold the handlebars
If you fold the handlebars the bolt underneath is the equivalent of the stem cap bolt. The ‘stem’ underneath has 2 clamp bolts on the side which you can loosen to rotate the bars.
ChasP – you are a star! It
ChasP – you are a star! It was the clamp bolt that’s threaded through the bottom next to the folding part that needed loosening. I’d already loosened the star nut bit that connects to the spring to fold. Brilliant – thanks.
I know this review has been
I know this review has been on here a while now but I’ve just bought one of these (price has gone up a tenner but that’s a fraction of general inflation at the moment)
Some good info in the comments but I’m looking for luggage carrying options. Not going to be commuting on it, and if I did would probably just use a backpack, but for small shopping trips e.g. when on UK holidays. Not sure whether to go for rack or a front mount for hte brompton style basket bag as posted on here. If I get a rear rack it must be appropriate for 20″ wheels, not way up in the air like the one kvman22 posted. Also I have size 12 feet so heel strike might be an issue for traditional style pannier bags. I guess a largish box/basket that sits atop a rack might work.
It’s got the front mounting
It’s got the front mounting block for Brompton bags, so I’d be inclined to use that. Much neater and lighter than a rack. The bags click on and off instantly and are available in different sizes. I’ve got a Brompton T-bag which is huge. It has a wire frame built into the bag so everything is rock solid when clicked onto the front mounting block.
Thanks. I’ve seen a deal on
Thanks. I’ve seen a deal on the Brompton borough basket that looks a good option but still pricey. Do you know of any halfway decent Brompton ripoff bags, or cheaper alternatives ones that use the brompton clips?
On that point is it possible to wheel the bike around a shop semi-folded with the basket attached to the head tube?
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