Folding Bikes - Options for small women?

Yes, your wives are correct. Maybe I could carry these bikes up and down my stairs every day, but the question is, will I want to? The heaviest thing I generally have to carry up and down the stairs is my laundry, and I put that off to once a month. ;)

I think I will put off getting a folding bike for a few years and see what options arise...

Yes, your wives are correct. Maybe I could carry these bikes up and down my stairs every day, but the question is, will I want to? The heaviest thing I generally have to carry up and down the stairs is my laundry, and I put that off to once a month. ;)

I think I will put off getting a folding bike for a few years and see what options arise...

Well, if you were looking to get something to diddle around in, perhaps a simple Xootr scooter would work for you?

http://www.xootr.com/xootr/nscooters.shtml

Yes, your wives are correct. Maybe I could carry these bikes up and down my stairs every day, but the question is, will I want to? The heaviest thing I generally have to carry up and down the stairs is my laundry, and I put that off to once a month. ;)

I think I will put off getting a folding bike for a few years and see what options arise...

If I might say so, that's a disaster of a decision. Just think of all the fun and fitness you are about to turn your back on. Someone earlier said, 'You are probably stronger than you think.' I'd only change that slightly - you are CERTAINLY stronger than you think and will become more and more able to exert that strength by actually challenging your body. Also - when you are inclined to put off a new experience like this one, remember - THIS IS THE ONLY REAL TIME iN YOUR LIFE - THE PRESENT. Don't put off fun now in favour of fun later. The only real thing you have is the here and now. The past is just a few tingling neurones in your head and the future does not exist and might not give you another chance.

Please excuse the lecture.

LittleYip, I'm a 5'1" 118-lb woman, and I love my Dahon Curve. Yes, it's heavy, and there's no way I can carry it with just one arm (like a briefcase) as I've seen some larger men do. I basically grab on to the frame with my left arm and balance it against my left hip. Lugging it downstairs and on flat ground isn't bad at all; it's when I have to fight gravity going upstairs that it hurts.

That said, I love my bike, and the advantages far outweigh the discomfort of the two minutes each day when I have to lug my bike upstairs.

As far as the Bolso bag is concerned, I never really tried it out. The shop where I bought the bike didn't have one on hand, and the sales guy said that chances are the bag would be almost dragging on the ground given my short stature, so I never really bothered with it.

Isn't there a Strida bag like the one you describe?

Strida does indeed sell a bag that can be slung over the shoulder. I've heard it can double as a laundry bag. ;)

Regards
T

I too live upstairs and cant store bikes outside. In the cellar would be hassle because of many doors and narrow stairs. So I store bikes in my bedroom. I prefer to take the Carryme for shorter trips because it is so light and easy to carry out and into the house/stairs.
Yes, ride is a different and has to be learned but after getting used to, its easy. The singelspeed version gets you to a moderate speed and is fast enough for narrow inner city riding, not too fast or dangerous, given that you keep an eye on ruts and such.

I'm 5'1" 118 lbs and I fold and carry my 25+ lb Dahon Mariner twice a day 4 days a week. I grab the right side chain stay with my right hand and the whole bike tucks under my arm pretty well. I think if you carry your bike often enough your muscles will get used to it, so folding size might be a bigger issue for you especially if the stairways are narrow. I definitely wouldn't recommend the Mariner for your purposes, btw. The fold is huge.

I have been looking around online for a small and lightweight folding bike. And, when I say small and lightweight, I really mean it! I am 5'4.5" and 115lbs. I just don't need a bike capable of supporting men over 200lbs. I don't care if the bike I ride breaks under such weight. I want something that is a joy and ease to carry. Specifically, I am looking for something I can bring on the train or a plane, so I can ride ~10 miles in a day when I travel. I'd also like to use it to get to work, which is 2 miles from home in Manhattan.

Does anybody have suggestions? I can't be the only person fitting this description...

You fit me when I was younger and a bit more svelte in figure (but not by much). With the exception of my Dahon Boardwalk, I use my little 16 inch bikes for ease of carrying about with me up and down stairs, in and out of tight places, and long distance riding (about 15 miles for all three of the bikes).


The thing about Bike Fridays is that they don't really fold easily, do they? Except for the Tikit? I read that their fold is more for packing into suitcases than for every day commute. And given that, they're pretty expensive. Pricewise, I am flexible but for me to spend $1000 on a bike, it should really be perfect. All of the easily folding bikes I come across seem to be built for bigger people. Even the lightest models (which are always most expensive) are rated for 220lb riders. A bike built to carry half that has GOT to be lighter, no? And cheaper because it shouldn't take as much fine engineering to do its job well.

I'm thinking something with 16" wheels and proportionately sized. Ideally I'd like a bike with a Brompton fold or as small as that. If only Brompton made a bike for lighter people... Anybody ever seen anything like that? I read about the Dahon Sweet Pea, but with 14" wheels I'm not sure it would ride well...

I don't have problems with my stripped down 25 pound Brompton. My little Piccolo tips the scale at the same weight. But I would not go smaller than 16 inches (actually ISO 305 size wheel) for any folding bike for more than a mile or so distance riding.


Hmm, the reason I need a light bike is that I would be lifting it. I live on the 4th floor of a walkup, so it'd be up and down 3 flights of stairs every day. And, yes 5'4" is average height but I am kind of scrawny so lugging a 25lb bike around could be tough. That's why I had been hoping for a lighter bike made for lighter people, but it doesn't sound like this exists or is likely to be built, from some of the posts.

One thing I read somewhere is that Dahon will be coming out with a Brompton fold type bike soon, and maybe I can hope that they might be able to make it lighter. Also, somebody posted about the A-Bike, which is closer in specs to waht I would hope for, but I'm not sure I'd be happy with how it rides. I'd have to test ride it. Thanks for all the replies and suggestions though!

The Dahon Curve or if you want to wait, the Dahon Curl, will suit you fine. I try not to carry mine too much but sometimes it cannot be avoided.

I carry my Dahon Curve up and down the stairs under one arm when it is unfolded too. It's almost easier because the weight is distributed differently. But I have no problem carrying it folded with one arm. And I'm spindley.

I agree with EvilV. Don't deny yourself the chance to have a good time. And small wheel bikes are really fun. It's a totally different experience. You can't be all serious on little clown bikes.

5'4" guy here. I have a DT mini, it's a good bike but not what I would call light. I've added a rack and basket to the bike so that doesn't help either. It is wheelable if you secure it with a bungee. I haul it up and down one flight of stairs each day when going to the train. I would NOT want to haul this thing up 3 or 4 flights of stairs on a daily basis.

In your situation I'd consider the Strida or Carryme first, then a Dahon Mu-SL -- another 16" folder but considerably lighter than the Curve. I'm not very familiar with the Bromptons but I bet their lightest models are quite expensive.

The muSL is 20in, isn't it? But that thing is light at 19lbs.

The problem with dahons is that the folded shape gets in the way of carrying it ergonomically. Strida, brompton, and carryme seem like the easiest to lug up and down stairs. If you don't need gears, a brommie single speed w/o rack and fenders would be a great choice because you can carry it like a briefcase, plus no 3sp hub means lighter bike.