Folding Bikes - Help! Which bike to get?

Hi Everyone,

Great forum, exactly what I need right now. I am in the market for a foldable bike, and would appreciate your comments and direction.

I am looking for a true travel bike to take with me on my job ( I travel duh! ). Will probably take it 2-3 times a month, by airplane, and will ride anywhere from 10-50 miles, traveling all over the US. I've done some research, and am having a difficult time deciding which would be the better way to go so I'd love to hear from some of you with real world experience.

My requirements:

1. Actual travel capability. It needs to be fairly easy to pack and fit in a regular suitcase and preferably have some room left over for helmet, clothes, etc. I work for the airlines, so I have a little leeway on size, but basically a standard carry-on.

2. Quality and reliability. I'll be doing some longer rides on the road, so a commuter bike made for short distances (some websites advertise the bikes as being good for up to 10 miles) doesn't interest me.

What I'm trying to decide:

I'll look at exact models later, but should I go with a true road bike (Ritchey, Mahon Allegra, others?) or a smaller foldable type (Friday, Mahon, Xootr?) I'm mechanically capable, do all my own mtc on my regular road bike, and don't necessarily mind speniding the time to pack correctly. But from what I've seen, each type of bike involves about the same amount of work to pack, and they fit in about the same size suitcases. What am I missing? What real difference is their besides look (doesn't matter to me) and cost? Cost is a concern, but offset a little by the parts commonality with my road bike, and being a full size bike.

Alright, what do you think? And thanks in advance.

Please explain ....:


1. Actual travel capability. It needs to be fairly easy to pack and fit in a regular suitcase and preferably have some room left over for helmet, clothes, etc. I work for the airlines, so I have a little leeway on size, but basically a standard carry-on.

There is a HUGE difference between standard suitcase ( girth 70 inches I believe ) and Carry On ...

Carry On: there was a fellow here who CLAIMED to have taken a Brommy as Carry On. Comes to find out all kinds of wicked circumstances let him actually do it ...ONCE !!!

Basically if you want suitcase you want a bike which can be dissasembled.... versus easily folded to take into a train or bus

And you want a full sized bike....

Ritchey or Dahon Allegro are probably what ou are lookin at

Let us know
Thanks Thor

Hi Everyone,

Great forum, exactly what I need right now. I am in the market for a foldable bike, and would appreciate your comments and direction.

I am looking for a true travel bike to take with me on my job ( I travel duh! ). Will probably take it 2-3 times a month, by airplane, and will ride anywhere from 10-50 miles, traveling all over the US. I've done some research, and am having a difficult time deciding which would be the better way to go so I'd love to hear from some of you with real world experience.

My requirements:

1. Actual travel capability. It needs to be fairly easy to pack and fit in a regular suitcase and preferably have some room left over for helmet, clothes, etc. I work for the airlines, so I have a little leeway on size, but basically a standard carry-on.

2. Quality and reliability. I'll be doing some longer rides on the road, so a commuter bike made for short distances (some websites advertise the bikes as being good for up to 10 miles) doesn't interest me.

What I'm trying to decide:

I'll look at exact models later, but should I go with a true road bike (Ritchey, Mahon Allegra, others?) or a smaller foldable type (Friday, Mahon, Xootr?) I'm mechanically capable, do all my own mtc on my regular road bike, and don't necessarily mind speniding the time to pack correctly. But from what I've seen, each type of bike involves about the same amount of work to pack, and they fit in about the same size suitcases. What am I missing? What real difference is their besides look (doesn't matter to me) and cost? Cost is a concern, but offset a little by the parts commonality with my road bike, and being a full size bike.

Alright, what do you think? And thanks in advance.

I think from your post, you would be pleased with an Airnimal... it is designed to fold and fit as 'carry on' with the wheels removed, and then the wheels would be stored in a separate hard suitcase.. see the Airnimal Site (http://www.airnimalfoldingbikes.com/) for luggage options and bike models.. the Chameleon in particular rides just like a high performance road bike but on 24" wheels.. not a lot of tire choices, but if you are trying to duplicate road bike performance with a folder, it is a terrific bike... if you are in the USA, there are dealers that I know of on both coasts.. the bike's price fluctuates depending on components.. you can also buy a 'frameset only' like I did, and possibly save some dough..

Bruce

I have a Bike Friday and like it very much. It will meet your requirements for travel with extra space on top of being a nice riding bike. I have used my Pocket Pilot on some 50 to 75 mile rides and really enjoyed it.
Here is a link on packing with some extras
http://briandesousa.com/bicycling/tech/bikefriday.htm

Kenal0

I think that the Bike Friday should be on the top of your list. It is the ultimate in traveling bikes that go on planes alot. It is also the best for the performance orientated cyclist. I would contact then first. Don't be put off by smaller wheels. They are the best to pack in cramped suitcases with your other gear. And the 20" diameter is the best one for almost the same experience that you get on a larger wheel bike.

Of the bikes you're considering, the one I have experience with is Bike Friday. I've gone more with their touring bikes, (first a NWT, then a Crusoe), and a Pocket Tourist that I use as a commuter. Great brand, does fit in a suitcase. It's expensive, and gets more so if you really get a good component group on it. Also, with small wheeled bikes, pay attention to what gearing range you're getting. There are several solutions to compensate for the small wheel size; talk this over in great detail with the BF people if you think about buying.

I have experience with a couple of Dahons. Good brand, but I haven't tried the higher end models that might be good for what you want.

If you're considering a breakaway bike like the Dahon Allegro, and if you already have a steel road bike that you're willing to take a risk with, you could consider having it converted with S & S couplers. http://www.sandsmachine.com/ Fair warning, I have no experience with this myself. Just mentioning it in case you weren't already aware of it. You could crunch the numbers, and see if you'd save any money over a new separable bike.

How's the gearing on the Mu SL? That bike, maybe with a different bar, looks primo. (I say that without having ridden it-- 'm waiting for a city Swift with a nexxus hub.)

Another possibility is the Gaerlan Go travel Bike.Check it out at Gaerlan Bicycles.If you live in California you may be able to check it out in person.

Another vote for Bike Friday.

I work for the airlines, so I have a little leeway on size, but basically a standard carry-on.

we are all guessing what bike would be cool, but I would like to get an answer on my original question about the carry - on part ......

thor

I've only ever owned a Bike Friday New World Tourer in the folding realm, so I can't at all recommend it over other bikes due to a complete lack of experience with other brands or models, but I can endorse it. I've found it so far to be very useful for airline travel. It performed beautifully in my trek through Thailand this year, with no troubles at all, and has even become my favorite "tool around town" bike. Since it's a custom fit, it fits as well as my best bike (my Mercian megatourer) and it has a really lively feel.

The caveat is that the configuration I went with was on the expensive side, especially when you include the folding rack, the Samsonite suitcase, and the wheeled metal trailer that the suitcase attaches to. On the plus side, it will eventually pay for itself.

You could go with a cheaper set up than I did with a Bike Friday though, but all told I ended up paying US $2100+ for mine with all the travel gear included, and all the component choices I went with were the bare minimum I would choose (in other words, mine could have cost more too), with the exception of the Chris King headset, since those were all they offered other than the stock generic brand headsets.

I work for the airlines, so I have a little leeway on size, but basically a standard carry-on.

we are all guessing what bike would be cool, but I would like to get an answer on my original question about the carry - on part ......

thor

I can provide a bit of insight...Airline employees typically can travel at very reduced rates when seats are available, however you constantly run the risk of getting bumped. Hence the carryon requirement and the ability to take a slightly oversized carryon. If you check bags, they may or may not get them off in time if you get bumped. My bride is a Flight Attendant with 22 years of flying and I have seen quite a few interesting items brought home by flight crews...like a 7 cylinder radial aircraft engine (it took 3-4 trips;) )

Aaron:)

Thanks for the replies everyone. Some great ideas here.

As far as the carry on bit, the above post sums it up pretty well. I've yet to see an example of any of the bikes that would fit in a true carry on bag, but have some good ideas where to start. I need to look at some bikes up close to get a better feel for how they would fit if they were actually taken apart (wheels off, stem, seat post, etc.) versus just actually folding. I still think they could be packed into smaller than advertised cases that way (maybe 2 bags). I'm kind of looking for it all here I know, but it'd be great if I could come up with a solution.

I think something like dahon's hammerhead (http://www.dahon.com/us/hammerhead7.htm) - ie a small wheeled bike - with s&s couplers (http://www.sandsmachine.com/) in points of your choosing would be ideal in your situation.

It's a break apart so you can do better at shrinking the frame than with a fold. And it has small wheels for the packing ...

You should decide if you need 26" or 20" wheels.

I think something like dahon's hammerhead (http://www.dahon.com/us/hammerhead7.htm) - ie a small wheeled bike - with s&s couplers (http://www.sandsmachine.com/) in points of your choosing would be ideal in your situation.

It's a break apart so you can do better at shrinking the frame than with a fold. And it has small wheels for the packing ...

That seems like a nice idea, but the Hammerhead has an aluminum frame, and aluminum frames can't be retro-fitted for the S&S couplers; they have to be manufactured that way to begin with. Steel frames can be retro-fitted.

Of course, Moulton already has break-apart small wheeled bikes, but they are very expensive.

I am stil startled by the requirement of carry on. .... which by definition is to carry on the stuff INTO the plane...... most Airline companies used to have this little metal cage as a sample where they check in people... I know that everything a little bigger than a computer case doesnt fit in the overhead ....

thats why I do not understand all that 26 inch stuff... you might be able to fold the frame, but not the wheels and they are twice too big ...

Brommey or if there is a little more room than a 16 inch Dahon is the only alternative

Thor