For cycling enthusiasts and travel lovers, the dream of combining adventures on two wheels with the convenience of portability is now a reality. Enter the Bike Pocket Rocket, a marvel of engineering that redefines what a bicycle can be. This article dives deep into the world of bike pocket rockets, exploring their features, benefits, and why they might just be the perfect bike for your next adventure. We’ll be drawing insights from a firsthand review of the iconic Bike Friday Pocket Rocket, a leader in this niche market, to give you a comprehensive understanding of these incredible machines.
My New Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro: A First Ride Review
After years of faithful service from my original Bike Friday Pocket Rocket, upgrading to the Pocket Rocket Pro model was an exciting step. Eager to test its capabilities, I put it through its paces on familiar routes in Santa Cruz, California, and then truly experienced its potential during a vacation to the Big Island. Here are my initial impressions of this enhanced bike pocket rocket.
Fine-Tuning the Fit and Feel
Bike Friday understands that a comfortable and efficient ride starts with a perfect fit. The Pocket Rocket Pro arrives with an adjustable stem, a brilliant feature that allows you to experiment and dial in your ideal handlebar height and reach right at home. This personalized approach is further streamlined with a pre-paid return box for the adjustable stem. Once you’ve found your sweet spot, Bike Friday crafts a custom stem tailored to your exact measurements. With the custom stem installed, the final adjustments—fine-tuning brakes and derailleurs, and adding my preferred Selle San Marco seat—were straightforward, ensuring the bike was perfectly set up for optimal performance.
Ultegra 10-Speed Upgrade: Performance and Aesthetics
The most significant upgrade from my older Pocket Rocket is the inclusion of Shimano’s Ultegra 10-speed groupset. This elegant component group, complete with a stock crankset, elevates the Pro’s performance and aesthetics. My previous 8-speed setup required modifications to achieve high enough gearing. The stock Ultegra crankset not only provides a more professional look but also optimizes space when packing the bike for travel. Gearheads will appreciate the upgrade from a 56-tooth chainring with a 12-tooth cog (93-inch high gear) to a 53-11 configuration (96-inch high gear), offering a broader range for varied terrains.
Functionally, the Pocket Rocket Pro feels remarkably similar to a full-sized road bike. The only unique detail is a small addition to the rear-derailleur cable housing. This ensures precise shifting across the 10-speed cassette, compensating for the longer cable runs necessitated by the folding frame. Beyond this minor adaptation, the bike is a complete Ultegra road machine, from hubs to quick releases, guaranteeing reliability and seamless shifting and braking.
The Ultegra groupset is renowned for its performance, offering near Dura-Ace functionality at a more accessible price point. The silver-grey components beautifully complement the Pocket Rocket Pro’s metallic blue powder coat. This isn’t just about looks; the powder paint, applied electrostatically, is incredibly durable, essential for a travel bike that will encounter its share of baggage handling.
Riding Dynamics: Stable, Efficient, and Fast
Venturing onto the roads of the Big Island, I was immediately impressed by the Pocket Rocket Pro’s stability. Despite the smaller wheels, it felt remarkably steady from the moment I left the hotel parking lot. Comparing wheelbases, the Pro is slightly longer than my older Rocket and features a different fork. Whether these are the sole factors or there are other geometry and tubing refinements, the result is exceptional stability, especially noticeable on descents.
Whether cruising, sprinting (reaching over 40mph with confident no-handed riding), or navigating scenic routes, the Pro feels planted and secure. It’s also remarkably efficient, living up to its “Pro” designation with responsive acceleration and climbing prowess. Every pedal stroke translates to forward motion, particularly when standing. This efficiency, combined with the stable feel, makes cornering feel natural and comfortable, even on unfamiliar roads.
The Pocket Rocket Pro reinforces the long-held belief that Bike Fridays ride as well as any high-quality road bike, while offering the unparalleled advantage of portability. For cyclists seeking the ultimate portable flyer, the Pocket Rocket Pro is a top contender.
The Enduring Legacy of the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket
My journey with Bike Friday began in 1994 with the original Pocket Rocket. This wasn’t just a bike purchase; it was an investment in a lifestyle that prioritized cycling, even amidst frequent travel. At the time, I was committed to a daily riding goal, and the challenge was how to maintain this commitment while traveling for work.
Overcoming Travel Hurdles with Innovation
Traveling with a traditional bicycle was fraught with issues. Airline baggage fees were exorbitant, and the risk of damage to bikes packed in boxes or cases was always a concern. Shipping via UPS presented its own set of anxieties regarding cost, reliability, and timely arrival.
Enter Ed Pavelka, a colleague at Bicycling Magazine, who introduced me to the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket. Ed raved about this folding marvel, highlighting its ability to pack into a standard suitcase – bypassing oversized baggage fees and rough handling. The suitcase-to-trailer conversion kit was another game-changer, allowing cyclists to ride directly from the airport.
Intrigued by the prospect of seamless bike travel, I contacted Bike Friday founders Hans and Alan Scholtz. Their commitment to custom-building bikes based on individual measurements assured me I was in expert hands. I ordered a lightweight road-racing Pocket Rocket, expecting it in two and a half weeks. True to their word, seventeen days later, my bike pocket rocket arrived, nestled in its suitcase.
The suitcase itself was surprisingly compact (22 x 29 x 10 inches) and robust, with wheels and handles for easy transport. Unpacking and assembling the bike for the first time took about thirty minutes, aided by the included tool kit and gloves. The ingenious design features that enable such compact packing include 20-inch wheels, a folding frame, a unique stem, and split drop handlebars that cleverly slot into the suitcase. With practice, packing and assembly times reduced to just 15 minutes each.
The Ride Experience: Surprising Performance
Knowing Ed Pavelka’s high standards as a cyclist, I was confident in the Pocket Rocket’s ride quality. Ed, a tall rider with specific frame requirements, had found the Pocket Rocket to be a suitable training bike. My first ride on my fire-engine-red Pocket Rocket confirmed its exceptional performance. The smaller wheels offered quick acceleration and agile handling, while the custom fit felt perfect. The gearing was comparable to my regular road bikes.
A common concern with small-wheeled bikes is ride harshness. However, Bike Friday addressed this through an innovative frame design featuring a tall, unsupported seat tube and stem. These components flex subtly, absorbing road vibrations and providing a ride that is as comfortable as, if not more so than, traditional road bikes.
The Pocket Rocket’s unique appearance can be deceiving. Looking down, one might expect a compromised ride. But once focused on the road, the bike’s design fades into the background as it delivers a ride experience virtually indistinguishable from a standard road bike. Climbing, sprinting, descending, and high-gear efforts all feel natural and efficient.
The trailer kit further enhanced the Pocket Rocket’s versatility. Assembling the trailer and attaching it to the suitcase and bike was straightforward. Riding with the trailer was surprisingly smooth and quiet, with no noticeable slack. While one trailer wheel needs to be carried separately, the added utility is well worth this minor inconvenience.
A Travel Companion for Every Adventure
Over the years, my Pocket Rocket has been an indispensable travel companion, accompanying me on numerous trips to Europe and across the United States.
It facilitated cycling in Amsterdam, joining group rides in various locations, and even served as a commuter bike during work trips. The Pocket Rocket also enabled combining cycling with family vacations, allowing me to bike to destinations while the family drove, then easily pack the bike into the car trunk.
An added bonus is the suitcase’s capacity to accommodate a compact indoor trainer. This feature is invaluable for maintaining a cycling routine in destinations with inclement weather or unsafe riding conditions.
Cycling’s Greatest Innovation?
After decades of testing cycling products, from early clipless pedals to cutting-edge aero technology, I consider the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket to be one of the most impactful cycling innovations. Its ability to seamlessly integrate cycling into travel and daily life is truly transformative.
This sentiment was shared by my colleagues at Bicycling Magazine. Bike Fridays became our constant travel companions, and we enthusiastically introduced these bikes to others, demonstrating their capabilities on group rides at industry events.
Performance That Defies Expectations
The biggest hurdle in convincing cyclists about bike pocket rockets is often their unconventional appearance. Skeptics often underestimate their performance. However, the Pocket Rocket’s capabilities speak for themselves. On group rides, attempts to drop me on a Pocket Rocket often backfired, as the smaller wheels allow for tighter drafting. This advantage, combined with the bike’s efficient performance, often led to surprising results, even on challenging climbs and sprints.
The performance potential of bike pocket rockets extends beyond recreational riding. Race Across America veteran Rob Templin achieved impressive results in the Mount Evans Hillclimb on his Pocket Rocket, and Ed Pavelka has logged remarkable long-distance rides, including a 190-mile day and a 707-mile week, further demonstrating the bike’s versatility and endurance.
For me personally, the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket has been instrumental in pursuing my goal of daily cycling. It has overcome travel barriers and made consistent riding a reality, solidifying its place as an exceptional bike pocket rocket.
Conclusion: Embrace the Pocket Rocket Revolution
The bike pocket rocket, exemplified by the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket and Pocket Rocket Pro, is more than just a folding bike. It’s a gateway to unparalleled cycling freedom. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist seeking a travel-ready companion or an adventurer wanting to explore new terrains on two wheels, the bike pocket rocket delivers performance, portability, and a ride experience that rivals full-sized bikes. Discover the world of bike pocket rockets and redefine your cycling adventures.
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