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Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

kwigglebike.com

421–430 of 431 posts

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#421

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean it's the same as fashion for me. I could wear poorly fitting clothes and poorly matched items of clothing, but I don't. I care about how I look and present myself. That's not exactly unique, and it doesn't have to be strongly tied to me caring if people think I'm "uncool".

I'm not suggesting it's unique, I'm saying I don't understand it. If you don't strongly care, why does it matter? Are you suggesting your opinion on how to present yourself is not influenced by others? In which case, how do you decide if something is good? This is not at all like poorly fitting clothes. The bicycle is clearly used as designed. I suppose what I don't understand is that I embrace unusual. Something tha…

> and that seems a somewhat depressing view of the world when laid out so starkly

> It's that bit that puzzles me most - your openness to being subject to the whims of fashion.

So it's not my choice to consider how I look (in fashion or with my choice of bike), it's that I'm open about it?

> Are you suggesting your opinion on how to present yourself is not influenced by others?

I don't know why it has to be analyzed so deeply. I consider the appearance of the things I buy. I consider both if I like the look and if I think others would like the look. Clothes, shoes, cars, in this case a bike, etc. Some things are pleasing to the eye. Other things are ugly or dorky or weird, which most of the time I'm not looking for in a look.

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#422

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The comment in question said they lied here. Where is the evidence?

The comment in question, and others provided that evidence: statements from customers that they were still waiting on their bikes, several years after ordering. If you want more than that, the ball is in your court to follow up on it.

> If you want more than that, the ball is in your court to follow up on it.

We don't have time to dig up evidence for other people's comments, and that claim, even if true, would not be evidence that they lied (delayed shipping are not lies), and not be evidence that they lied here.

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#423

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A discussion about folding bikes would not be complete without mentioning Helix. Helix folds almost as small as a Brompton but has 24” wheels and standard bicycle components such as disc brakes, Shimano/SRAM drivetrain etc. Also the fold is the most compact possible, even more compact than Brompton in terms of maximizing the use of space. It also fits in a standard airline luggage without any disassembly which few ot…

That’s awesome! You are living the dream creating that. Along the lines of my other comment, have you had any problems with Brompton around your pivoting rear wheel? Your design looks very different from the Brompton but I believe it’s that pivoting rear wheel they are quite aggressive about legally (where they can be). That single sided front fork is genius! I really hope you have incredible success, next time I’m l…

Thank you! The pivoting real wheel was actually invented by Mario Raimondi in 1963, 16 years before Brompton. The patent has long expired and in our case we are pivoting and translating, so it's a new take on this function.

https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/0001985...

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#424
post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Similarly I like to get very cheap ($40-$70) round trip flights to random town and explore around. Unfortunately my uber from the airport to the town is usually more expensive than the flight. Most small towns don't have much in the way of airport buses.

Wow, that's amazingly cheap.. where are you flying out of and how are you finding those fares?

Out of Denver, and I use the date grid on google flights. Frontier and spirit fly to Miami pretty consistently for a $80 round trip, but most flights are to like bentonville, AR or similarly random places.

The key is to people able to take a flight at any time and day, so you can always take the cheapest options. But also if you book 2 months in advance you can go anywhere in the Caribbean/central America on spirit for $100 or so.

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#425
post #288
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…

I'm sure Bromptons are great, but the prices are just ridiculous, and their marketing grates. I really don't need my bike to be handmade in London. I have a Decathlon foldable. It doesn't fold quite as small as a Brompton, so I wouldn't want to be regularly taking it on public transport. But it's light and solid, folds easily and rides well at about one third the price.

No post body was provided.

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#426
post #344
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…

I would wholeheartedly agree with this. I've tried Dahon, Tern, and one other frame I can't recall after pining for a Brompton for years but eventually bit the bullet and purchased one for myself. No comparison. It's my favourite bike for non-snow/slush conditions. Bike Friday was also on the short list but I didn't have the opportunity to try. Good on you for doing 70km! That's about the limit of my comfortable endu…

Your B&W case is about 4" over regulation, I believe, but I've read that last year many airlines began waiving the oversize fee for bikes (the weight limit still applies, but a Brompton plus the case should easily meet it). So tell the check-in agent there's a bike in the case if they ever decide to measure it.

I'm in the process of building aluminum cases for two Zizzo folders my gf and I just bought. I'm keeping them under the size limit to be safe, but because they also convert into trailers (to haul carry-on) and are relatively beefy, I'm bumping up against the 50 lb weight limit for economy seats. Right now I'm scratching my head as to how to incorporate casters and center stands with only 1 lb left to play with. :|

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#427
post #100

You can't actually bring any of these folding bikes on an airplane as carry-on can you? I wasn't able to bring a tent cause of the thin poles after all.

I saw someone bring a Brompton as carry-on, with the caveat that it was up front on an international flight (lots of bin space).

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#428
My cousin designed and built a prototype of a folding trike that fit in a suitcase. He'd check it on a trip, and on arrival unfold it. Then mount its case on the back and put his normal suitcase in that. He could then tour around whereever independently with his luggage. Had a blast touring Costa Rica he said.

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#429
post #344

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would wholeheartedly agree with this. I've tried Dahon, Tern, and one other frame I can't recall after pining for a Brompton for years but eventually bit the bullet and purchased one for myself. No comparison. It's my favourite bike for non-snow/slush conditions. Bike Friday was also on the short list but I didn't have the opportunity to try. Good on you for doing 70km! That's about the limit of my comfortable endu…

Your B&W case is about 4" over regulation, I believe, but I've read that last year many airlines began waiving the oversize fee for bikes (the weight limit still applies, but a Brompton plus the case should easily meet it). So tell the check-in agent there's a bike in the case if they ever decide to measure it. I'm in the process of building aluminum cases for two Zizzo folders my gf and I just bought. I'm keeping th…

That's neat! I have an idea that you could try.

I have a folding portage cart with light weight removable wheels that attach via pushpin axles into metal receivers. Buy two extra receivers, drill holes in the side of the case, bolt on the receivers, and attach the wheels at the destination.

I haven't used it for this yet but plan was I would just take the wheels in my carry on. I also have not work out how to attach the cart to the bike yet.

Wike sells the individual wheels, pins, receivers (2) and even a diy box trailer kit(1) using these parts with instructions if looking to visualize this.

(1) https://wicycle.com/products/bike-trailers/diy2 (2) https://wicycle.com/support/replacementparts

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#430
post #292

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Build quality and longevity. After five years of daily use you will be able to resell your Brompton for 80% of its initial price, while I would guess you would be lucky to get more than $100 for your old Decathlon.

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