Columba 20″ Alloy Folding Bike Review

Even though Columba is not the most popular brands when it comes to foldables, especially when compared to Dahon and Brompton, the bike company certainly has its faithful base of customers.

The Columba 20 is the company’s answer to an extreme budget bicycle loaded with as many features as possible for a bike in this range. The machine is made of the highest quality and will perform well under most conditions.

Click here to see the price on Amazon.com

Rating:

4.0/5.0

Price:

$$$ on Amazon (August 28 2015)

Warranty:

Regular Columba warranty.

Pros And Cons:

Light Weight                                    Small Wheels
Quick Folding And Unfolding       Plastic Parts Look Cheap
Easy To Carry
Cool Design

First Impression:

This Columba can easily be compared to a BMX in looks, but it rides like a cruiser and is faster than mono speed BMX.

Detailed Review:

The Columba 20 Folding Bike with the 7 speed mechanism is available in Black color and can be ordered online through Amazon.  It arrives within 3 to 7 days, depending on where you are situated in the United States and comes in a sealed and well-padded stock box. The bike is already assembled which means you just have to adjust the seat post and the height of the handle bar to your preference and inflate the tires to get the bike fit for road. A positive point for the less mechanical types among us. It is pretty much among the few almost ride ‘out of the box’ kind of bikes.

The bikes frame is built from alloy aluminium and the fork is made of steel. This means it is well manufactured and very durable. In fact it is able to bear the extremities of weather, from the 100 F of summer to -20 of winter, without any apparent problem.

Columba has installed a 7 speed gear, unlike the 18 gear system in the Columba 26, system from Shinamo in the bike. It is not a common sight to see the top quality Shinamo parts being used in a budget bike like this, but Columba has surprised us with it. This allows you to ride and shift effortlessly and very smoothly.  The 7 speed mechanism allows you to go uphill without worrying about breaking a sweat. The wheels also play their part here, by providing great stability and balance.  On the down side, due to the small wheels and the limited gear system the bike is not fast enough and even on the seventh gear you will need to paddle hard to get some speed. You will probably never bother shifting the gear from anything other than the seventh. So there are two sides to the bike – easy to ride and pedal, but not very fast.

The seat itself is comfortable for most, however you might not find it really luxurious. If it is a nuisance for you, you can replace the saddle with another seat (Sunlite Cloud-9, Bicycle Suspension Comfort Saddle is suggested) or put a gel cover on it.

The folding property of the Columba 20’’ is on spot. It wraps itself into a small shape in less than 15 seconds. But the sucky part is that it does not come with a holding mechanism which means the bike doesn’t keep its form when folded. You can use a bungee cord to solve this problem, but it can still be annoying. Also the handle post keeps dangling to the side when the bike is folded without any support. If you put the bike in the car trunk or in a carry-on bag, there is a danger of parts rubbing against each other and getting scratched.  The weight is also not in the ultra-light category and you will be getting a regular workout if you lift and take the bike with you, even within short distances.

The small parts on the bike are well thought of. The handle grips are of the finest quality and don’t look cheap at all. The fenders perform well, while the luggage rack is solid it self and you can even get a person sit on it behind you. Best of all, you get a bell on the bike. How many foldables do you remember having a bell? This is a very unique little feature on this Columba.

However, there is one big short coming for tall people. The bike is not made for you. So if you are taller than 5 foot 7 inches, and thinking about getting this bike, you are making a mistake. The bikes body is such that the taller people would have to bend their knees too much which will make pedaling really hard. It will also have toll on your legs, lower back and butt and probably will wear them out.

One thing which sets Columba apart from other major brands is its customer service, which is always on top and makes you feel like they have always got your backs. You can always call them and ask for more details about any minor issue you have regarding the purchase or the bike itself.

Specifications:

• 20″ wheels, folding steel frame & steel fork.
• Shipping weight 38 lbs
• Shinamo 7 speed gear system
• Promax steel front/rear V-brake.
• Kenda 20″x1.75″ tire.
• Alloy rim.
• Net weight 34 lbs.
• Quick removable front handle stem.
• Fender
• With alloy silver cap & PVC black bell.
• Rear carrier
• Foldable pedals.
• Front/rear steel hub.
• Steel kick stand.
• Supporting rider’s max weight up to 220 lbs.
• Folded dimensions 31″x14″x25″.

Verdict:

For the price, the Columba 20’’ folding bike is a good option. There can be better models available from more recognised brands if your budget is more flexible, nevertheless if you really want to buy it then you should go for it. It takes time getting used to, but give it a week and you will be enjoying riding it as much as you can. It is a good machine for daily commute in the city and is small and sturdy enough to travel long distances with you.