Bag/Case for folder?
 

Anyone know of a decent bag/case/cart to carry a folded bike? Aprox dimensions of folded bike would be 33" x 27" x 12" (give or take a few inches each way- I'll be getting a model with 20" wheels).

I'm planning on adding an electric motor to a folding bike and taking it on the train (and then to work) with me. I would need some sort of bag or case to store the bike while in my job (and possibly on the train). I work in an office tower, so I would need to get the bike through the lobby, up the elevator, and then across the floor to my desk.

Is there some sort of cloth (collapsable) bag that maybe has wheels and a pull out handle? I'm anticipating thr bike to weigh in at around 60-70 pounds after the motor/batteries/etc are all installed. So some wheels and a handle to pull it while in the office might be in order.

But at the same time, I don't want to have a huge suitcase on a rear rack. So some sort of cloth bag that had wheels and a pull out handle would probably be ideal (I could fold it up and strap it to the rear rack).

Any ideas?

Does your bike roll easily when folded? Then maybe you could roll it on it's own wheels either without a case or with a cover with an open bottom. I find that no one seems to care if I wheel my folded bike into most places without a cover though. I have seen some home made covers that were open on the bottom that worked well. I have also seen them made out of a black plastic leaf and garden bag that would fold up and fit in your pocket. The leaf bag ones offer no protection, but make it less apparent that it is a bike if that matters where you are going.

The El Bolso bag works well for a folder without a motor. I am not sure if the extra weight would make it unsuitable or not.

I know that I won't change your mind, but...
Personally, I think the extra weight of a motor detracts from the utility of a folding bike rather than enhances it. I know that if my folder weighed 60-70 pounds I would probably never use it.

You can also check with the bike manufacturer, usually they offer travel bags and suchlike for their products.

I didn't know you could roll some folders while they were folded. I'll have to look into that before I buy one.

I don't have one yet, so I'm not sure if any of the ones I have been eyeballing can be rolled or not (while folded).

An open bottom case with a bike that can be rolled seems like the perfect solution.

Unfortunately, they don't sell these things around here, so I will be buying it online. So I will have to take the seller's word about it rolling or not.

And I'm sure I'll ride it. It might be a little heavier than a regular folding bike, but I'll never have to pedal it if I don't want to. However, I have a stretch of hill around 2 miles long between my house and the train station. It's uphill on the way home. I know there is no way I would ride it everyday if I had to pedal that. On the contrary, I will ride every day if i don't have to pedal, and I will likely even pedal a little to help the motor...

I love the idea of a bottomles bag, or a bag that lets the wheels touch the ground, so I can roll it. Anyone know where to get such a bag?

I have never seen one factory made, but if you aren't handy at sewing, maybe a friend sews? Or maybe an upholstery or sail shop would sew one for you.

FWIW: Many of the Dahons roll OK, but kind of want to tilt over. You need to kind of hold them upright as they roll. It is manageable, but may be more or less so with the weight of a motor.

Hello and Welcome!

On 2 of my own Web sites, I go into more detail about where tio buy a purchased bag from a luggage company I like and have bought from for a while when I don't want to make a bag for the bikes:

http://www.geocities.com/folder_fanatic/Security4.html

And my second site where I have instructions on how to make a bag for the bike. It is not very fancy but was designed for the person who never sewn before, has very little time to sew, or wants to take the idea to his/her local tailor or seamstress:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/world-of-folding-bicycles/sets/72157601331380862/

For any folding bike taken across rather long distance (like from an elevator to an office), I recommend to use a luggage rack too (also discussed in my Geocities Security section). I hope this information helps.

A folding luggage rack/cart is also a good idea. Anyone know of one that fold up to be small enough to put on the bike's rear rack?

Bike Friday offers this...

http://store.bikefriday.com/images/parts/9461.jpg

I was thinking something like this (the pics are links):



http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...CL._AA280_.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...8L._AA280_.jpg



Or even a smaller version of this:



http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...GL._AA240_.jpg



Just something that folds up small enough that I could keep it on the rear rack of the bike, and it could help me transport the bike in a pinch.

Something like this can take up to 275 lbs. and folds up to 19 1/2"W x 2 1/4"D x 28 1/2"H.

http://www.engineersupply.com/images...ck-4062-md.jpg

19x28 might be a little too big for a rear rack on a folder though. I'm hoping to have the cart strapped down on the rear rack while I ride. So, preferably, the cart shouldn't be any bigger than the rear rack if it's possible.

How big are the rear racks anyway? Anyone know the aprox dimensions of the built in rear rack on a folder? I know it's going to vary greatly between the different models, but since I've never seen one in person I really have no idea how big they are.

Now there's an idea for an ace product... a luggage type folding rack which attaches with QRs to the bike and doubles as a luggage trailer for a folded bike! I could probably knock up a design.