I have a silver Airnimal Chameleon; I am the second owner it was new in 2006 I think built up by first owner from parts.
I have owned it since 2009. Have been entirely happy ; one trip by air to S France last winter where I did a week’s cycling with FFCT members; who were impressed that I could ride all day on ‘a folder’ and keep up. ‘Quand tu es arrivé nous pensions que le vélo n’était pas complet!’ ( A little flagwaving there).
Now, I’m thinking of swapping to a flat bar version ; ‘cos I’m 57 and my neck gets stiff and all my other bikes are ‘hybrid’ or flat bar tourers.
SO – should I just try and convert this one – or sell it on and buy the Joey, which will offer chunkier tyres (1.25” I think is on the Joey. The current tyres are Schwalbe Durano 23-520 and I don’t think I can get a bigger tyre to fit. Might lose some gear range ; I calculate I have 37 – 106” on the present compact setup – vis.
Some of the original frames suffered metal fatigue; this one looks OK.
Mine’s had a bit of paint scrapes from use and folding/packing
Few Airnimal stockists offer a try before you buy or would offer a trade in (well, I only have dealt with Spa in Harrogate for spares and Bicycle Hub in Ironbridge for windowshopping) . As I’m in far West Wales, so a trip up to the smoke is not so easy. Maybe Bikefix, or CHWhite , in Malmesbury are keener to stock a range or even have the panoply of try before you buy’ bikes. How about Airnimal ‘factory’ in Cambridgeshire – should I go there?
Final photos
