wahoonc

You have internet access? Tires of most sizes are easy to come by. FWIW I am 6'-2" (1.87m) and weigh 210# (95kg) I ride anything and everything to include Dahon folders with 16" wheels. I have 9 folders of various ages and models, some are 20" wheels (451 and 406) 2 have 16" wheels. My dream folder is a tricked out Brompton but for the time being I am riding a 28 year old Dahon Classic III.

Aaron

jur

What distance, and what sort of terrain will you ride? If relatively short and not many hills, then a single speed like the gogo will be a good choice. Try to get a bike that has attracted a good following, such as the Dove/gogo. Then you will have plenty of users who can provide specific advice, and choosing a popular bike indicates that bike has good qualities, of which weight is often a primary consideration, followed by ride quality. Try to avoid a cheap steel Chinese type bike - the tend to be awful in so many respects. If you start with something nice, chances are you won't be disappointed.

iFold

Hi Kabayan!

I agree that a 15kg folding bike is way too heavy for you to carry. If you're doing bimodal commuting, I think you'd be better off with a compact and lighter foldie. Manila is relatively flat so a single speed folder maybe a good option too.

BTW, when you said "public transport and up/down several steps" were you actually referring to PUJs (jeepney) or PUBs (busses)? If you're commuting within Metro Manila using buses or LRTs, any 20" FBs wont be a good option as these transportations are very crowded. PUJs however have better and wider aisle (walkway) where you can put your fb (you have to sit right behind the driver though so you will not bother other passengers going in and out of the jeepney).

You might also want to check out (or post your folding bike related queries to) the pinoymtbiker.org forum. They have folding bike subforum section there where they discuss various folding bike brands available locally.

Sixty Fiver

My 13 year old daughter rides a vintage Raleigh 20 that weighs 36 pounds... she might weigh 80 pounds and is 4 foot ten and one half as of last Saturday.

She can take that bike and toss it on the bus rack and have it secured in no time flat all by herself and I showed her how to lift it properly by lowering herself straight down by bending her knees, grabbing the main boom tube (at the right balance point) and standing up to let her legs do the work.

This technique works for most folders if you are not folding them and it would be nice if they all came with a nice pick up handle at the central balance point... I do a lot of custom mods on bikes and as I am building up a 20 for my mother in law I might just do that for her.

If I pick up my folders I usually lift them and hang the nose of the saddle on my shoulder as I balance and provide some support to the bike with one hand and keep my other hand free.

With many modern folders you will have a lighter bicycle that also has a more compact fold... a Dahon with 20 inch wheels would still be a good fit and the larger wheel would lend a nicer ride quality although they are not lightweights either. They should also fit on standard bus racks where a smaller wheeled bike may not.

I have a generic folder that curbs out at 30 pounds and it has a pretty decent fold and I use it as a spare that gets carried in my car for multi-modal trips where I might park some miles from my destination and then ride in and out... and with this I always have a bike with me when I am travelling.

bdi121

+1 . I carry my folder with the nose of the saddle on my shoulder and using the backpak strap to cushion it. Good for climbing up or down stairs .