Tell me about your Bike Friday

I mentioned in my "standover" thread that I'm considering a Bike Friday. My cousin loves hers, but she lives in the city, takes the bike on the subway, takes it on Amtrak, and stores it neatly in her apartment. I live in a house, with a garage and own a car. I don't "need" a folding bike. Heck, I'm not sure I need another bike at all. But I'm still very tempted.

I like the idea of tossing it in the back of the car and still have room for a suitcase. I like the fact that I can probably get one to fit very well (I'm 5"0"). I like that I can pick out my color ;)

So tell me about your experience. How does it handle? Have you checked it as a piece of luggage on a plane? Which model do you have?

Thanks for any input!

I have a Pocket Rocket Pro. It's great. I don't feel different riding it as opposed to riding my regular-sized bicycle. It handles great, climbs great. I have a triple, so I use it on hilly rides since my other road bike doesn't have a triple. I have taken it all over on the plane with no problem. I've also folded it up in the quick-fold and stuck it into the back of my very small car along with my dog, luggage, and other stuff. I ride it on regular rides, not just for traveling.

It does everything my regular road bike does, but it goes even more places since it folds up, comes apart, and can be put on a plane without the hassle and expense of a regular sized bicycle.

It also sparks conversation and people ask questions. I don't mind that, as it just shows that people are curious about it.

Good to hear! When you travel by plane, how do you pack it? I know they have a special case, but does it fit in a large suitcase? Or maybe just lots of bubble wrap? I imagine my bike and me, winging around the country (or world) and then pedaling off into the countryside.

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

Good to hear! When you travel by plane, how do you pack it? I know they have a special case, but does it fit in a large suitcase? Or maybe just lots of bubble wrap? I imagine my bike and me, winging around the country (or world) and then pedaling off into the countryside.

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I bought the case from Bike Friday. It comes with a book that provides very detailed step-by-step instructions. The bike will be sent to you all packed up and you will have to put it together, thus the book.

It takes me about 30 minutes to pack it up, 15 to unpack it. It took alot longer at first, but practice makes it go faster.

I do that on occasion--wing around the country and world with my bike and pedal off into the countryside. That's why I bought the bike, actually. I did not buy the trailer attachment for the case. I've heard mixed reviews, and I would rather not have to lug around a case behind me. Figuring out what to do with the case if you are going on a point-to-point trip is a bit of a challenge.

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

I mentioned in my "standover" thread that I'm considering a Bike Friday. My cousin loves hers, but she lives in the city, takes the bike on the subway, takes it on Amtrak, and stores it neatly in her apartment. I live in a house, with a garage and own a car. I don't "need" a folding bike. Heck, I'm not sure I need another bike at all. But I'm still very tempted.

I like the idea of tossing it in the back of the car and still have room for a suitcase. I like the fact that I can probably get one to fit very well (I'm 5"0"). I like that I can pick out my color ;)

So tell me about your experience. How does it handle? Have you checked it as a piece of luggage on a plane? Which model do you have?

Thanks for any input!

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I have a Petite Crusoe. It's for riders 125 lbs or less. They use smaller tubing making the bike lighter. I have the Capreo cassette and rear hub which allows a 9T cog. This will give you a little higher gearing which helps make up for the overall lowering that happens with the smaller 20" wheels. Bike Friday's bikes with 20" wheels come in two different sizes the 406 and the 451 wheels. So if you really want the high gears, get the 451 wheels with the Capreo cassette. If you prefer lower gears, which you may want for loaded touring, you may want the 406 wheels with just a standard cassette. I would talk to them about the type of riding you do and what gears you typically ride in and they should be able to help you. You can use one of the gear calculators to compare to your current bike, like this one.

I did take my bike to do a ride back East a few years ago (I live in California). And it was fine. I purchased the case and packing material with my Bike Friday. I made sure to take pictures of the suitcase at various stages of packing the bike. I then printed the pictures with a note to TSA with my cellphone number just in case they couldn't get it all back in correctly. TSA didn't do anything to it on the way over, but when I got home, it appeared it had been inspected and a few things moved, but everything was fine.

My husband and I both have Pocket Crusoes. Mine is the petite model like Sylvia's. I love my Bike Friday.

We purchased the hard-side and soft-side cases from Bike Friday. The soft side is very thin and doesn't really protect the bike; it's really more protection for your vehicle so you don't get grease on it, or to hide the bike from prying eyes. The hard-shell case is the one that offers protection. We have actually never flown with our bikes and until the past couple years also lived in a house with garage. We mostly got folding bikes just in case we did want to travel with them. Now that we're traveling more, we are glad we got them and the cases.

I got the 406 wheels and mountain gearing as our first main use of the bikes was for a self-supported and loaded tour, so I needed very low gears. I don't find that I lack on the high end, though. I got drop bars with bar-end shifters, and they work very well.

It's a little heavier since it's a steel bike but well made and has held up very well -- we got ours in 2004.

Oh decisions decisions. Thanks everyone for your input (Especially Emily, since I know you just got back and didn't expect to see you posting so soon!).

I have a 29" X 19" suitcase. I don't suppose I could stuff the bike in there and wrap clothes around it? If the wheels are 20", I'd probably have to bend something, so I guess not.

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

Oh decisions decisions. Thanks everyone for your input (Especially Emily, since I know you just got back and didn't expect to see you posting so soon!).

I have a 29" X 19" suitcase. I don't suppose I could stuff the bike in there and wrap clothes around it? If the wheels are 20", I'd probably have to bend something, so I guess not.

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You're welcome! Yes, can't keep me offline for long. :)

That suitcase is likely not big enough. I can't measure ours now since they are at my mom's, but they are HUGE. They are very well-made Samsonite models, though.

This is what Bike Friday says about the case they sell.

"The lock on the GT F'Lite is TSA approved. Samsonite does not measure the wheels or handles in their measurements.The case dimensions are 29.5" tall x 20" wide x 12" deep. This adds up to 61.5 linear inches, which falls just under the 62 linear inches used by most airlines as their cut-off limit for suitcase dimensions. The suitcase weighs 11.65 lbs. "

They want $229 for just the case.

So I think I'm going to Oregon and trying out a Bike Friday! I spent about 45 minutes on the phone with a consultant and it looks like there may be a Petite Crusoe in my future. I'm looking forward to having a new toy this summer!

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

So I think I'm going to Oregon and trying out a Bike Friday! I spent about 45 minutes on the phone with a consultant and it looks like there may be a Petite Crusoe in my future. I'm looking forward to having a new toy this summer!

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Congratulations! Not sure how I missed this thread. I have a regular Crusoe (as does my DH). We have them set up (with a lot of help from Emily and a few others) with bar end shifters, and love them for travel. I don't ride it as much locally, but that's mostly because I have too many bikes (well...lots - no such thing are too many). We've flown with them 2-3 times, and have really enjoyed having them available as we travel (have taken them to San Diego and LA). If I were to order one now, I would seriously consider the belt drive and an internally geared hub. I think it would make packing/maintenance much easier (less to move/break, less to get grease on everything, etc.). They really are cool little bikes!

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Originally Posted by Blueberry

If I were to order one now, I would seriously consider the belt drive and an internally geared hub. I think it would make packing/maintenance much easier (less to move/break, less to get grease on everything, etc.)

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I totally agree! I just saw that they had that option now. What a great idea!

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

So I think I'm going to Oregon and trying out a Bike Friday! I spent about 45 minutes on the phone with a consultant and it looks like there may be a Petite Crusoe in my future. I'm looking forward to having a new toy this summer!

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Wow, you are going all the way to Oregon from NY to try one?! That's commitment!

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

Wow, you are going all the way to Oregon from NY to try one?! That's commitment!

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:D Yup! I've been trying to decide what to do with my week off this summer. I have frequent flyer miles I want to use, and Portland looked like a nice place to visit. Then I started reading about Bike Fridays, and how you can visit the factory store, borrow a bike to take on the paths, and my vacation fell into place. Except, I want the bike sooner, rather than later, so I'm just going to make a long weekend out of it, probably mid-May. A couple of days in Portland, and a couple of days in Eugene.

I admit I'm still pining for the Surly Pacer, but I do like the idea of a bike to throw in the back of my car, and the low standover height. Really low ;)

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

So I think I'm going to Oregon and trying out a Bike Friday! I spent about 45 minutes on the phone with a consultant and it looks like there may be a Petite Crusoe in my future. I'm looking forward to having a new toy this summer!

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Oh! Tell me when you plan to be here. I live about 45 minutes away from where they are made.

Sometime between May 14-19, depending on air ticket availability. You're welcome to join me at the factory, but looking at your record, I'd hate to tempt you with yet another bike ;) But as long as you keep buying one more than me, I don't feel as guilty.

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

Sometime between May 14-19, depending on air ticket availability. You're welcome to join me at the factory, but looking at your record, I'd hate to tempt you with yet another bike ;) But as long as you keep buying one more than me, I don't feel as guilty.

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I should be around here then. No, I won't get a bike friday....I like them though.... I've just promised that I will wait a bit before getting another.

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Originally Posted by TrekDianna

I should be around here then. No, I won't get a bike friday....I like them though.... I've just promised that I will wait a bit before getting another.

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I'm itching to get a Bike Friday myself. So, I almost wanna bet that Trek Dianna is going to get herself a Bike Friday to "commute/do some touring between her 2 homes" within 6 months if she visits the Bike Friday factory:rolleyes:.

I can't wait to hear about the two of you's Bike Friday Factory Tour and Test Ride fun!!

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Originally Posted by TigerMom

I'm itching to get a Bike Friday myself. So, I almost wanna bet that Trek Dianna is going to get herself a Bike Friday to "commute/do some touring between her 2 homes" within 6 months if she visits the Bike Friday factory:rolleyes:.

I can't wait to hear about the two of you's Bike Friday Factory Tour and Test Ride fun!!

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OMG, you kill me. No, my next bike will be a Surly LHT

Noob here, just thought I'd offer some insight about my Bike Friday NWT. It's new to me, having bought it a couple of months ago, and I absolutely love it. I haven't taken it on anything longer than 20 miles yet but from my experiences so far it's easily my favorite bike. The build quality and attention to detail is superb. The ride is very spirited and agile. The bike's light weight, geometry and it's 20" wheels make it very stable in a straight line, compliant and smooth despite having a rigid frame with no suspension and it steers effortlessly and quickly. It also has a double chain ring in front and an 8speed cluster in back which provides a wonderfully wide range of gearing for hill climbing and maintaining speed on the flats. I've become a fan of small wheeled bikes over the last couple of years and now ride mostly my folding bikes (I'm a daily year round commuter) and larger wheeled bikes have become so cumbersome feeling to me (a caveat to what may be perceived as a bias).

In short, a Bike Friday isn't just a small wheeled portable bicycle, it's a true touring and commuting bike of high quality.

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

So I think I'm going to Oregon and trying out a Bike Friday! I spent about 45 minutes on the phone with a consultant and it looks like there may be a Petite Crusoe in my future. I'm looking forward to having a new toy this summer!

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So.... what happened? Did you come out here?

No, I didn't. But I ordered the bike! Deciding on the color was the biggest holdup! And then I changed my mind again, after I ordered. Twice. So I'm not really sure what color I'm getting. It's a petite Crusoe with the Shimano Capreo cassette. Everything else should be pretty standard. I was hoping it would get here this week to join me on a road trip, but I'm not even sure it's been built yet. In the meantime (in case you missed my other thread) I bought a Specialized Dolce which is vying for top spot road bike with last year's C'Dale Synapse.

I'd still like to visit Oregon sometime!

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

No, I didn't. But I ordered the bike! Deciding on the color was the biggest holdup! And then I changed my mind again, after I ordered. Twice. So I'm not really sure what color I'm getting. It's a petite Crusoe with the Shimano Capreo cassette. Everything else should be pretty standard. I was hoping it would get here this week to join me on a road trip, but I'm not even sure it's been built yet. In the meantime (in case you missed my other thread) I bought a Specialized Dolce which is vying for top spot road bike with last year's C'Dale Synapse.

I'd still like to visit Oregon sometime!

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Whew, glad I didn't miss you. I love my Dolce! That's the bike I rode to the top of McKenzie pass a few weeks ago. I can't wait to see the Bike Friday. Let me know if you want to come out here. My house in Central oregon is a biking dream place.

How sweet! Thanks. I would have mentioned if I made the trip. Maybe someday!

Oh great, you ordered a Crusoe -- I love mine (though it's not with me at the moment). I too changed colors a few times. Finally ended up with white because I wanted a color (or non-color, as it were) that I'd never had before. Can't wait to see photos when you get it!