Hello, I’m Eri, and I handle photography for our web shop.
At Circles Tokyo, we have Bike Friday demo and display bikes in the shop, though one of them was actually mine (it’s not on the floor right now as I had it brought back for a display in Nagoya). Today, I want to talk about the appeal of Bike Fridays—bikes that offer a great fit for riders of all sizes, men and women alike.
A philosophy beyond "one-size-fits-all"
Mass-produced small-wheel bikes sold in chain stores often come in very few sizes, or just one size intended for everyone—regardless of gender—to ensure they are accessible to smaller women. In such cases, because they are sized for the smaller rider, the wheelbase inevitably ends up being short, which can make the ride extremely cramped for men.
Bike Friday, on the other hand, is a small-wheel bike built with custom sizing; the geometry is determined by your height and limb length, freeing you from those frustrations. One of the great charms of a Bike Friday is that it’s not a mass-produced small-wheel bike, but rather a custom-fitted order that allows you to own a one-of-a-kind machine.
Lightweight because of its small size
While there is inherent lightness due to the smaller wheel diameter, models like the Pakit, Pocket Rocket, and New World Tourist feature a single top-tube design, making them even lighter by using fewer components. Since one of the main goals is to fold and transport them, this weight is crucial for a travel bike. Conversely, models like the Diamond Llama and All Packa are designed for dirt touring and use traditional truss structures to ensure strength.
Ease of folding
While it may not be a one-touch process, they can be folded down compactly in a short amount of time. Since they are built with rigidity in mind, a characteristic of Bike Friday is that they employ a folding mechanism around the seat tube rather than folding the top tube.
Highly versatile component compatibility
Another of Bike Friday’s strengths is that they don’t use proprietary, exclusive parts. It would be a nightmare to have a mechanical issue while traveling and not be able to find replacement parts or spares.
Also, because they don’t use proprietary designs, it’s possible to transfer parts from bikes you’ve owned previously, allowing you to build one reasonably by combining parts you already have. In fact, most of the parts on my own Bike Friday are hand-me-downs from my husband’s collection, and being able to pass them down while mixing new and old parts is a major plus.
Perfect for taking on trains, packing in a car, and fitting into any style of travel in Japan, a Bike Friday goes far beyond the concept of a small-wheel bike—it will become the best partner to whisk you away on a fun journey.
