Folding bike to big guy

budhabob

Hey All,

I'm thinking of getting a folding bike to speed up my commute. I currently walk about 15 mins, and then get 2 busses. I'm looking at shortening my commute time by only getting one bus and cycling the rest.

It's pretty flat terrain. Looking for folding bike recommendations for a big guy (6ft, c.20 stone). Thanks in advance.

tomasrojo

I'm about your height and I use a Brompton with the slightly longer seat post.

You'd be a little bit outside the recommended max. weight for a Brompton: 110kg including luggage, or about 17 stone. But I think you'd be ok, especially if you didn't carry a lot of luggage, given that you're not "drastically" heavier than the maximum weight, by any means, to use the phrasing on that Brompton page.

Bromptons are pricey, but very good.

beauf

You'd want to avoid rough terrain, kerbs, cobbles. I have a different make of folding bike, thus far all I've done is broken a few spokes a couple of times, which I got fixed. I try not carry much in a bad. I'm lighter than you but, I'm still over the limit on my bike. So I take it easy.

https://stupidfatbastard.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/heavy-rider/
http://www.bikeforums.net/folding-bikes/407359-folding-bike-clydesdale.html

trad

Do not get one of these
http://www.strida.com/

I had one (briefly) when I was about your weight and it was the only bike I ever rode that I could steer with the saddle

beauf

I really like the idea of the Strida, it suits a standing train better then other folders. It would suit my commute better than my current one. But it has a high center of gravity, so you have to beware of that.

No one sells there here.

Miklos

Definitely hard to look past the Brompton.

Greentree_uk

where are you cycling from and to? include final destination. I was in the same boat as you, size and weight too, getting a bus/DART then the Luas, I bought a great folding ebike got into town so quick I cycled the whole way, took 1hr 1st day as opposed to the 1hr45 it took prior. I changed that bike for a full size ebike and never looked back. commute down to a manageable 37 mins now, 34 if I really push it hard. I do 40Kms a day as part of my commute, lost a stone so far since April. and still drinking beer Changed my life!

oh btw, the bike I got initially was https://wisperbikes.com/e-bikes/806-torque-folding-bike/ up to 130KG, bought from https://www.dlbcycles.ie

budhabob

Greentree_uk wrote: »

where are you cycling from and to? include final destination. I was in the same boat as you, size and weight too, getting a bus/DART then the Luas, I bought a great folding ebike got into town so quick I cycled the whole way, took 1hr 1st day as opposed to the 1hr45 it took prior. I changed that bike for a full size ebike and never looked back. commute down to a manageable 37 mins now, 34 if I really push it hard. I do 40Kms a day as part of my commute, lost a stone so far since April. and still drinking beer Changed my life!

oh btw, the bike I got initially was https://wisperbikes.com/e-bikes/806-torque-folding-bike/ up to 130KG, bought from https://www.dlbcycles.ie

Glasnevin to the Airport. The direct cycle is reasonably short, but uphill going to work, and im office based with no easy shower facilities. So thought that a foldingbike to Whitehall to the bus would be a good starting option, and maybe move into the full cycle as fitness improves.

Greentree_uk

sounds like an ebike is the solution, ignore google maps, u'd manage that cycle in 25 mins or less, and much less on the way home:)

budhabob

Greentree_uk wrote: »

sounds like an ebike is the solution, ignore google maps, u'd manage that cycle in 25 mins or less, and much less on the way home:)

hadn't even considered an ebike, will look into it.

tomasrojo

If you do get a folding bike and use the bus, put the folding bike in a large garbage bag (or similar) before the bus arrives. Sometimes a driver won't let you on if he sees you with "a bike", though officially compact folding bikes are permitted on Dublin buses.

LostCovey

Same height as OP and not as heavy (now), I chose the bike below. I have been bringing this on the train for years, and its a folder that feels like a 'real bike'. The magnetic doodah on the front & rear forks that holds everything in place when it is folded isn't very robust so I use a bungie, and you need an allen key to fold the handlebars but it fits on a luggage rack and is a flyer on poor surfaces and cobbles.

I bought it in the Cycle Superstore on the Cycle-to-Work a few years ago, but have never met or seen another one on the road or the train.

I would rate it very highly.

http://www.foldingbike20.com/dahon-jack-d7-review/

http://www.foldingbike20.com/dahon-jack-d7-review/

cdaly_

I know of two of those commuting by train. They are a bit bulky compared to the likes of a brompton.

LostCovey

cdaly_ wrote: »

I know of two of those commuting by train. They are a bit bulky compared to the likes of a brompton.

That is true, and probably not as handy for a bus as the Brompton (fine on the train), but a proper bike when unfolded.

beauf

I do my 14k commute on my folder at time. Has no problem with distance. I've stopped bringing it on the train though theres barely standing room on it now and getting me without a bike is hard enough.