Folding Bikes - Thoughts and questions re folding bikes

As far as I know I've never seen a folding bike and I don't think any local stores carry them. However I am intrigued and if I ever see some at a shop somewhere I want to try one or several out. I love my Specialized Expedition which I ride on our awful gravel road and also sometimes take to town and ride blissfully on the pavement through town or on a multi surface bike trail. I thought what good idea a folding bike seems to be. You could just fold it up and put it in your trunk or on almost any form of transportation to take with you wherever you are going. You could take it inside almost anywhere.

I even had some crazy ideas. I have lost 50 pounds over the past year and have 30 left to go. I had the crazy idea that when I reach my ultimate goal I could possibly reward myself with a folding bike. I also had the idea of getting them for my kids when they go to college. How nice it would be to just fold them up and put them in one's dorm room or apartment and not worry about theft.

But, I am not mechanical at all and I don't like the idea of possibly folding one up and having it fall apart and not knowing how to put it together again. It seems they would be more fragile than a regular bike. I am still scared to take the front tire off my bike because when I did and put it back on and then had to take it to a bike shop the guy said it was put on wrong, upside down or backward or something. He was busy and I felt stupid or I would have asked him to walk me through the process until I got it right.

Can they possibly be as comfortable as a regular sized bike?
Anyway, I like reading about your experiences with your folding bikes even if I never do get one.

Don't worry, folders aren't scary. Learning to maintain a bike is easy these days, with the internet. Your best sources of info are the mechanics forum here (search function will find you almost anything), and on the most amazing resource ever, here http://sheldonbrown.com/home.html

You need never fear a tyre again!

I thought what good idea a folding bike seems to be. You could just fold it up and put it in your trunk or on almost any form of transportation to take with you wherever you are going. You could take it inside almost anywhere. :thumb:

I even had some crazy ideas. I have lost 50 pounds over the past year and have 30 left to go. I had the crazy idea that when I reach my ultimate goal I could possibly reward myself with a folding bike. :thumb:

I also had the idea of getting them for my kids when they go to college. How nice it would be to just fold them up and put them in one's dorm room or apartment and not worry about theft. :thumb:

Can they possibly be as comfortable as a regular sized bike? :thumb:
Anyway, I like reading about your experiences with your folding bikes even if I never do get one.

You will not regret it!

Regards

You will like it. There is a lot of information here on how to repair or adjust. Now we just have to help you pick one out. :)

The other question I forgot to answer is, can they really be as comfortable as a full size bike. The answer is yes, within limits. Part of it is in the choosing of an appropriate bike - if you want a bike that fits like a hybrid, that's easier to find than one that fits like a road bike (and much cheaper). The second part is your height. If you're 6'4, your options are severely limited compared to a more average height person. Finally, it might be necessary to do a little tweaking to make any bike, folding or not, fit well. This is probably as little as swapping out a stem, or changing the seat (both very easy, no need for a bike shop!), and might not be necessary at all.

Wow, thank you for the encouragement. It will take me a few months to lose 30 more pounds so I have time to research and hopefully test drive. I am 5'8" and will be within the normal weight range for a woman of my height when I reach my goal so I don't have to have special height accommodations. I am a farm wife, mother of teenagers and USDA/NRCS employee. I think I'll just want a comfortable, multi purpose utility folding bike. I don't intend to race or take it on long road trips. What kinds of gearing do you recommend? My regular bike has 21 speeds as do all the other bikes we have. It seems like overkill to me but that's how they come. I'll want some speeds. I probably wouldn't ride it out here on our dirt and gravel roads but I might want to take it on bike trails which can have variable surfaces as well as riding around towns. What kind of brakes do you recommend? I like having front suspension, comfortable handlebars (don't like to hunch as I do that on the computer at work too much) and a comfortable seat but I don't want to spend a lot of money either.

Well, I'll keep reading this forum off and on to learn all I can and thank you again.

I have a folding bike that is a road bike, higher end bike. I love it and take it on long rides. It is as comfy as my regular road bike, no question.

The bigger folding bikes with 26inch wheels are alot heavier to carry when folded than some of the smaller folding bikes. And cumbersome. I had a Dahon Matrix that was not very practical in terms of folding and taking on the Metro ('course, I don't imagine you'll have that problem in Montana!)

If you have questions, just ask away. There'll be plenty of answers (and opinions)

I am looking at the possibility of getting a folder for short 3 or 4 mile commute. I am a uber clyde at 300, are there weight limits on folders? and do I need to be concerned about the wheels like I would for my road or hybrid?

I too know nothing about folders and I am trying to do my research, but I don't even think any of my local shops carry a folder as I don't live in a town where these type of bikes are heavily used.

Folding bikes are hard to come by in Montana.

I was able to purchase my Dahon Speed Pro in Billings. Dimension Edge was the name of the shop. He mostly did motorized bicycles, but also sold Dahons. I think there is also a Dahon dealer in Missoula. The rest of my folding bikes I have ordered online. I really like them and ride mine to work everyday.

If you have any specific regional questions, feel free to PM me.

I am a uber clyde at 300, are there weight limits on folders?

I've broken the frame of my Dahon Matrix twice, right where seat tube hits top tube, and I weigh 215. So I wouldn't get a Matrix.

I understand the Bike Friday people will beef up their bikes for heavier riders. I'd check that out. I'd also consider something like the Xootr Swift, which isn't rated up to 300, but seems pretty sturdy and has a truly massive seatpost. (I just got one.)

We have two sets of folders in addition to our regular bikes. They are very handy and just as comfortable as the fixed bikes. It's all a matter of fit: saddle height, etc. Our 16" stainless Dahons only have three gears in their Sturmey-Archer hubs, but they are a low-low, a high-high and an intermediate middle gear, so we can get up and down most normal hills. We love them. Good luck in your quest.

I am looking at the possibility of getting a folder for short 3 or 4 mile commute. I am a uber clyde at 300, are there weight limits on folders? and do I need to be concerned about the wheels like I would for my road or hybrid?

I too know nothing about folders and I am trying to do my research, but I don't even think any of my local shops carry a folder as I don't live in a town where these type of bikes are heavily used.I would recommend a Raleigh 20 but you will need to be able to tinker.

jaxgtr... if you want to just check out some folding bikes Lakeshore Bicycles on Blanding carries Dahons. Or at least the dealer locator says they do. I doubt you'll find any other brands in the jax area though.

As noteon have noted above... Bike Friday can customize a bike to fit a larger or heavier rider.

--sam

p.s. I grew up in Jax. :)

Thanks folks. Lalato, thanks, I have not been to Lakeshore in sometime, I'll have to give them a call.

4hmom, a Downtube 8H may be the perfect bike for you: front suspension, rear rack and kickstand, 8-speed internal hub gears (low maintenance and allow you to shift while stopped), moderately priced. See http://www.downtube.com/product532.html

Also, congratulations on your weight loss! That is fantastic.

I understand wanting to have a reward for reaching your weight-loss goal (I lost 35 pounds through Weight Watchers 5 years ago and have maintained since), but why not get a folder now? Since riding one promotes better health, it may just be the tool to help accelerate reaching your goal weight. Perhaps a better end reward might be buying new clothes to showcase the new you?