Increase Load Capacity on Folding Bike

[fsa259]

Hi everyone,

Hoping you can point me in the right direction with this question...

I decided to get a cheap folding bike for my weekend trips into London so I can save money and time on taxis and public transport. I really didnt want to lug a full size bike on the train down to and in-and-around London, hence the folder. And since I dont need to use it everyday, I opted for a cheaper Raleight Parkway for £95.

My problem is that Im just shy under the 105kg weight limit. To be on the safe side, am I able to upgrade the wheels or something to accommodate my stature? Maybe wheels with more spokes? Any idea where I should look for these?

I am cutting all the pies too...honest!

Many thanks!!

 

[vernon]

Hi everyone,

Hoping you can point me in the right direction with this question...

I decided to get a cheap folding bike for my weekend trips into London so I can save money and time on taxis and public transport. I really didnt want to lug a full size bike on the train down to and in-and-around London, hence the folder. And since I dont need to use it everyday, I opted for a cheaper Raleight Parkway for £95.

My problem is that Im just shy under the 105kg weight limit. To be on the safe side, am I able to upgrade the wheels or something to accommodate my stature? Maybe wheels with more spokes? Any idea where I should look for these?

I am cutting all the pies too...honest!

Many thanks!!

I'd not worry too much. Wheels are more robust that you give them credit for. I weigh in at 135kg and go touring with an extra 20kg and use standard wheels.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

I'd not worry too much. Wheels are more robust that you give them credit for. I weigh in at 135kg and go touring with an extra 20kg and use standard wheels.

+1.

Also all else being equal 20" wheels are a lot stronger than larger wheels.

If anything goes wrong it is likely to be the rear that goes first so you can always keep an eye on that, especially after you have been hitting deep potholes that have crept on you hard.

 

[TheDoctor]

If it's rated for 105kg, then the design will have been tested to way more than that. At work, we test things to at least 135% of the maximum design load.

 

[fsa259]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. Ill avoid potholes as much as possible....dont intend on rough usage...just to the train station and back on the weekends. I have a problem with the bike I bought though. I got it off ebay and the seller listed it as the Parkway. They never used it or took it out of the packaging. When I took it out of all the cardboard, I discovered its the Ikea Raleigh. AFAIK, the Ikea was sourced from Poland and not from Dahon like the other Raleighs. The seller is being an arse and initially refused a refund saying the bike isnt BNIB anymore...eventually they agreed to a full refund if I return the item at my expense. Given that I paid £95, do you think its worth me slapping up the £20 for the return courier or shall I make my peace with the bike? Completed listings on ebay shows most Ikea Raleighs go for £35-60 with one which topped £90.

 

[Klaus]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. Ill avoid potholes as much as possible....dont intend on rough usage...just to the train station and back on the weekends. I have a problem with the bike I bought though. I got it off ebay and the seller listed it as the Parkway. They never used it or took it out of the packaging. When I took it out of all the cardboard, I discovered its the Ikea Raleigh. AFAIK, the Ikea was sourced from Poland and not from Dahon like the other Raleighs. The seller is being an arse and initially refused a refund saying the bike isnt BNIB anymore...eventually they agreed to a full refund if I return the item at my expense. Given that I paid £95, do you think its worth me slapping up the £20 for the return courier or shall I make my peace with the bike? Completed listings on ebay shows most Ikea Raleighs go for £35-60 with one which topped £90.

I am not familiar with Raleighs or Dahons, but a folder for £95 and almost brand new, seems hardly worth the bother, if it fulfills the purpose .... I see poorly maintained folders going for £50-70, I bet it's due to the "retro" fashion. I got one for £40 ready to ride away (1970s German make).

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Given that I paid £95, do you think its worth me slapping up the £20 for the return courier or shall I make my peace with the bike? Completed listings on ebay shows most Ikea Raleighs go for £35-60 with one which topped £90.

Yours is a tough question. But for what it is worth:
1. I did a quick search of recent sales, for brand new Ikeas' one sold for £60 and another sold for £97+£25p&p!
2. Even £800 Dahons are made in Taiwan, not USA where the company is based.

Nevertheless I do sympathize - it is very disappointing when people are dishonest, and there really is no excuse because let alone the names they don't seem to be the same bike either. If I were you, I would return it demanding a full refund if I think I would always be unhappy about it and count the £20 possibly non-refundable return postage as school fees for the (albeit unhappy) lesson/experience. I presume if you follow the process closely ebay Buyer Protection will backstop the refund given the goods is substantially not meeting description.

If I think I can live with it then I might draw the seller's attention to recent sales and try to negotiate a partial refund not because the Ikea is definitely not worth £90, but because you did bid for and won a Parkway, which afaik lists for at least £140 normally. Obviously your chance of success here is dependent on how much the seller values his/her feedback rating.

Good luck either way!

 

[P.H]

My problem is that Im just shy under the 105kg weight limit. To be on the safe side, am I able to upgrade the wheels or something to accommodate my stature? Maybe wheels with more spokes? Any idea where I should look for these?

The fact that nearly all folding bikes have a weight limit and so few rigid bikes do, would lead me to deduce the weak point is the folding mechanism rather than the wheels. 

 

[snailracer]

The fact that nearly all folding bikes have a weight limit and so few rigid bikes do, would lead me to deduce the weak point is the folding mechanism rather than the wheels.

I would have thought the weakness (if any) was due more to the fact that most folding bikes don't have top tubes - almost all have step-through frames.