Experiences of old folding bikes?

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brokenbetty in reply to @salad

There's a friend of mine that knows how to build wheels actually, hope he will be able to find time to teach me this winter.

It's dead easy, I did mine from online guides. If you decide to go ahead let me know and I'll post the main ones I used. Don't forget to budget for the spokes!

If you go to the effort of building I'd switch to alloy rims, especially if you want rim brakes. If you want to keep it coaster brake and have gears you'll need to get a hub gear with coaster. I have an SRC3 on my Kingpin.

Are those 20" BMX size (406 ERTO) or one of the vintage 20" sizes? If the latter it will be hard/expensive/impossible to find alloy rims - which of the three depends on exactly which 20" you have. 406 will be no bother at all.

Oh, and I love your bike :)

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salad in reply to @brokenbetty

Thanks for your feedback!
: ]

Ok, so I could get a second hand 20'' kid's bike with a 3-speed hubbed rear wheel (like this) for like €30 in ok condition - and just use the rear wheel.. there are ones that wouldn't look too bad on my bike, and I'm assuming they will fit (?).

On the other hand I'm quite inclined to build a wheel myself as I would like to learn how to do this.
So yes, if you have the time I'd appreciate if you could link the videos you found helpful!

The wheels I have apparently are 20'' ETRTO 47-406 (at least this is what it says on the tyres).

I have found an article on 3-speed coaster brake hubs here - maybe interesting for some.
Actually there's an old model ("pre 1981") S&A AWC hub in like-new condion on eBay right now for about €25 (link) ..this is good, right?

What spokes / rim would be recommended?

Thanks everybody, I appreciate your help!

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c00ps in reply to @salad

406 is the 'standard' BMX size rim, so much, much better for tyre choice! For a 20" wheel shopper biek, I reckon any double-wall alloy rim - in a size that suits your choice of tyre width - will be fine.

I have Sun Ringle CR18 rims with the most basic cut-to-size spokes from SJS cycles. But there are bound to be cheaper rims that are just as good or better.

If you find building wheels too much of a faff (and in my experience it is a faff, even though I keep doing it!), you could always lace them yourself and then take them to a bike shop to be trued?

I can't help with spoke length though, I'm afraid. All my wheels are 451.

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