I'd love to travel with a folding bike. Problem is, I'm 6'4", 250lbs and I worry about crushing some of those smaller wheels :eek:

Any recommendations for a folding bike that I could look into? Thanks!

The smaller wheels are generally stronger so you don't need to worry about them, as long as they are well tensioned. What you need to look at are those long stalky tubes, such as seat post and steering post.

Many of the higher quality folders such as Bike Friday and Birdy list rider weight (and Downtube as well). Check out the web sites.

I'm 6'4", 250lbs and I worry about crushing some of those smaller wheels

As Jur said, Smaller Wheels are Stronger.

A Bike Friday could easily be built to accommodate 6'4" and 250 Lbs.

We had a great ride on ours today along the Columbia River into downtown Vancouver, WA for lunch, and back. They are very maneuverable and accelerate very quickly when dodging all the walkers and slower cyclists also out using the walkway/bikeway.

FYI: I'm just 6'3'/200 LBS and 65 yrs old - wife is 5'8"/155-160 and 63 yrs old.

We transported them to the starting point inside our little Toyota Yaris Lift Back.

Very convenient, and great bikes.

I'd love to travel with a folding bike. Problem is, I'm 6'4", 250lbs and I worry about crushing some of those smaller wheels :eek:

Any recommendations for a folding bike that I could look into? Thanks!

Ditto what Jur wrote.

Also, you might want to include the stuff you carry when considering the weight limits. Even with light touring, the pounds can add up quick.

I'd love to travel with a folding bike. Problem is, I'm 6'4", 250lbs and I worry about crushing some of those smaller wheels :eek:

Any recommendations for a folding bike that I could look into? Thanks!

avoid dahon, brompton, moulton/moulton clones (they all have recommended maximum weights of ~100kg or less)

try birdy, airnimal (no upper limit as far as I'm aware)

avoid dahon, brompton, moulton/moulton clones (they all have recommended maximum weights of ~100kg or less)

try birdy, airnimal (no upper limit as far as I'm aware)

Airnimal does have a weight limit. I seem to recall something like 260 pounds. But that was a few years ago when I was looking at the bike.

Airnimal does have a weight limit. I seem to recall something like 260 pounds. But that was a few years ago when I was looking at the bike.

Ok thanks, I didn't remember seeing one but I'm only a mini-clydesdale.

Ok thanks, I didn't remember seeing one but I'm only a mini-clydesdale.

Yeah ... I am pretty far under the limit myself (190 lbs.) so I gave it very little attention.

Bike Friday will build a custom bike for you. This is a better option if you are planning on doing heavily loaded touring, or a heavy pack. (Not so much for your weight, but for your height and weight combined, which puts a lot of stress on a long seatpost near the min insertion line.)

If you get a Birdy, make sure to get a green elastomer and one of the newer 36 spoke rear wheel models. According to Jur's general rule of thumb, that's something like a 72 spoke 700cc wheel! That's excessive for you. But like I said, the seat post is your rate limiting step.

Great suggestions, thanks a bunch!

Check out the Pacific Reach!

I started out at 230 lbs and have no issues so far. You will need to get a longer seatpost since the stock is a 300mm, but Yan at Downtube sells 30.4mm in 500mm which will be longer than you need. I'm a little over 6' and am now at the max for the 300mm post. You could probably get by with a 400mm post at 6'4"

Great riding bike! Very solid feeling, no stem flex, incredible ride with the full suspension. Not the best fold, but so far the best riding folder I've ever ridden. I love my Downtube Mini and VIIIH, but the Reach rides better. Not surprising since it costs more than twice as much, but I really like mine. I have almost 200 miles on mine now after about a month, and would have more except I got sick a week ago so I haven't been riding.

Don't know where you are, but I got mine from Black Dog Cycles here in Washington http://www.blackdogbicycles.com/thereachfoldingbike.html

I'm 6'1" 240lbs., very muscular build, so I push the pedals hard, especially when I stand on them. Peter Reich built a Swift for me. So far so good.

I am pretty far under the limit myself (190 lbs.) so I gave it very little attention.

That's what I said when I weighed 190. Now 210. Damn! How did that happen??

Speedo

Look at the xootr swift. I am 6'4" and purchased mine when i was somewhere around 280. Actually i'm pretty much back to that weight right now due to lack of time on the bike. But aside from that, the bike is great. I have had no weight related issues with the bike at all. It does great for a daily commute as well as group rides. I was about to do a century on it, but chickened out at the last minute due to a lack of gear choices. Oh, and as for durability, I was hit by a car while riding my Swift. Aside from some scratches, a bent steering post (easily replaced by xootr) and ever so slightly out of true wheels, the bike was great, and back on the road once I received my replacement steering post. I love that bike. Only negative is the actual folded bike is kinda big, and in order to travel with it, you have to break it down a bit to fit in the suitcase. Regardless I think it's really the best choice. Oh yeah, and now that they offer the xxxl option it will easily fit you or someone even taller.
xxxl version is a longer seat post, and steering post.

Yes, do consider the other things youwill tote along. Half a gallon of water or 2 liters of coke are another 4 pounds, etc. The stated limit of the Dahon for most or all of them is 230 pounds, whether aluminum or chromoly. I am guessing that this is not a frame issue because the chromoly frames I have looked at seem to be quite well made. i am guessing it is the other components, i.e. seat tubes, etc. You may want to shoot them an email and ask them about it. Their customer service is pretty good.

]I'm 6'1" 240lbs., very muscular build,[/B] so I push the pedals hard, especially when I stand on them. Peter Reich built a Swift for me. So far so good.


Is that before or after the full moon?...........

The Airnimal Rhino looks awesome but I'm afraid to even hazard a guess to what it costs... $2K?

Is that before or after the full moon?...........


I'm unable to ride a bike in my lupine phase. I would need something adapted for quadrupeds. Any ideas?

Big Boy Phil - Your post makes me feel even more trusting in my new Swift.

That's what I said when I weighed 190. Now 210. Damn! How did that happen??

Speedo

Hah! Just saw this Speedo.

On a serious note, I believe that Bike Friday can swap the seatpost mast if you get heavier. Although it will certainly be cheaper to cut down on the calories ... :D

^^^^

Fortunately my 210 was in April; the start of good biking weather. Now I'm back down to 200.

On topic, I have seen Bike Fridays with reinforced handlebar posts as well.

Speedo

I'm in the neighborhood of 300 lbs with a long body and short legs (and so have fit problems). I have a Bike Friday New World Tourist and have had no problems. I have done some touring with it, hauling way too much crap (because I'm a newbie at touring). The bike did great

My NWT has become my everyday bike as well. They can be a bit pricier than something "off the rack" but I think they are worth it. Give them a call and talk over your bike needs and they'll come up with a quote.

noone has mentioned Downtube, yet I think some of us who ride them (OK, me), are fairly large - smaller than the OP (I'm 5.11 /210lbs on a good day and stark naked, but rarely cycle a la sammyboy), but both Sammy and I carry a lot of luggage too. 250lbs may be out of the spec, but its a comparative low cost option to try?