Talk:Folding bicycle

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Howdy folks!

Since there isn't a discussion page about folding bikes already, I'm starting one!

I would prefer people go visit the "BikeForums.net" folding bike discussion since it's more geared towarded threaded discussions than Wiki is. see: http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=221 The entire BikeForums.net site is fantastic and has specific areas for threads on things like Bike Touring, Bike Mechanics, Training & Nutrition and Winter Biking.

If this page is a jumping off point to that forum, I'd be quite happy. Perhaps we can use this page to throw ideas back and forth about the Wiki "Folding bicycle" page specifically.

Cheers! Chris

[edit] From Bicycle

To be worked into article:

Added and deleted by 88.110.200.31: Folding bicycles can offer more practicality than a traditional bike & are available in a wide range of different styles - from basic 'fold-in-the-middle bikes' to highly developed fast & efficient folders. Light weight is a key factor in producing a decent folding bike, and modern materials along with smaller 16" or 20" inch wheels are commonplace. The technical complexity of a folding bike often equates to higher purchase prices compared to 'normal' bikes.

--Christopherlin 22:39, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

Folding bicycles evolved in the United Kingdom through the insistance of the rail company that bicycles would not be allowed on commuter trains. Because of their compact size, they are regarded as luggage, rather than bicycles. The main market was originally the British commuter, but as the quality of the bicycles improved, the ingenious folding mechanisms, and increasingly small folded size appealed to a wider market with folding bicycles frequently carried in cars, small aircraft and yachts. There are many manufacturers of such bicycles now, in many countries.

--Christopherlin 18:41, 11 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Policy on commercial Manufacturers

I personally think links to commercial manufacturers are OK. I wonder if there is a reason why they were erased? If there is no response people will start putting them back, as they are what most people are looking for when they come to the page.

Notable manufacturers should have their own wikipedia page, see List of bicycle manufacturers. --Hhielscher 20:07, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

Hhielscher is correct. A list of links to Wikipedia articles on manufacturers of folding bicycles would be fine. A list of external links to commercial entities violoates both WP:NOT a web directory and the guidelines on external links. --GraemeL ^(talk) 20:11, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

The problem with a "list of links to Wikipedia articles on manufacturers of folding bicycles" is that it may generate a series of mostly empty stub articles so that fanatics of various brands can include their bike. For example the Birdy (bicycle) page is pretty lame, I would hate to see hundreds of poorly maintained pages with little following to keep them up. Such pages encourage vandalism or just inaccurate info. I think Wikipedia would be better off with a list of manufacturers. I would also point out that reference books like Thompson's register thomasnet.com are more or less just a list of businesses. The article also refers to iXi and Strida, but does not give links to those bikes. I could create stubs for them but I don't want to create stubs that I know I will rarely look at or help maintain. geo8rge Geo8rge 23:51, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

FYI Birdy is the brand (exept in Japan) and Riese und Müller is the company behind this fantastic bike. Personally I don't like the Brompton Bicycle article – it is to bold for an encyclopedic article IMHO.--Hhielscher 18:57, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

I have nothing against Birdy the bicycle, the wikipedia page seems empty. It would be better to just link to the manufacturers page. Having web pages for each brand is a bad idea as it will cause alot of empty stub pages to appear. These stubs will be poorly maintained and easily vandalised. I think a single folding bike page with manufacturer links is better than a folding bike page and a bunch of stub articles containing little more than a link to manufacturer. geo8rge 66.3.84.125 23:24, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

What do you think is missing from the Birdy article except images? --Hhielscher 16:15, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

My problem is I am worried about hundreds of manufacturer pages appearing with little following to maintain them. Birdy has many fans, but there are many brands that do not. Those brands will likely produce piles of one tiny stub articles that just have a link to the manufacturer. I think it would be better to just have a list. The Montague Bicycles site is an example of a really weak page that could be a maintenance problem in the future.

There is a list of Bicycle Manufacturers List of bicycle manufacturers. Perhaps folding bicycles could have their own list. Geo8rge Geo8rge 17:43, 3 July 2006 (UTC)

What do you think about a Category:Folding bicycle?--Hhielscher 18:05, 3 July 2006 (UTC)