Folding Bikes - Pushing or pulling rather than lifting

As I contemplate getting a folding bike I realize that one of the criteria for what I want is that it be easy to push or pull. I want a bike I can put in the back seat of my wife's Scion XA and drive with her to work. Then I get out with the folded bike, walk it to my cubicle in an office building. In the evening i walk it out of the office, unfold it and ride it a couple miles to the train, take the train to my home train station and then ride from the station to home and fold it up ready to go for the next day.

Basically I don't want to have to lift/carry it while walking through the office as I often am carrying other things too.

Besides the Brompton, which is over my budget, what else is out there that allows it to be pushed or pulled, rather than lifted? I think neither the Downtube 9 nor the Dahon Curve are designed to be pulled when they are folded up.

(and the logical alternative of walking the unfolded bike through the office freaks out the building rules enforcer types so it's sort of out of the question).

regfman

strida

You can push some Dahons like so:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ySyzcRMLhQ

How heavy and tall are you? For smaller person a very good wheeler and a decent bike to store is the Carryme. Depending on how many miles and on what terrain it might be an opportunity.

If the Brompton is out of your price range, how about the Dahon Curve D3? I think this could be wheeled from the look of this video and it is really quite cheap. You can buy these in the UK for £270 and that includes 17.% VAT, so out of Europe it would be cheaper. Try and buy last year's model. They are definitely available here for less money than the 2008 model.

Good D3 video http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Ilvfge_oYQ4&NR=1

Also - this guy's physique shows that the little curve d3 will cope with a 'chunky' rider.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cNgIy3XHTQw

Recently, with my Dahon, I've been leaving the seatpost as extended as possible whilst still protruding enough past the chainring to rest on, and I find that it's quite easy to wheel the bike short distances like that, with the option to rest it down immediately. Works well for shops.

thanks for the responses. I think I'd prefer the bigger 20" wheel bike rather than the small ones like the Strider or the Carryme (I suspect there are some nice advantages to those smaller wheel bikes but I'm not sure what they would be; weight?).

I originally posted that the dahon curve didn't appear to be pushable but the video posted above shows that I'm wrong. I will check it out.

Thanks a lot.

Is $1000 out of your price range? If not, the Tikit Model-T might be a good option. It's designed to be rolled while folded.

Carryme or Strida.

Personally, I found that the 20" dahons and downtubes all roll well with a little practice. Not as well as a Strida or a folded Brompton/Merc, IMO. But I think that the 20" bikes ride much better such that if you don't need a compact fold sticking with the larger wheel bike is a better strategy.

thanks for the responses. I think I'd prefer the bigger 20" wheel bike rather than the small ones like the Strider or the Carryme (I suspect there are some nice advantages to those smaller wheel bikes but I'm not sure what they would be; weight?).

I originally posted that the dahon curve didn't appear to be pushable but the video posted above shows that I'm wrong. I will check it out.

Thanks a lot.

Just FYI, the Curve is a 16" wheel bike. If you fancy the look of the curved frame, the Mu P8/P24 could be an option. Good luck.

I need a trip to a store that sells a variety of these types of bikes to ride them. My local shop next to the San Francisco train station has about six or seven different models on display, but as I read this forum I am coming to realize that there are quite a few more to choose from. --- Also learning that they aren't cheap.

Anybody know a better shop in the area?

Just FYI, the Curve is a 16" wheel bike. If you fancy the look of the curved frame, the Mu P8/P24 could be an option. Good luck.

The Mu P8 is a nice ride, however it is not light enough to carry, you could roll it with a little practice.
I think the Mu is a good bike but I am not sure it will be my first choice based on your commute.