BruceMetras

The CarryMe is not designed for a tall rider over 6'.. in reality, anyone with an inseam greater than 32" will probably not be comfortable.. seat to pedal(BDC) distance at minimum seatpost insertion is barely 34".. modifying seatpost length or adding height in other ways will alter design parameters, as would moving the handlebars further forward with a longer stem.. if I were you, I wouldn't even consider the CM.. wait for other more suitable designs for larger people..

Weakling

I wish George Lin redesign it to accept us that are Vikings.

Surprised about your views on Strida. I guess Chop! and many others
will do their outmost to tell you what a great bike it is.

Have you had a chance to actually ride it? Will be interesting to hear your experience of it.

jur

True vikings would board their boat, sail to Taiwan and raid Pacific Cycles, taking the designer a slave. For good measure take all the staff into slavery as well, and bring along all the stock.

Weakling

True Vikings would never ride a folder.
those are for commuters and Vikings
own SUV and don't give a damn about
environ. And True Vikings are from Denmark
while me am from Sweden.

Apart from that I guess the Integrated Folding
made at Pacific Cycles look promising.

Would a Reach with IF work for me. I would
prefer they use the 16" wheels of the Strida
cause 20" wheels in a crowded bus is too big?

chainstrainer

Swedish Vikings raided Russia and regions thereabouts but never got as far as China so George Lin is safe for now. Weakling's best bet is for one of those legendary Swedish designers to come up with a stunning folding bike to fit Viking proportions. Swedish designers are world-renowned for interior designs, fashions, ceramics, glass, textiles and architecture. Why does no one work on folding bikes for crying out loud? Are the anthropomorphic hurdles insurmountable?

Weakling

So true. insurmountable it is.

I visited a rather big Sports Shop where they have some 300 or maybe 500 cycles.
The last 5 years or so they have had no folder. Folders are rather unknown here.

Carryme would turn everybodies heads and the children would laugh at me riding it.
I guess the adventure with Microbike told the designers that there is no market for folders.

Would it be too much to ask George Lin to make a CarryMe for tall heavy people.
It would still not get bigger than a Strida and would suite me just fine.

The SmartBike I own now has lousy bandbrake and is too short and too big
when folded but more easy to ride than a Strida and less than half the price.

MnHPVA Guy

Just got back from riding a 2 speed Carry Me. High gear was WAY TOOOO HIGH for me. Bigger rear cog would make it sweet. Handled better than I expected. But for our frost damaged roads, 10" Big Apples would be the minimum acceptable tire. Neat little details abound though.

Weakling

I know so little about gears. I have a 7 hub gear regular bike. High is that the 7 then? Which I rarely use cause that one takes me up to speeds like 40 kmtrs an hour?


But to have low gear si not so practical either. Both my folders have low gear. One have to spin at 120 rev to even get up to 20kmtrs an hour. I just guess. But it takes much effort to keep speed with regular bikes on low geared ones.

Urbanis

Does having two speeds justifies the higher cost and weight of the dual-speed model? I was just investigating and it appears I could get a single-speed CarryMe for $450 (including shipping), where as the dual-speed is almost $900. That's a huge price leap.

Also, does anyone in the NYC area ride a CarryMe (single- or dual-speed)? If so, PM me; I'd like to try one out. Thanks!

BruceMetras

I love the Schlumpf Speed Drives and have them mounted to a number of bikes... Having a 2 speed Carryme, I would say that the gearing in overdrive is too high for casual use.. the single speed bike as designed, with a 48 gear inch ratio is fine for the intended purpose and speed capabilities.. going to overdrive and near 80" I feel is overkill... the new 2spd Strida has a similar range with a top end a bit lower at 76.7 GI .. but, running the Strida on 16" tires like the Schwalbe Big Apples will surely provide less puckerupedness at the higher speeds.

makeinu

Not sure why the "09" dual-speed Carrymes are so expensive, but the "08" bikes have the same spec and most shops are selling those for $695.

Also it looks like forum member and NYC local Joako is selling his singlespeed version on ebay for $425. Maybe you can arrange a test ride and if you use the 25% off live.com ebay coupon it looks like you could take it home for $320.

Still a big price difference because of the ebay coupon, but if you're looking to do your 10 mile commute on the smooth greenway then I'd think the high gear would be worth it at $695. I'm thinking about upgrading myself.

Have you ridden any other Carrymes Bruce? Because I felt a lot of resistance on the 2-speed one I tried compared to my front freewheeling single speed version (in both gears and when backpedaling) and I'm trying to figure out where to place the blame (speed-drive, rear freewheel, higher gearing, shorter cranks, maladjustment, or a combination).

Urbanis

Bruce and makeinu, thanks for chiming in.

It looks like a Schlumpf speed drive retails for around $500, so I guess that's the reason for the steep difference in costs.

Price alone may determine this one: $700 is a reach (and would make me want to look at a higher-end bike, like a Brompton), whereas $320 (with eBay discount) is a steal.

BruceMetras

I've gone on rides with a lady friend who has a single speed.. we traded back and forth a couple of times.. I didn't notice much difference.. but we ride on pretty level, smooth paths at a very casual pace.. sluggishness can be a function of low tire pressure, especially with the little tires.. I perceive the pedal effort to be more with the CarryMe than any of my other folders for the same speed along the same routes..

makeinu

Well it definitely wasn't the tire pressure. Clerk tried to give it to me with the tires underinflated and as soon as I sat on it I gave it back to him and told him to pump them up to 90 psi (because, as you know, the little wheels otherwise get very sluggish).

Strange thing is that I perceive my Carryme to be way more efficient than any of the other folders I've ridden, but that two speed in the shop was the opposite. Does your lady friend's bike have a rear or front freewheel?

BruceMetras

Perhaps Lady Somnatash will give her impressions of perceived pedal effort to maintain say 12mph comparing her new CarryMe with her Brommie (assuming she has a 48 gear inch equivalent on the B).. or for that matter, anybody else with a CarryMe care to compare with another bike in terms of pedal effort to maintain a given speed around 12mph?

somnatash

thx for the "lady"
To Carryme: My single speed freewheel (rear) has a certain "feel" that perhaps could be described as highly effective. I have not tried other single speeds but always thought this is one thing they are praised for. I don't know. I get a feeling of "directness" and like "being on a cord" if that makes sense. The brommi (8Spd IGH) does not give this "lined up" feeling. The only time I got a similar feeling was from riding a Moulton (dérailleur). Is that effectiveness? I tried Schlumpf Carryme dual speed for a short ride at the exhibition: the second gear was too high but I also had the impression of less directness, perhaps that was the same feeling makeinu refers to.

makeinu

My sentiment exactly.