bag for a 20" Dahon
 

The idiot bloke who runs the local sports centre has given me grief for bringing my 20" dahon inside. . . I figure bagging it will shut him up, so I appreciate views on which bags offer most utility.

There's more types on ebay than I'd realised, including a "Dahon Mini Bike Sling Sack".

Perhaps an Ikea bag would be fine.

The official Dahon bags are very pricey and I'm not exactly rolling in cash.

The El Bolso is no longer listed on the Dahon website so I guess the 'Stow Bag' has replaced it, the design of which looks entirely different. I can pick up an El Bolso for 20 quid, i.e. reasonably cheap, but I remember someone on these forums saying it was a terrible product

that's because the bike isn't really meant or designed to be slung over the shoulder.
It fits in a trunk or confines of an apartment quite well.

if you get a bag, you'll want to add some extra padding to the inside so that the protrusions don't dig into your flesh.

I guess my main concern is the ease of getting the bike into the bag. I had a bag for 20" folders a few years back that I sold, I think it was Avenir brand or something like that, and it was a total PITA getting the bike inside; not something that one could do in a hurry. I can't find a youtube video of the El Bolso so I don't know if it lives up to the marketing in this regard.

thestow bag is quite nice to hide the bike ..... otherwise a big brown leaf bag will do the trick ..... roll it up and stick it in the seat tube with a little string attached to pull it out in case you need it ....

thor

I can't quite tell from other threads whether ikea bags are large enough to fit 20" folders.

Sail makers and storefront Awning sewers, and Upholstery shops will all have a HD sewing machine,
and can create a bag out of heavy canvas,
DIY?
Nylon pack cloth and Cordura can be sewn on home machines.

+1. And I like to add for bringing your bike inside stores does not mean that it is necessary to have it completely bagged all over the bike-just cover the top and the sides from prying, critical bike hater's eyes. That means that simply using a light cover made of the above fabrics or similar fabrics not listed just like Dahon once did and Brompton still offers in it's slipcovers:

http://us.dahon.com/accessories/2010/carryon-cover

http://www.brompton.co.uk/explorer/accessories/index.asp?bp=14#
(The Brompton's cover would not fit Dahons, but the idea does work nicely on all my bikes as an present owner of a Brompton & a Raleigh Twenty, and former owner of 2 (one 20" & one 16") Dahons will testify to-the photographs below is the Brompton's version similar to my own. These bags are sold through www.foldabikes.com-the original US Brompton dealer).

I have several "homemade" slipcovers for all my present and past folding bikes. All were sewn on household domestic sewing machines. You don't necessary need to use a industrial sewing machine (although they are nice to have) or too heavy of fabric (bottoms-weight is fine) to have a nice durable cover of any style.

BF now makes bags for the Tikit (two sizes). I wonder if they'd fit. Slightly cheaper than current the Dahon bags.

well I dont know if the transit cover from Bike Friday ( 49) is indeed cheaper than the Carry on Bag from Dahon ( 48 ) especially if you consider that the Dahon product comes with a nice quality under the seat bag .... and has carrying straps built in to actually carry the bike .... dunno if I can see that on the BF website ...

just saying

thor

its a great product and we sell lots of them, it really works well for somebody who has to cover the bike all the time. For the very occassional "cover up" I still suggest a leaf bag ...

i made some nice re-usable (lol-thanks thor) covers for my SL using orange garbage bags. works wonderful, rolls up the size of a tennis ball, and i get 30 for $5. still using the first one.

hate the word disposable
if mine dont work anymore for the bike than they will be demoted as leaf / trash bags

thor

I thought he said he needed full bags, not covers. Sure, the Carry-on Cover is $50, as is the BF transit cover (which he shouldn't use). But the Dahon Stow Bag is $100. In contrast, BF's "Size Small/Medium" travel bag is $59, which PROBABLY will fit his Dahon, is basically the same concept as the Stow Bag I think.

Anyway, I like the Carry-On Cover concept and I think it'd probably do fine for him.

I decided to opt for the El Bolso given that it was going cheap. The sports centre guy really is quite unhinged and quite frankly this is just an excuse for a mini power-trip. I need to make sure there's no way the bike can mark the floors or wall, so it needs to be fully enclosed.

My former Dahons both used a protective "shield" (actually a tennis ball can cover) on the bottom of their seatposts which was similar to my present Brompton's Seat Pillar Rubber Bung-defined as a....."useful part fits into the lower end of the seat post. When the Brompton is folded, the bung retains contact with the ground to prevent the bike from rolling away on a slanted surface...." I mainly use it on all those bikes as prevention from marking floors and walls just as you intend to do.

Here's another potential bag.. THIS submitted to me earlier in the day by one of our esteemed forum academics.

http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashba...NCL-INSIDE.jpg

I had this bag. It worked well, but I ultimately decided it wasn't worth carrying. It probably weighs almost 5 pounds just as any other bag made of durable fabric would.

On the rare occasion I need to bag my bike a lawn/trash bag is much lighter, much cheaper, and can often be purchased near your destination (so you can have it when you need it even if you left yours at home).

I've also taken to using plastic grocery/shopping bags hung off the back of the seat for carrying stuff, instead of dedicated luggage bags, panniers, etc. Most family/friends/stores have an ample supply which they will freely donate and, again, you don't have to worry about lugging around your empty panniers (which can't hold more stuff than a bundle of grocery bags hanging off the back of the seat anyway).

Plastic is also waterproof.

CM Wasson sells these, for Bromptons, but not sold by them.
so a 3rd party contract sewing project.

http://www.foldabikes.com/PriceListH...viro_tote.html
looks generously sized.
But you will have to measure your size requirements, of the folded bike
for width, height and length.

Bromptons are about 4 cubic feet , folded , 12x24x24.

The El Bolso was delivered yesterday and I've had a go at taking the bike in and out. I guess it's what I expected, i.e. the shape of a bike means that it catches in various places when trying to get a bag round it, making it a PITA and very much sub-optimal. Not really much wrong with the bag, it's well made and the design seems OK, but I'm not sure I could see myself putting up with the bagging/unbagging process for the sake of (temporarily) assuaging a bully. In fact I'm likely going to have to have a confrontation with the idiot tonight, there's many years of resentment that might be unleashed. Shame as I like that club.

Just wanted to resurrect this Thread as I have a similar query and didn't see the point of starting a new one.

Just bought my first folding bike, and when folded it'll be carried into shops and onto trains.

The folded size is 71 cm x 41 cm x 90 cm (hwd) and the bike has 20" wheels, and I'd identified the Dahon El Bolso or the Carryon Cover - both are around £30 and of a similar design, so I don't know which one to go for.

Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated!

Thanks
Derek

p.s. How did you get on with both the bag and the bully, Chagzuki?

The El Bolso bag is a open-at-the-top bag that does not enclosed the bike with zippers or other such closures. The Nasbar bag appears to have zippers to close it up. Both seem to do it's job as they use similar type synthetic fabric, and tote the bike around when folded up.

As for price, I use US retail prices as is my habit. For example, Performance Bicycles offers the El Bolso for $64.99. Nasbar offers it's version at 39.99. So there is a price difference of about 25 or so dollars (excluding tax, shipping & handling fees). Which one would I buy? It depends on what you want it for. If you want to hide the bike completely from prying critical eyes, transport it, or something similar, a zippered bag is the best choice (providing you know your own bike's exact size). If you want to cover it up with ease and very quickly for home storage, taking it aboard buses/trains/private auto for commuting purposes, or the like the El Bolso is the one to choose. And you don't have to worry about it fitting for the most part as it claims to fit a wide range of wheel sizes.

Which bag do I actually use with my own folding bikes. None of the above. I either buy my bags at a discount store or make it myself.

Go to a Flea Market Type place where they sell luggage. I picked up a Beauty made of Black Cordura nylon for $10 new and it has a Heavy Duty Zipper to boot.

my el bosohas been sitting in the corner of the garage, since i've been using the plastic lawn/leaf bags - and i am onto my second bag (28 more to go from the $5 box of 30) i figure the $5 box will last me around 15 years at the rate i am going through the bags.

Just wanted to say thank you to folder fanatic for his/her advice.

I ended up with the El Bolso in the end - I managed to find it for just £20 (or US $31) and have it shipped to my local shop for free. I've tried it and it really is an absolute doddle - just lay it on the ground, put the folded bike in it, lift the sides and cover.

It should be perfect for my needs - buses, trains, shops - and it folds down surprisingly small when not in use so it's easy to carry in a rucksack.

Derek

p.s. I guess we'll never find out what happened with Chagzuki....

What size garbage bag do I need to fit a 20" Tern folding bike? 55 Gallon or 65 Gallon?