smallwheeler

the best solution:

Lalato

Shahmatt

I concur with this.


Maybe I'm visualizing this wrong, but do you use both hands to handle the bike? Or is one hand on the seat good enough?

Looks like there's a love-hate thing going on here with the Brompton fold.

keyven

There's a love-hate thing going on with any fold out there. Brompton's just happens to have more love than most.

keyven

Screw these videos. ANY bike can be made to look effortless in an advert. I've tried rolling it and it's certainly not as 'easy' to do as these videos make it out to be. I've met owners who admit it's somewhat finicky and only okay for short distances.

I'm quite annoyed - but not surprised - that every single folding bike has some idiot smugly lifting it up like it's the easiest thing in the world.

Heck, even a 20kg bike can be made to look easy to lift if it's only for 5 seconds.

Lalato

I disagree. I've shopped for groceries on a Tikit. Is it the best grocery shopping experience I've ever had? No, but it was not that different than the video. The only time it was more difficult was when I was in a two story grocery store and I used the stairs instead of the elevator.

The trick is to not lift it. Just roll it. And if the folded bike is such a problem, maybe folding bikes aren't for you.

Azreal911

Funny thing Keyven i've tried rolling a few bike brands and the easiest was the trolley rack for my Tern because it's based off or two wheels like a laptop bag which you can pivot around easily. But I would not use it in a narrow store cause the bike is still pretty wide and you'll end up banging around the aisles which the brompton has a much narrow fold. But for me if i was really going to go shopping in a tiny store best thing would be to ride my big bike and just lock it right in front of the store short term so i can have both hands free and not worry about dragging everything. Invest in a good lock park it in front of a highly visible area, folding bikes are not the end all of everything but we sure do like them .

sdwphoto

Yes, I use two hands one on seat one on handlbar,the two are so close together when folded.Maybe is I mention that you are standing at rear of bike ,just to the left of the rear wheel,will clarify. Also, I have tried just useing the seat ,it can be done but I find it awkward.

Human_Amplifier

Strida rolls well when folded ..

keyven

Nope, there's definitely been Tikit owners who do agree the rolling is finicky. You may find it okay - as I'm sure some will - but the feedback I've gotten is that it strains the wrists after a certain length of time.

Just like many people would say they love the Brompton rolling, there are others who would disagree with that. Your insinuation that 'folding bikes may not be for me' is somewhat juvenile.

bhkyte

I feel this is a tad of a false debate. Often one gets used to a certain method after owning the bike rather than testing it. This is where the long term views of regular brand /model users is useful. maybe neither party should dismiss the claime that in a short trial model a was difficult, or that a long term user does not find this an issue.......

I don't think brompton or mezzo would do well selling a bike with one easy wheel. But I doubt many people would be unable to use that system with familiarity.

UncleRobin

I have done this:

smallwheeler

kamoya makes awesome stuff

Earl Grey

I can't believe you got no props for post 14, SmallWheeler!

keyven

I definitely thought it was my problem when I tried the Tikit with some difficulties. However, I've met two people - one with a friend whom I went with to buy a Tikit, which the female owner admits to it being a little difficult to push around, and the other is someone on this forum.

I don't ever recall anyone ever saying the Tikit is comfortable to maneuver in folded mode.

My impression as such, stands. If Tikit owners - of which there must be a few around here - don't even appear to defend their bike, then I have to assume my observation is mostly true. Admittedly, the Tikit is great in many other ways, but rolling it around with ease just isn't one of them. No big deal.

keyven

Would love to buy this - I just hope it's as roll-able as the video makes it out to be. Pity he only shows smooth asphalt when almost any wheels will do a decent job on them.

A little more surface variety would prove more helpful and informative. For example light carpeting or carpet grass.

invisiblehand

A lot of this is hard to quantify. So some of the disagreement might just be due to the vagueness of language.

Rolling the tikit is better than most, IME. I prefer rolling the tikit to the Brompton. But you certainly use your forearm and wrist muscles more than rolling the Strida ... which is the best rolling while folded bike I've ever used ... and I can see it being a PITA after a while.

I think that some of the issues with the tikit get better the narrower the fold ... that is, the less the stem sticks out of the fold.

invisiblehand

There is a learning curve. The boss thought that the Strida was a bit awkward until I showed her a handful of tricks. And the Strida really is the easiest bike I've ever rolled while folded.

I think that the tikit is pretty comfortable to maneuver in folded-rolling mode. It did take a while to get used to how to balance the bike. More broadly, if I have to walk with it a lot in Metro and have to move around a lot when I fail to get a set, it gets old after a while.

keyven

That's what I was thinking when I tried the Tikit - I did not blame the bike but my own lack of experience. However, after hearing two more experienced viewpoints, I found I was not that far off.

I'm sure it gets easier with time, but it's still far from perfect. That said, I sometimes curse and swear when rolling the R-type Brompton around corners, because it's so hard to judge when all 4 wheels are on the ground. Spending nearly 50 dollars to experiment with half a dozen types of skate wheels has finally given me an acceptable rolling quality, but it wasn't easy.

Marketing is always quick to show you happy people moving their bikes effortlessly around, but the reality is ALWAYS far from that truth.