Carry-Me in NYC?
 

Hello, riders...

I've been reading a lot about the Carry-Me and would like to try it out before adding it to my arsenal of folders...(DT 9, Dahon Mariner, Kent). Any opinions as a daily commuter? I was considering the DT mini but would like to go smaller for multi-mode commuting.

To my fellow NYers, are there shops that have them in stock for a test run? Brands is the only local one I know who offers it online....thanks in advance.:D

Maybe try PMing forum member madfolder of alternativehicles.com

I am thinking on buying one too. Keep us updated.

Why not take the LIRR to Wantagh?

I am thinking on going over there tomorrow to test the carry me and maybe buy a Curve SL

I called the place in Wantagh serveral times. They have none on display for testing and they only drop ship.

Thanks for the heads up. You saved me the trip to Wantagh and some gas. :thumb:

Didn't you say you tested one somewhere? Where was it?

I'm going to PM madfolder to ask him to respond to this thread because a lot of people ask me about my bike (when in NYC and elsewhere) and I'd like to know where to refer them.

Carry Me Demo's
 

I have tried to get some of the NYC shops interested in the product, and have had little interest. It really takes people like you going and saying that if you can not get it at the shop, it leaves you little choice but to go online.

For the record, I prefer selling my products to shops because it insures that you have someone local to work with. We offer a one week trial on the bike, but you are responsible for the freight back if it is a no go. I have never had to take one back, due to my being quite through about the bike, it uses and qualities.

The Carry Me is awesome as an Urban ride, getting between buildings, or down the road, and storing it in a corner. The key to a great ride is being sure to inflate the tires to 80 psi.
Ken

wow, i did not think this post would get the response that it did....
madfolder, i will check out your shop.

makeinu, have you had to change any of the parts since owning one?

Is it hard to find replacement parts, specially the proprietary parts?
I am thinking on getting one for short distances ride. For example when friends call to join them for a dinner, post office ride, need to buy something in the pharmacy or supermarket, or just want to ride around a park far from your house and want to take the subway.

No...well I snapped the rear brake lever trying to get the anemic rear brake to skid the rear wheel (just testing the limits of the bike when it was new), but instead of replacing it I just removed the rear brake. I've since learned that the Radius brand sidepull caliper brakes included with the bike have given a lot of frustration to a lot of roadies. They're supposedly decent brakes if you can get them well adjusted, but I was only willing to fiddle with mine so much. Now I'm saving my pennies for a KCNC weight weenie brake.

-Cranks, brakes, seatpost, seat, headset, stemriser, and stem are all standard. In some cases these are even more standard than most folders; For example, I just bought a regular 27.2 diameter 350mm long super light carbon seatpost on ebay for $27 shipped, made possible by the fact that the Carryme has a seat mast like Bike Fridays do which eliminates the need for the extra long seatpost found on most folders.

-Bottom bracket is standard on single speed 2008 models. 2007 models have a freewheeling bottom bracket which is unusual (but not proprietary). Two speed models use the Schlumpf two speed bottom bracket which is, once again, unusual but not proprietary.

-Chain, chainring, and rear cog are not standard for the bicycle industry, but are standard for the nonbicycle world and should be easily available at many of the excellent hardware stores in NYC (if not mcmastercarr.com is a sure bet among other online sources). Carryme drivetrain uses ANSI #25 chains and sprockets which are used on all sorts of other machines like electric scooters, go carts, conveyor belts, motorized wheelchairs, stationary bikes, home made robots, etc. By contrast bike chain doesn't meet any international standards and isn't used for anything other than bicycles.

-Tires are Maxxis brand, so they aren't proprietary in the sense of being only manufactured for the Carryme, but I don't know where else to get 85psi replacements than Carryme stockists. Most medical supply shops sell appropriately sized 8x1-1/4" tires, but all the ones I've seen have been low psi. Strangely enough 8x1-1/4" tubes seem to be fairly common in bike shops (although I've yet to ask a shop employee why).

-The wheel hubs and rear freewheel on 2008 models I suspect to be standard industrial, but I haven't measured them and searched for equivalents. They may be proprietary.

-Only proprietary parts available only from Pacific which I'm aware of are the handlebars and rims. I'm not mentioning the frame and headtube because those are proprietary on every bike (after all, that's what distinguishes one bike from another). Handlebars, while proprietary, are of ridiculously simple construction such that any handy man should be able to recreate them.


That being said practically speaking the only parts I have any concern about are the tires and rims, but the bike is popular enough worldwide that worst case I'm sure I could always get them mail order from asia.

Actually, I tested the bike in Philadelphia at Trophy bikes. They had one but this was during the summer. It's a shame because I still want the bike but it has to be red! I'm sorry but Trophy bikes had a color that was more for girls.

This is really the only bike that can be placed between your legs in a bus or train. A huge benefit that allows you to sit anywhere in a packed car.

I don't think there's one bike shop in New York City or within 50 miles that stock this bike.

Why not a pink Carryme Steve? Somnatash inisists it's proof of a true man and besides didn't a forum reg procure a pink Tikit last week? :)

Besides why buy a Carryme when you can have a Brompton?

Mulleady runs for cover before makeinu arises from his slumber unleashes his New York wrath :D

Sadly pink CarryMes are not produced. I am curious which colour did Steve mean by girlish? BTW: Mulleady, it needs more for a true man than some pink shorts:D

I wanted to try the same bike for the same exact reason you mention. Trophy bikes is two blocks from where I work, so I went there. The owner, (who is a very nice guy btw) gave me a whole lecture that it is a toy-bike and it is not for riding and I did not get to test-ride it. He was really up for selling me a brompton. I am quite against the idea of spending ~$1000 on a foldable bike, since I am using it that much.

To me happened exactly the same. I wanted to buy a CarryMe from a folding bike specialist (also a very nice guy and to be fair - he did not knew the bike in person and does not have them in his repertory, I tried to persuade him to order one for me). He told me 8" wheels are too small to ride safely - and that's even though, he has had the mobicki and also kind of A-bike in shop (maybe that's why?). But he called some other folding bike profs and they said the CarryMe is okay for bikelanes along the river and "rides like a better strida" but not for pothole riding. Well, I don't believe Strida and CarryMe ride similar but it was good to hear anyway.

It seems like Brands in Wantagh, NY have the CarryMe on display. I emailed them inquiring about the CarryMe and Curve SL.

I have been riding a Carry Me off and on for the last 3 years. I have ridden in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Shanghai, Tokyo, Germany, Bilboa Spain, Las Vegas and when home in Denver. Every time I have taked a CarryMe it is a lot of fun to quicky get around the streets or side walks and then just stop where ever, fold it up and run inside the place I need to go.

I am 6'1" and I think I am about at the limit of height fit for the frame. Road irregulaties seem to be ok but large ones should be avoided. Cobble stone is anoying but most small wheels I have ridden all feel the same. Just go faster and find something smooth quicker.

It is great to see the interest building about CarryMe and I hope soon there are more ways to get access to this help travel along type bike. I just wanted to share some of my thoughts from riding one.

And like makeinu said, suprisingly most parts do have some type of access that may just require a little extra thinking to find but are around. But in the future this hopefully would be easier locally for all.

As for anyone in Denver that wants a test ride, I have a DS and a single speed around if my sister hasn't stolen them and is riding them around downtown.

Regards,

Ryan

I went to Brands yesterday and they do have the CarryMe in the showroom.

Did you get to try it?

I'm going there tomorrow. I want a longer test ride and if they have red, I just might pull the trigger!

No, I picked up a Curve. I tested the fold and it was a bit shorter than a Strida, but still tall for my taste.

The website mentions only orange, green, and white. However, I saw the yellow one on display.

Some things to test on your second test ride (if you haven't already left). I remember you previously commenting that you thought the bike was a bit flexy. I don't think it is at all because:
-The position of the handlebars is such that the only way I can effectively pull them is up...so there isn't much leverage on the long stem riser.
-There is a lot of play between the seat post mast and the seat stays. If you think the seat post is flexing more than a few millimeters then it's probably the play.(This is probably the biggest design flaw with this bike, but at least having this play results in a little space to insert some plastic/foam/elastomer to smooth out the harshness)

See if you agree. If not, I'd be curious as to where the flex is coming from. Oh, and by the way make sure they pump up the tires to 85+ psi and watch out for no-brainers in the bike's adjustment. While the mechanics and pro shop clerks are reasonably competent at Brands, the regular floor clerks are clueless. I had one tell me not to shift the Curve when not pedaling; When I pointed out that it was an internal hub all I got was a blank stare.

Eh, I respect your opinion, but you can't keep a handle on a shorter bike when in shops or standing on public transit without carrying it. If you ask me the Carryme's dimensions are almost ideal, which is why they're shared by all the most popular folding devices seen on the street like baby buggies and sturdy umbrellas (that is, regular umbrellas which people don't usually refer to as "folding" although they do, in fact, actually fold open and closed).

Hi Ryan,

Were you involved in the design of the Carryme at all? IIRC you're an engineer at Pacific, right?

Hey makeinu,

George Lin did all the development and work on CarryMe. I have just had the luxury of having access to the bike over the years to try and now I own 2 that accomplanied me on my travels.

George never goes anywhere on his travels without his CarryMe. For fun he started adding small flag decals to the seat tube to keep track of the countries he has ridden in. Last I saw the bike, I think there were 14 flags on it now.

Later,

Ryan

Carry Me Demo's
 

Hi All,

Just a heads up that the NEW '09 Carry All is in, but due to the demand we have very limited quantities available. I just posted a picture of the new "foldable" trike of the Alternative Vehicles site. Yes, it comes in red, but unfortunately, the Carry Me and Carry Me DS do not. Newest color for the Carry Me is a bright green for the DS, with other refinements.

To further support some comments here about replacement parts and durability, I think those of you that own them please chime in, but these are extraordinarily durable bikes. While the chain is not sold at bike shops it is available elsewhere. However, due to the narrow pitch, the number of extra links, the chain with some modest care, could potentially outlast the rider, except in some extreme cases. Tires are readily available, and in a pinch, seek them out where wheel chair parts are sold. The rims are machined, and also amazingly durable, short of flatting your tires, then crashing on the rims directly, they too will probably outlast you!!

I am disappointed to read how this bike is treated as a TOY, ask anyone here that has one. It is a precision made product, folds easily, has a usable high low range, is very maneuverable , and durable. Cross the city, or cross campus, it is ideal. Put in a corner in an office or lecture hall, it has a small footprint. A toy is identified as something that looks like and act similar to another product but is not durable, or truly useable. All the Pacific Products are well designed and functional.
I apologize for go on, but...

One last thing, our demo program has been very effective, but I can not offer on the trike because right now I can not get them quickly enough, but soon!
Ken