Folding Bikes - Bike Friday Sizing Help Please

Hi all,

Am seriously considering a custom NWT (or Llama) and did up my measurements:

Height: 166 cm
Weight: 68.5 kg
Inseam: 78 cm (31 inches)

I can't seem to find on the site what size frame would be appropriate for the above. If anyone can convert the above to the right frame size it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Don't ask us. Ask the experts.

1. Download and fill out Bike Friday's Sizing form (http://community.bikefriday.com/DocumentLibrary/CustomFittingForm.pdf)

2. Call Bike Friday (http://www.bikefriday.com/) and ask them to help ya. This is what they're good at.

Check out this page http://community.bikefriday.com/BikeChooser

They sell Standard bikes and Built To Order. The BTO costs a little bit more (plust cost of any special component you specify) and is manufactured for your specific dimensions.

Your best bet is to call BF on the phone and talk with a sales person. They are friendly and non pushy. If you want a Standard bike, they will help you to choose the right size. If you want to discuss a BTO, they will be able to answer all your questions.

You may want to check also the FAQ page, it has a lot of good info (select questions from the pull down list).

Kam

IMO it's too soon to call Bike Friday. Height and Inseam alone are not enough to get a proper fit. The most important thing you need to find out what your ideal reach is. The critical measurement is the virtual top tube, also called Horizontal TT. A quick and dirty method is to go to a bunch of bike shops, demo several bikes while noting the make, model, and size, go home and look up the virtual top tubes online. Another option is to go to a bike shop that has one of those uber adjustable sizing machines and get a session whereafter they can tell you your idea geometry. I believe Bike Fridays have a standard 73 deg seat tube angle, so you don't have to worry about seat tube angles.

Don't ask us. Ask the experts.

1. Download and fill out Bike Friday's Sizing form (http://community.bikefriday.com/DocumentLibrary/CustomFittingForm.pdf)

2. Call Bike Friday (http://www.bikefriday.com/) and ask them to help ya. This is what they're good at.


Check out this page http://community.bikefriday.com/BikeChooser

They sell Standard bikes and Built To Order. The BTO costs a little bit more (plust cost of any special component you specify) and is manufactured for your specific dimensions.

Your best bet is to call BF on the phone and talk with a sales person. They are friendly and non pushy. If you want a Standard bike, they will help you to choose the right size. If you want to discuss a BTO, they will be able to answer all your questions.

You may want to check also the FAQ page, it has a lot of good info (select questions from the pull down list).

Kam

Have to agree with both of these comments. BF will either A) use their form to get you into the right "standard size" bike. or b) get you fitted up with a custom sized bike.


IMO it's too soon to call Bike Friday. Height and Inseam alone are not enough to get a proper fit. The most important thing you need to find out what your ideal reach is. The critical measurement is the virtual top tube, also called Horizontal TT. A quick and dirty method is to go to a bunch of bike shops, demo several bikes while noting the make, model, and size, go home and look up the virtual top tubes online. Another option is to go to a bike shop that has one of those uber adjustable sizing machines and get a session whereafter they can tell you your idea geometry. I believe Bike Fridays have a standard 73 deg seat tube angle, so you don't have to worry about seat tube angles.

This depends on if one is looking for a standard sized or custom sized bike. It only takes a few more measurements to determine those other things that you mention. BF is more than competent to walk people through this.

Just a note, did you actually measure your pubic bone height (aka, true inseam) or are you stating the inseam you normally wear?


Hi all,

Am seriously considering a custom NWT (or Llama) and did up my measurements:

Height: 166 cm
Weight: 68.5 kg
Inseam: 78 cm (31 inches)

I can't seem to find on the site what size frame would be appropriate for the above. If anyone can convert the above to the right frame size it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Thanks for all the replies. My situation is a bit odd...I'm currently in Singapore where there are no BF dealers (there is one but they can only sell the Tikit and pushed the Brompton on me when I said I wanted the NWT). Shipping to SG from BF would cost a shocking US$300.

I am planning on a visit back to Toronto in October where I was hoping to phone order a BTO BF and have it shipped to the shop and pick it up there. I get the idea that I can't order one from BF and have it shipped to the shop. I talked to Walter and that was the route he suggested.

I guess I could call him again to clarify exactly the best route.

As for inseam, yep, true inseam.

Thanks for all the replies. My situation is a bit odd...I'm currently in Singapore where there are no BF dealers (there is one but they can only sell the Tikit and pushed the Brompton on me when I said I wanted the NWT). Shipping to SG from BF would cost a shocking US$300.

I am planning on a visit back to Toronto in October where I was hoping to phone order a BTO BF and have it shipped to the shop and pick it up there. I get the idea that I can't order one from BF and have it shipped to the shop. I talked to Walter and that was the route he suggested.

I guess I could call him again to clarify exactly the best route.

As for inseam, yep, true inseam.Urbane Cyclist in Toronto is now a Bike Friday Dealer, so perhaps you can have it shipped there. I had to pay some import duty on mine - I don't know if buying it through Urbane helps avoid that.

Right on...I was talking to Nick at Urbane back in Feb/March and he showed me the folders they had on hand then! Was thinking of calling him early in the morning (12 hr's difference).

Just a quick followup. In the end, I had to order through BF since Urbane told me that most of their BF customers ordered direct and that they just provided service.

It's going to be a Rohloff-equipped NWT. I am now debating whether or not to add on a SON dynohub for the front wheel. Just worried I will bust some sort of airline weight limit.

Just a quick followup. In the end, I had to order through BF since Urbane told me that most of their BF customers ordered direct and that they just provided service.

It's going to be a Rohloff-equipped NWT. I am now debating whether or not to add on a SON dynohub for the front wheel. Just worried I will bust some sort of airline weight limit.

Did the total cost come as a shock?

Did the total cost come as a shock?

LOL! Fortunately, no.

I've been eyeing a new touring bike for the past couple of years and realized that I was going to pay more than 3k no matter how I squared it just for the bike itself. I also included in the travel system (25% off due to a special they had ongoing), upgraded front hub to LX, and a Chris King headset which they seemed to really push for some reason.

I want to get back to cycling thousands of kms a year and my current situation just seems to say, get a BF and get back out there. :thumb:

P.S. I was actually thinking of bidding for that gold-plated Rohloff Speedhub up on eBay next month...5k was my limit though and no biking for another year! hehehe

and a Chris King headset which they seemed to really push for some reason.
That's a good upgrade in my opinion. The short headset with a long stem riser makes for a lot of force on the headset. I upgraded mine after having tons of problems with the stock one coming loose.

They should just make the Chris King headsets standard. Nice bike, IronMac. I've been very pleased with my Friday. It rides and travels very well.

They would make Chris Kings standard but it would raise the base price and some possible buyers wouldn't even look at the bikes then. It is a very price conscious world out there. Roger

They should just make the Chris King headsets standard. Nice bike, IronMac. I've been very pleased with my Friday. It rides and travels very well.

Thanks and good to hear!

Looks like the CK headset upgrade was a good choice then. Learnt the hard way in a bike repair class that good components just mean a LOT less work. :D

Have already scouted out a potential training route and am already planning on a short four-day tour up into Malaysia with a UK friend who will be visiting in November. Anyone visiting SG is welcome to PM me for rides.

The NWT may also be headed to Brisbane for a few days in October.

They should just make the Chris King headsets standard. Nice bike, IronMac. I've been very pleased with my Friday. It rides and travels very well.
I forgot to add that it depends a bit on the size of the user. My wife is 4'9" (145cm) and doesn't have much tube sticking out above the headset. We didn't bother upgrading the headset on her bike as it seems to work just fine.

IronMac be sure to post some pics when that BF gets home i wanna see it.

Hi,
Sorry to jump slightly backwards in the discussion.

One can easily calculate the dimensions for Bike Friday and other bicycles based on your anatomy using the Bike Friday's online tool. I haven't found this on the US BF site but the German BF site has link to bikefit (http://bikefit.de/login/).

Once you'll tipeti tip your anatomy details and define how sporty a biker you are you'll get very comprehensive details on all necessary bicycle dimensions. I've used the bikefit for myself and for my wife and are very satisfied with the outcome. I've even printed several biking position measurements for myself for the future use as not sure how long the bikefit will be online.

The program requires registration but the use is free of charge. Sorry, only in German but the use is quite intuitive.

echotraveller, I'll try to do as well as vik's shots. This NWT is a cherry red with black decals. mmm

euroswift, thanks for the info...I've heard of bikefit before but never thought of it being applied to folders.

Just a small update on what has been happening so far and I can only say that I am not that impressed. Placed the order on Aug. 6th with a promise date of Sept. 2nd. Got an email on the 19th stating that there were no Rohloff hubs to be had the US and that the Germans were on holiday. BF estimates at least a two week delay and asked what should we do?

First (unspoken) reaction was, well, you promised it for Sept. 2nd. This can't be your first Rohloff order over the past few years and you must have dealt with the Germans before, right? Luckily, I will only be leaving Toronto on Oct. 5th so if it arrives by the 2nd then it's all fine and dandy. I certainly don't want to pay for the shipping to Singapore. (They have a dealer in SG but he only sells Tikits. This brings up an interesting question of whether or not he will service my bike. Their closest full-line dealer is in Jakarta.)

I then asked if I can upgrade the specs to include a SON dynohub (might as well go for broke at this point) and they said fine. I asked if they could install a Supernova E3 for the same price as Peter White Cycles since they get the light from him too. They said no, that they would be more expensive than PW. What? Peter undercuts his own retailer network?

http://peterwhitecycles.com/dealers.htm

Fine, I'll just order through Peter. :notamused:

I'm left wondering if this sort of experience is typical? What will happen if I need aftersale customer support?

Oh great...just got an email from BF...they misquoted the pricing on the SON...it will not cost US$288 but US$310.

At this point, I am wondering if I should just tell them to keep the front wheel and order one from PW with a hub and light as part of a set?

I don't think you have to worry about after sale support. BF has proven themselves time and again to be very good with customer service issues.

Hrmmm...ok...at the rate I'm going this stuff will outlast me anyways.