Folding bikes

For me it is a matter of ease. I usually camp alone with my nearly 5-year old son (Mick is often away on business or racing cars, and joins us every so often). I have a hard time lifting a bike either to the top of the car or the top of the trailer. The folding bike would have a bag it would go in, so the dirt would be contained, and it would fit inside the trailer and still allow me to put his bike in too. I am not going to be doing a lot of climbing,or serious riding, but it will go camping, and also on my parents boat (and there is very little space for bikes there too).

I think if you also have limited space at home to store things, it is a good option. Especially if you are a city dweller with small housing options.

Different strokes, for different folks!

 

I see your point. Dave

 

My bike, ready to travel.


With a bike that you travel with there is always the trade-off between performance and transportability. Since my heavy duty cycling days are likely past and my primary interest was eliminating the hassle of transporting a bike, I went as far over to transportability that I could. Some of the reasons I went with a folder:

-There is no need for a bike rack. No more bike rack adjustments or mounting and unmounting racks.

-It folds up into a small package and does not take up much space in a vehicle or trailer

-Because it is inside, it offers more security from theft and damage.

-It offers better protection from the elements since it is not outside in the rain, dust and dirt.

-The bike is easy to load and unload and does not require any heavy lifting or awkward gymnastics.

-By storing the bike inside it keeps the back of the TV and galley clear of obstacles

-When folded, it is small enough that you can take it along when traveling by air, public transit or other vehicles without it becoming a major undertaking.

-The bike can be stored anywhere, offices, restaurants, at people’s homes you might be visiting, etc.

The better folders are not cheap, but because of that they do offer far better performance than the typical Camping World folder. Folders make good camp bikes, however, if you are going to knock out a 100 miles a day with a lot of climbs you would likely be better served by a regular bike.

 

Very slick, Steve. I'm jealous. Although my orange Bazooka bike gets a lot of comments it doesn't fold up nearly so well.

 

Evan, I am sure that after you get done with your battery array project you will begin the super folder project. I bet that you have already figured out how to add some more hinges to the Bazooka, along with an electric motor and some foldable wheels.

Fwiw, I am getting some serious battery envy, I just feel so inadequate.

 

Steve, I'd be happy to post materials & cut sizes if there is interest.

 

Complete plagiarizing from todays Rochester Post Bulletin, copied and pasted as a matter of fact:

Rochester has an athlete who won a gold medal in England, riding a Brompton.

Rochester has an athlete who won a gold medal in England. It's not quite what you'd think.

Susan Todzy won a gold in the Brompton World Championships, races involving a folding bicycle for commuter cyclists, travelers and other on-the-go people.

"Riding a Brompton makes me smile," Todzy said. "It's got little wheels, rides fast and the colors to customize your bike are just plain fun, and that's what biking should be, fun."

It all happened on a whim. In May, Todzy took a trip to Europe, where she'd planned a self-guided Holocaust tour. While researching the trip, she looked into bike options for traveling and found the Brompton, which she was able to store in the overhead compartment on the plane.

After she returned from the trip, she took the bike in for service and learned that the U.S. Nationals were being held in Minneapolis in June. She figured she'd enter.

She won.

As the U.S. champion, Todzy was sent to England for the world championships, held at Blenheim Palace. It was an international competition, with 682 riders from 34 nations involved.

Todzy won the Sprint, a 300-meter race, in 31.11 seconds. She also won the Treble, a three-leg event made up of the 26.2-mile marathon, the Sprint and the World Championship (9 miles).

Not only did Todzy win the U.S. national championship as a rider — she also won Best Dressed.

"What's got me smitten is the fact we have to dress in sartorial elegance to race," Todzy said. "We dress up like we're going to work and then we race. I'm already training for next year, and think I'm going to wear an outfit that matches the colors of my bike: sage green and claret red."

Around Rochester, Todzy is more of a commuter cyclist than a competitor.

"I haven’t owned a car since 1999, and I bike every day of the year," she said.

Nevertheless, she's already training for next year and hopes to defend her title.

http://postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1508452&query="Susan Todzy"

 

Last evening visited with the local gal who won the Brompton USA and international races.

She is a character.

Took the bike for a quick ride around a city block. Overall impressed with the bike. Steering is different I think because of the 20 inch wheels.

Interesting how the bike folds and unfolds, the built in "kick stand" that can function as a rear gear carrier, how the front bags attach.

She explained additional feature/theft program she utilizes: keep in mind this gal bikes everywhere.

Never, never, never locks at a bike rack. Due to the rolling kickstand compact nature and using front bag, rolls like a compact shopping cart. So she rolls the bike around the grocery store. (Would love to see that).

Certainly would be a handy investment when traveling, eliminates need for bike rack on back of tear. Yet would have to constantly fold and store in vehicle when not riding.

Investing in a very good Thule T2 bike rack is much more cost effective, yet the bike has it's plus points.

 

We just did a test drive on a Bike Friday New World Tourist,it was great.They really are the Camp Inn of the folding bike industry.I think we will be placing an order for two some time this week.

 

Yeah! Thank you for supporting our Oregon economy! And congrats!

Fingers crossed! I have a birthday next week. Mick says I am not getting a bike, but he likes to throw me off the scent. We'll see what happens! Not getting my hopes up, just in case he is serious, but will be over the moon if he isn't!

 

Well we just ordered two Bike Friday New World Tourist bikes.Delevery date around November 20.Now we wait just like we did for our Camp Inn.$$$$$

 

Did you order through Bike Friday itself or one of the dealers?

 

Through a dealer in Yardley Pa.it does not effect the price and it seems the factory likes you to have a relationship with someone in your area if possible.We did alot of the building of the bike with the factory and some with the dealer.

 

That is great! Good people at the factory, aren't they? I really enjoyed my afternoon there.

I suppose great things come to those who wait!

 

Im sure Mick is going to do what you would like him to do and your wait will be over.We hope to make it to the factory some day also.We dealt with Peter and he was great,I felt like I was talking with Cary.

 

Anna&Steve, you are right! Mick was trying to throw me off the scent, and I unpacked my bike today and put her together. I am heading to one of the bike shops tomorrow to get a saddle, pedals, and a new helmet. I will be out riding soon! Can't wait!


Just need to get fenders (somehow they didn't get ordered), and add a couple other bits, and I will be off!

 

Sarah you got yours before we got ours that Mick is a great guy.If that color is cream soda blue it is one of the colors we ordered the other color is flag red.We have a projected date of 10/26/12.Well you enjoy your Bike Friday.

 

Thanks, and you are right, Mick is a great guy. I am one lucky girl! Yesterday was my birthday, so he ordered it in time for that.

This one is a midnight blue and is has some sparkle in the paint. Looking forward to seeing pictures of yours when you get them!

 

Congratulations Sarah. That is one beautiful bike; I love the color and especially like the lime green cables.

How did you customize it? Is that a dynamo on the rear hub?

You are going to have so much fun with the bike!

 

It is a NuVinci N360 hub. It added a couple of lbs, but I really liked the smooth shifting and that you could have half gears. Plus, based on my location, Eric at Bike Friday thought the gearing would be enough. He says I am not going to keep up with road racers, but I am riding with a 5-year-old, and I don't expect him to be racing just yet.

I love the lime green too. A few of the customizations they did were specially bent handle bars, higher handlebar post, frame built for my size (they measured me, and then went from there), and they changed out different parts for me (like the hub for instance, gear shifter, kick stand, etc). I picked the paint and cable colors too, so I got what I wanted. I also had them put certain tires on. I have a rack for saddle bags too (for running to the store and what not), but I haven't put it on yet.

Now I am off to the bike shop to get my seat and pedals! Mother Nature is also helping me out with the weather! I will get out for some rides before the rains set in! So excited!