Folding Bike Bags
 

Anybody out there have that new Dahon bag for their bikes, the Bolso? Just curious because on my DT, the bag isn't warrantied and because it's a freebie, it's not high quality (already have a seam rip). Anyway, wondering about anybody else's experiences with their folding bikes' bag and your recommendations.

come on, anybody with experience with the Bolso from Dahon? Or, the Breezer Zag/Zig bags? Anybody...Bueler? Yes, I searched, only found dimpa from ikea, which isn't an option for me :-(

Some people on Dahon's forum have talked about the Bolso. The reviews were mainly positive. I've only read one critical review, but I forgot where it was posted.

Thanks for the info, I headed over to register.

While I do not have personal experience with the El Bolso, I am considering it for a future purchase. For now, look at my Geocities Web site on bags and slipcovers for ideas. The topic is covered in the Security pages.

I have the Bolso and it's better than Dahon's double ply bag. It comes with two handles and can cover my Presto and Vitesse. From what I understand, it will also work for 26" inch wheel folders. The bag comes with a red slip cover but I've yet to use it because the Bolso does an excellant job of itself. I can pick up the bike quite easily with this bag because the handle is soft and thick.

Thanks steve, but do you have to wear it like a bike pack when not in use? And does it have a shoulder strap?

I have yet to put it back to it's very small original shape so I fold it the way it seems convienent. You could have it as a shoulder strap but it would flap around too much because it's a big bag. I put it back into my back pack.

Anyone care to speculate on how well it would work w/ a Xootr/Swift? Would I need to take the bars/steering riser off?

i just bought an el bolso last night. it's a bit sloppy, but this is my first folder and first bag for a folder, so i'm not sure what else to compare it to. i have a dahon speed D7. ill be trying it on my commutes next week.

I bought one of these for my old folding bike - bombproof and can't beat the price. I use a bungee cord to wrap up the extra around the bag for extra padding afterwards (I got the 30x50).

My Cadenza with ISO 622 wheelset fits in my El Bolso. It's not pretty, but the bag is well built, and the Japanese train staff have yet to object. I can walk around train stations with the bike hanging from my shoulder. This is a big improvement from having a full size touring bike crammed into a NB bike bag. The connecting platform distance in Japan can be so long (one subway connection is .8 km of stairs, intervening platforms, and tunnels ... even Japanese get lost) that I sometimes de-bag the bike, unfold, and roll it, which was never an option with the wheels off my previous Tokyo bike in a NB bike bag. And yes, if a tunnel is vacant, I confess to using the bike as a big scooter.

Mmmmmmm... Cadenza.... (especially the 2007 model.) :p

vxla, keep us updated. My DT bag is starting to rip and I don't want to waste time stitching it just to watch it go again.

Dahon forums FTW. I posted a thread there in praise of El Bolso.

Picked up the Bolso. The Downtube is a snug fit in it, but it works and will hopefully be stronger than my stock bag, which according to the reviews at Dahon.com, it should be. I'll let you guys know how it holds up.

Which bike do you have that fits in that bag?

I saw a big canvas duffel bag at Hudson Trail today that was advertised as 30"x50" (brand was Texsport). It turns out the bag is 30"x50" when flattened out. This corresponds to a cylindrical space of diameter 19" and length 50"...too small for any 20" folder.

Well, how is it holding up? Which downtube do you have? If you wrap the bike in a blanket, put it in the el bolso and tie down the excess fabric is more or less small enough to check at the airport (the VIIIH is only 6 inches over the limit, but I'm thinking it should be darn close if I remove the seat...close enough that if they really give me a hard time I can just lock the bike out in the parking lot and make other plans)?

Not true. The bike is not a perfect circle. More of an oval. I can get my swift into an 18x36 tubular duffel by removing the front wheel, stem and handlebar....Not that I would want to bag it everyday, but it can be done...

Come on now. You obviously can't fit a 20" wheel in an 18" hole.

An 18 inchi diameter bag has a circumference of about 56.5 inches, e.g., 18 times pi (3.14159). That's more than enough fabric to make it around an oval of 22X12 (using slightly bigger numbers because I don't have a tapemeasure). The circumference of an ellipse can be approximated by the equation C = pi[3(A+B)-sqrt{(A+3B)(3A+B)}] where C is the circumference and A and B are the semi-radius values of the ellipse. Thus if A = 11 and B = 6, then C = pi[3(11+6)-sqrt[(11+3*6)(3*11+6)] = 54.6 < 56.5.


The bike will fit. Even if it doesn't seem that it should not.... :rolleyes:

Please don't understand that I'm trying to tell you whether or not your bike fits into your bag. I'm not. You obviously know what fits and I obviously don't know anything about your bike or your bag.

However, isn't the profile of the swift more rectangular than elliptical? I know my bike is more rectangular than elliptical. It makes a big difference as the perimeter of a 22x12 rectangle is 2*(22+12)=68; A whopping 25% increase over an ellipse. Are you sure that your bag actually has an 18" tubular diameter?