From the Guardian ‘The Gear’ Section
Airnimal have only been around since 1999 but are one of the field leaders for fast, portable bikes.
The spiel: “Airnimal developed the Joey in answer to the need for a versatile bike that has sporty performance, but is also easy to fit into a modern lifestyle where space and time are often at a premium. Every day we are confronted with transportation woes and the health and fitness problems of sedentary lives led in the shadow of pollution. Increasingly, bicycle use is seen as a tool for a healthier, less frantic lifestyle and, with the Joey, Airnimal are offering a solution to the many conflicting requirements of such a bike.”
The ride: When Airnimal say this is a fast bike, they mean it, so watch how you hit those speed bumps now. If you prefer a more classical frame to mountain bikes, this makes a good choice – and it’s an enjoyable ride at a more leisurely pace, too. The tyres are pretty average (Kenda Koncept), so if you’re a heavier rider, or you plan to put in the miles, you might want to upgrade. The Velo Plush saddle is a popular choice though, so no worries there.
Folding: This is where the Joey falls behind the competition. You have to remove the front wheel and handlebars to do it – and Airnimal’s claims that it can go from ridable to portable in 30 seconds are a huge underestimation for the average user. Once folded, you’ll need to put it in the carry case (again, time-consuming) and let your shoulder take the strain rather than wrangling with the 24″ wheels. It’s unlikely they’ll find a way to leave the front wheel on, but Airnimal say they are looking at ways to get the dismantled bike to slot together for easier carriage.
Score 7/10
Its a mad world. I suppose peopole’s evaluation criteria differ but to give the Joey – a bike that feels like a bike – a lower rating than a Strida – something that feels like riding the contents of my porridge bowl – makes litle sense to me. As to the Joey’s folding, it does require you to remove the front wheel, but hey, an old toe strap to hold that on when carrying it did it for me… I use it as part of a mixed commute – sometimes off the train for a couple of miles across the city, (faster than the tube) and sometimes for a thirty mile ride from office to home – and it eats up the miles. Worth an extra few seconds lining up the wheels to me – plus – it fits from 5’4″ to my 6’2″ easily, the paint is bombproof and the frame flexes less than a Colnago when you put the power down….But of course you might like an umbrella fold instead of a real bike…
I’ve used a Joey as a part of my daily commute (cycle-train-cycle) into London for nearly a year now, and I’d say it’s pretty faultless. It rides fantastic, in fact I use it for rides at weekends and it draws lots of attention from other cyclists. The fold once mastered is very quick. Putting back together takes a bit more effort; lining the bars up is my only niggle, though Airnimal now provide a new stem with lines to match up. 9/10.
The journalist concerned has done something pointless – test how long it takes to collapse the Airnimal Joey down into a carry case. But if they understood the users – commuters using trains, I’d gladly wager, much as I do every day – then all you have to do is remove the quick-release front wheel, fold the rear wheel under and lash it in the bike compartment or use a bungee cord as it fits perfectly against the glass/rail shield by the train doors. I’ve used it for over a year and honestly can’t fault it on my 5 mile countryside commute to the station and short ride in London.
I’ve been commuting on a Joey for nearly a year now. My only concern was the front discs vs the rear V brakes. The rear Vs wear out considerably quicker so I found myself going over the handlebars. Since I put discs on the back no longer a problem.
Regarding the folding mechanism I agree with the above comment. Wheel off, fold back wheel under, loosen and turn handlebars in line with the frame and then I lock the front wheel to the frame on the opposite side to the chain. Easy to carry and is out of the way on the train. It’s quicker than taking the tube so I’ve never needed to try that one. bag-what bag. I only take he handlebars off when putting it into the car as the dogs take up all the room.
This is a very fast bike. If you buy one be careful. Acceleration with SPDs is phenomenal, top speed on the flat without spinning too much about 25 mph.