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Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

kwigglebike.com

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Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#131

Post by lmm »

laurieg wrote: post #24

I've spent a long time with folding bikes over the years. My advice: bite the bullet and buy a Brompton[1]. Yes, Bromptons are expensive. But they ride like a bicycle, have gears, a stiff enough frame, luggage racks etc. There's very little compromise. The fastest I've done on mine is 45 kph and I've ridden 70km in a day. I carry it on and off buses and trains multiple times a day without issue. In the past I had an…

Did you ever look at the Strida? It was designed in response to the Brompton, with a simpler fold and the ability to wheel it around on its actual wheels while folded, rather than little casters. It doesn't fold quite as small as a Brompton (it's more golf-bag like), but the footprint is similar if there's something to lean it against.

I'm very happy with mine, and it has most of the advantages you list - luggage rack, real bike feel (my longest day is apparently 64km and top speed 64kph). The sensitive steering takes a bit of getting used to the first time but you adapt quite quickly. For me the simple fold (and, sure, lower price) feels like a big advantage compared to the Brompton, which is what several of my friends have.

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#132

Post by miketery »

Yoofie wrote: post #123

If portability is the ultimate goal then its probably better to go with learning how to ride unicycle instead of buying a intricate folding bike with a lot of compromises. Sometimes the the problem can't be fixed with a technical solution and the user simply needs to learn to use a new tool ;)

Couldn't agree more. Electric Unicycles are unbelievable, here are the benefits:

1. Size / Portable, about 7" x 17" x 24"

2. Agility, better maneuverability around cars and obstacles

3. Speed, can go >40mph, most of the time you only need 15~25mph

4. Hands free, can carry stuff

5. Wheel size is 16" and up (better than scooters with small wheels)

Downsides:

1. Weight, 40lbs and up (my current one is 65lbs)

2. Electric only

3. Safety - if it cuts out, your falling off (has yet to happen to me)

4. No exercise like a bike (I became much weaker after I stopped riding my bike)

5. Expensive (starts ~$1300 for basic, likely will want to spend $1800-$2400)

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#135

Post by o_____________o »

Swizec wrote: post #27
yupper32 wrote: post #16

I don't think I could ever get over the look of the small wheels. It seems like the fanny pack of bikes: pretty useful but you gotta look dorky if you want to use it. It's vain but I'd find it hard to believe I'm alone here.

My penny board fits in carry-on luggage, is allowed on airplanes, can be ridden inside airports, and looks cool as heck when you ride in the city. Plus it weighs like 3lbs and costs $100. But it’s a little more work to ride than a bicycle

> looks cool as heck

Citation needed

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#136

Post by histriosum »

newacc9 wrote: post #130
histriosum wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been looking at folding bikes like this.. in my case, I'm a private pilot, and I'm looking for ways to solve the last mile issue of getting from my destination airport to somewhere fun to go - ie a nearby beach, or into town for dinner, etc. Size and weight are important in my use case, since general aviation aircraft don't have alot of cargo space. This bike looks like it would be a decent fit, but I'm not sure…

Rollerblades will take care of that 1.6 mi commute in Cadillac in about 10 mins.

Not sure which destination you picked, but KCAD to Clam Lake Brewery is closer to 3 miles, and that's the general area that I'm usually headed to in Cadillac. I take your point about rollerblades, though, it's certainly an option!

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#137

Post by sooheon »

frankfrankfrank wrote: post #116
bambax wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bromptons are fantastic but there are many folding bikes with gears for much much less money. Decathlon Oxylane 120 retails for €289, with taxes, for example. It's not a Brompton, but for 1/4 of the price it doesn't need to be.

What am I missing. I looked at the Bromton and it’s ~$3,800 or roughly 1/12 of the Decathlon.

They are abusing intellectual property monopoly.

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#138

Post by teslaberri »

lmm wrote: post #131
laurieg wrote: post #24

I've spent a long time with folding bikes over the years. My advice: bite the bullet and buy a Brompton[1]. Yes, Bromptons are expensive. But they ride like a bicycle, have gears, a stiff enough frame, luggage racks etc. There's very little compromise. The fastest I've done on mine is 45 kph and I've ridden 70km in a day. I carry it on and off buses and trains multiple times a day without issue. In the past I had an…

Did you ever look at the Strida? It was designed in response to the Brompton, with a simpler fold and the ability to wheel it around on its actual wheels while folded, rather than little casters. It doesn't fold quite as small as a Brompton (it's more golf-bag like), but the footprint is similar if there's something to lean it against. I'm very happy with mine, and it has most of the advantages you list - luggage rac…

it's either brompton or strida. other bikes are just dumb. tern. dumb. moulton dumb. pacific cycles dumb. dahon dumb. birdie dumb. bike friday , kinda dumb. old raleigh folding tanks ....the list goes on. any bike with under 16"" wheels is also totally stupid . retardedly so, unless it's for some niche clown world where bumps don't exist and you don't ride the thing farther than a mile.

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#139

Post by djrogers »

throwaway81523 wrote: post #90
ThinBold wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Scooter has an even smaller wheel and is more unstable during high speed. Also bike is more muscle-efficient.

The logical end of the scooter sequence is probably roller blades, and I do know people who use those to get around and consider them practical.

No hills where they live?

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#140

Post by teslaberri »

codeulike wrote: post #68
laurieg wrote: post #24

I've spent a long time with folding bikes over the years. My advice: bite the bullet and buy a Brompton[1]. Yes, Bromptons are expensive. But they ride like a bicycle, have gears, a stiff enough frame, luggage racks etc. There's very little compromise. The fastest I've done on mine is 45 kph and I've ridden 70km in a day. I carry it on and off buses and trains multiple times a day without issue. In the past I had an…

The A-Bike was a project by Clive Sinclair (ZX Spectrum etc) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-bike Had one for a bit, very small wheels, was kindof fun but in London its just easier to have a normal bike and arrange your commute so that you use it, rather than carry a small bike around. I also had a Strida, really nice design and a good balance between usefulness and foldyness https://www.strida.com/

i owned an A bike for like a week. they are unrideable. entirely and totally unrideable on real roads of any kind unless you want to damage your prostate.
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