The fun factor Cycling would like to dedicate an article about a "tuned" Bernd and describe with an untypical piece of metal on two wheels.
as a person on the outskirts of the city by early 2007 I had one of the conventional touring bikes, quite bad, but the daily commute to work and the necessary driving in the car simply too bulky.
So I needed a new bike, as the famous panacea.
It should be foldable and compact in any case. On the other side but it should cope with the purchases, Sprint's make in nearby Bergisch land possible if you please, and be suitable for the holiday with a lot of luggage.
At IFMA 2006 in Cologne, I not only had the opportunity to look at many different folding bikes, but try the same on the fairgrounds. Although the Offer has developed for high-quality folding bikes remarkably wide, the wheels were most suitable, in my view for long stretches, and weight is limited. In the end it was
two wheels, which corresponded to my "round" concept: the BERNDS - made by a small company in Detmold, and the "Golden Oriole" - today TIMOR of Utopia, a conceptually very similar "offshoot" of the BERNDS.
addition there are the wheels of "Bike Friday" from the U.S., in Germany but not to get easily.
the Bernd and Golden Oriole is common to the undivided (steel) frame with 20 "wheels. Therein lies the reason for the stable, despite the relatively small size handling. Most other Faltradhersteller "fold" either the frame (Dahon, etc.) or use for undivided part smaller tires (18-Birdy "), or use both (Brompton).
Some time after the IFMA 2006, I then purchased a Bernd's, in an optimized for the main purpose of urban and commuting facilities:
- Marathon 47er Tires (Later replaced by Marathon Racer)
- 8-speed Nexus Premium hub with freewheel
- Shimano Deore V-Brakes
- Shimano 3N71 hub dynamo lighting with rear parking light halogen lamp, front
- Humphrey-Folding pedal
- Adjustable Stem by Humphreys
- Klickfix mount on the frame front
- mudguards, side stand
Gradually, I have rebuilt the wheel:
- Weber-Coupling E
- Saddle SQlab-Ergolux 610
- Grips Ergon
- Lowrider front: Zefal
- Rear rack: Tube Fly
- Magura HS-33 hydraulic brakes
- Toolless adjustable stem Gazelle
Switch - Sigma 1606 DTS Wireless computer
- Folding Abus Bordo 1990
- BOOM iQ-Fly headlamp
- pedals from Crank Brothers
handling
The Bernds is not a pack size world champions such as the Brompton, but it will work with 20kg baggage at a speed 35 or stable, and is City traffic to drive incredibly agile and lively. Even when braking from high speeds you always have the impression to have full control over the wheel. Already unfolded, it is almost a foot shorter than most bikes and is harmless in the railway transport on the journey.
tires
There are quite a large selection of widths and profiles of 20 ". For normal operation, we recommend an thick Tires, my frame is the Schwalbe Marathon 47mm in width, the maximum. Bernd's has changed a few years, the frame geometry and now delivers standard 50 Big Apple.
Those who enjoy a fast, takes a narrower 40mm Marathon Racer, or Kojak, but you should be aware that you will certainly can sometimes get stuck in tram lines, and that these tires are more likely to require a high pressure. After
am now over 2 years experience, I stayed with the racers, because they simply have the best rolling resistance and light weight.
circuit
8Gang The Shimano hub gear turns very soft and usually without Problems. Since you can switch the state and to some extent under load, it also comes as a sporty driver's expense.
I drive a fairly tame chainring / sprocket combinations: 52/19, so you drive downhill from the 8.Gang quite quickly, on the other hand, one can in the 1st pedestrian pace in the move.
However, the hub is not really made for frequent travelers. After almost a year (3.500km), the first boss was out. The reason is that condensation forms on the inside of the housing. Meanwhile, Shimano recommends an annual exchange of fat and for this purpose offers a special maintenance kit.
After more than 2 years and 7,500 km (the second hub now has about 4.000 km and a service behind it) is the Nexus but still well usable, but shows a marked roughness at idle.
light
The Shimano Dynamo can feel in operation has a bit, but I do not feel this to be disturbing. (Who has money left over, and appreciated products of German production, which take a SON's.)
delivered at the Bernds built Hella headlights very light and fits neatly under a front mounted on the frame Bromptontasche.
After the meantime, the iQ-Fly BOOM mounted, was the really brought his 40 lux for the first time something like light on the road, I'm the last 6 months a 60Lux-Cyo. This allows the front wheel also be turned back without having to fold in the spotlight a little.
particular note was the BERNDS light cable, as they are moved very clean and solid craftsmanship. Folding bikes at all the cables and trains special stresses, Bernd prevent short circuits and broken wires for cable management model with braze-ons, shrink tubing and stable, 2-wire cables before.
saddle
After experimenting with various models, I'm a fan of the last 2 years Müncher SQ-lab Saddles. Ergolux I drive the 602 since the Fair 2007, and he's not exactly cheap, but it feels unbeatable, and SQ-Lab is an incredibly good service.
now (mid 2008) I am switched to the SQ Lab 610, which is much easier to drive and sporty - a matter of getting used to.
gets the Ergolux in various widths to match the distance between the pelvic bones. This distance can be determined by the simplest means itself by itself with some legs drawn on a piece of cardboard sets and presses the Po (= the pelvic bone) firmly against the cardboard. Thereafter, specimens of the two pelvic bones are identifiable and precise abmessbar.
handles
Again, what is good, costs a bit more, unfortunately. The Ergon grips are in my opinion the best on the market, and rightly high-quality Bicycles become something of a standard.
stem
worth When it comes to stem a look to our neighbors in the Netherlands. For years, put here by at Holland wheels tools adjustable stems.
The Dutch just know what is good. Against the wind or high speeds the steering is provided sporty flat, in the city comfortably pulled up. The whole is, even if now frowns every security expert is right to end, even while driving.
The stems look at Gazelle, Batavus, Sparta and from on top of that more elegant than the martial debris that you get in Germany. Stems are Dutch's in Germany usually made to order for about 60 Euro. In Holland they are partly already have-for 45 €.
(Important: Bernd stem 22.2 mm inner diameter!)
Lowrider:
The look of the original offer of Bernd's Lowrider did not convince me, worse was that he simply was not available. So I was looking for an alternative, and they found from the Lowrider ZEFAL which is due to adjustable mounting pieces very variable installation.
A Lowrider on Bernds requires some fiddling, because the front wheel is rotated during folding, and clamps the folded rear wheel. Classic Lowrider fit in the "normal state" - after but they disrupt the folding and bending, because they are too far forward over the hook.
the Lowrider from Zefal, I have "backwards" around, assembled to say with the bow back. Then the bags to be clicked a trial basis (I use the "small" Ortlieb Front Roller ") and oriented to admit that it centrally as possible to the fork, but the open lowrider ends only about an inch over the fork forward. The whole thing is organized in a slightly screws, removed again, cut the protruding ends with the Puksäge, then placed the plastic caps.
Finally: the fixed mounted Condition is easy for the 28 "wheels imaginary crossbar in the picture bent down (Yes, I know the mechanical engineers to turn the stomach, but solid aluminum can be bent at least once.). The cross bar is exactly equal to the fixing eye of the front fender, so you can save on top of that the standard fender struts.
strainer
Such a strainer separates the spirits: some find it totally narrow-minded, others simply have no desire to ever take on a dirty bike.
belong to the latter as a commuter I Group. I actually go in the rain, despite the climate crisis is to place in Germany still. With a folding bike get pretty dirty, filthy because of the short wheelbase and the particular shape of the frame exactly the places near the bottom bracket, which you touch during transport.
Either take a strainer from the market (Hebie, etc.) attacks or to help themselves, then it gets a little easier and more original: buy
When rubber dealer is a remnant (in Cologne's "rubber-Green" at Neumarkt, as costs so little a €), which is cut to fit, and tie it in the photo with cable ties to the strut (or the Lowrider).
rear carrier
Actually is a carrier of a folding bike a break in style. But I did not keep a second bike for longer tours - in the process you are often traveling by train, and then plays a folding bike from its advantages. Moreover, without suffering carrier the fender and tail light at the transient of the rear end, and the rear brake is pretty close to the ground. So I needed a luggage rack.
The catch: If you use the products sold by Bernd racks, turn no fit panniers, because you constantly because of the short construction pushes with his feet on the panniers. Since I anyway did not arrive at a minimum pack size, I have different "normal" Porter for 26/28 "wheels tested.
is usually the distance to the feet enough (I have size 47 shoes when you go to, it should also fit in 90% of humanity), so it was only fitting to mounting options.
Finally I have the slim and elegant Fly used by tube. He carries about 18kg of what the carrying capacity of the original Bernds carrier is similar to, that is overburdened and not the arm, even if BERNDS as seen on our request for any concerns.
The Fly has a central mounting brace to be attached just like the picture at a designated place on the frame can. Additionally, I have taken as an extension struts ESGE mounting piece headlights.
deteriorated theory, while the spring action of the rear wing, because the luggage is now with the unsprung mass. In practice, this is negligible in my experience, the two real disadvantages in my opinion, but I will not conceal:
- The pack size is increased by a good hand width.
- As the rear is not engaged, the wheel folded under the weight of the luggage bags apart during transport. The solution is a bit improvised, but it works perfectly: I have a shoulder strap of a Ortliebtasche to the mounting web of the Luggage carrier and the seat post mounted. I need anyway to fix the rear wheel when folded, the frame, and carry the whole package well to.
weight
All in all, the Bernd's with all the equipment no lightweight, it weighs approximately 16.5 kg with all accessories. The BERNDS frame from around 2005 are weight optimized. It should be about 2-3 kg less than in my 2004-spec frame.
brakes
In the simple approach on Bernd's V-brakes installed. In normal operation, the rich, no matter what high-tech gurus claim is sufficient. But just because I often travel with the trailer and / or luggage, am I Magura's HS33 retrofitted.
The real benefit is less the pure braking power than the much better dosing as compared to the cable-operated V-brakes.
Bernds recommends the hydraulic brakes, steel braided lines, are still at the wheel, the plastic pipes installed, because they just the upgrade kit was there. The steel braided lines cost another 50-70Euro, is especially important that you look at the installation path looks exactly, especially the bending radii at the bottom bracket in the unfolded and folded state require special attention.
Another note: The brake lines are on a folding bike much longer than for a 26/28 "wheel. needed for the front brake is about 70-80cm long lines to the rear brakes are there about 180-200cm.
General for the laying of brake and gear cables
You can not repeat often enough: a folding bike all trains are particularly burdened, even the light cable, because they usually lead to the Faltpunkten of the wheel along.
When Bernds the brake and gear cables were already at the wheel with a relocated from the consumer electronics market on cable spiral, leading to an overall very stable cable management, from the classic bike builders can cut a slice.
trailer
Yes, a trailer is, and quite good. The compact dimension Such a team can be controlled much better than those with a "big" bike, the 20 "wheels only in absolute extreme situations, so moguls at a disadvantage. The Magura brakes are recommended when towing a trailer, but not really a must.
Luggage
Small Ortlieb Front Roller go forward and back; back go back the big scooter. The very old asymmetrical Back Roller give back most of foot freedom. Bernd's has the braze-ons for a front-mounting block Klickfix, alternatively, one of Brompton. At the Klickfix block fits a simple basket. Most Klickfix bags but do not fit, because they cover the headlights. Care: Too high weight Basket (see picture) leads wg. the long block to vibrate.
alternative is to mount the high quality of Brompton-bags with the block, which are unfortunately not cheap. The recommended tour bag comes with block is about 180-200 €, but also something "for life".
Some small tips:
- Against squeaking noises, both the handlebar stem and the seat tube of grease easily with a standard machine grease. I am always gray or similar Molykote, as it shows at least that there is also fat.
- The brakes and the grip tighten up, but so that they can move with vigorous hand just yet. If it time comes to overthrow or overturn the wheel moves, the handle only, otherwise it will fail.
- All screws should be consistent with medium-strength thread locker (the "blue") are fixed - you would not believe what can losrütteln a cobbled street can do.
- On the subject of chain oil, there are true confessions, here mine: Rohloff oil carefully take on the roles that do not enter the page, then the excess oil. Less is more!
- The tax rate in moths because of the long steering rods and associated forces, in my view, a problem area. He should always be adjusted clean
Conclusion
be in contrast to larger Wheels is a Bernd's just incredible agile, while still running very stable, and definitely worth the money. Precisely the true "jack of all trades".
has now seen the gray scooter quite a bit. Especially in ICE's are always curious faces, even though I've gotten most of the co-commuting already know ....
