Description
The Pocket Rocket was designed by Bike Friday co-founders Alan and Hanz Scholz out of a love for road racing and a desire to easily take their high performance, custom fit bikes with them on adventures around the world.
This bike has a surprisingly light and nimble road bike performance feel, even though it also folds in seconds to pack into the trunk of a car or can pack into an airline check-able suitcase. It has the larger sized 20″ wheels, 451mm (it is weird but the bike industry has two 20″ wheel sizes!) for the best selection of road rims and tires.
Fun facts about smaller wheels that road riders love: the smaller wheels are incredible climbers and you can draft several inches closer to the rider ahead of you.
Valuable Features of the Pocket Rocket:
- High performance, nimble ride, built for long miles, great on hills with 20 inches (451mm) wheels.
- When folded it fits into a space 34x33x12” (varies by frame size) (86x83x31 cm) easily fits in a car trunk in minutes
- Built to fit you from top tube lengths ranging 48cm to 62cm
- Pocket Rocket frame built for riders up to 220 lbs (100 kg)
- Pocket Rocket Pro frame saves 2 lbs, built for riders up to 190 lbs (86 kg)
- Save 2+ pounds with the Pocket Rocket Pro frame upgrade for riders up to 187 lbs (85 kg)
- Packs into a standard airline check-able suitcase
Choose Your Options
Note on component specifications: The Pocket Rocket as priced on this page is a 2×9 spd with Microshift components. If you would like a different component group we can offer Shimano, SRAM and other options with a free consultation with a Bike Friday expert. Contact us here to set up an appointment.
Pocket Rocket Pro Frame Upgrade:
An ultralight frame with extensive butting for a lively ride and a stiffer rear end for power transfer. If you’re looking to shave off 2 pounds of frame weight without losing performance, this is the bike for you. Rider weight limit is 190 lbs (86kg).
Made-In-House Chromoly Rack Options:
Rear Rack:
Our rear rack takes standard panniers, has a 55-pound weight limit, and has plenty of clearance under the rack for use with the Bike Friday Under-bag. And it packs flat to easily fit in a suitcase with the bike.
Front Rack:
Fits standard panniers. Rated for 25lbs each side. A must for a properly weighted touring bike for best front/rear weight balance and ride control. And it packs flat to easily fit in a suitcase with the bike. The Pocket Rocket Pro fork does not have the mid-fork mounts for this front rack, but the Pocket Rocket fork does.
Travel System Options:
Travel Case and Packing Materials
Travel Trailer:
The Bike Friday Travel Trailer frame can be added, as an addition, to the Travel Case to make a full travel system. The trailer includes everything you need to make your Travel Case into a tow-ready trailer. The system includes the aluminum trailer frame, two (12″) wheels, protective socks for packaging and one reflective flag and thumb nuts to connect your travel suitcase.
The trailer package also comes with a rear hub axle mounted hitch. This hitch can be used in place of a bike-specific hitch, or as a connection method on another bike so you can swap your trailer system quickly to another bike. There is a male air nipple included as well (integrated into the axle hitch).
The gross weight limit for the trailer is 75 pounds. This includes the weight of the trailer (6.7lbs/2.95 kg) and the average case weight is 13lbs, so the total capacity for your gear is 55lbs.
All felt packing bags and blankets are made from Eco-Fi fleece, a product made of 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.
Soft Travel Bag:
The updated travel bag is now 10 inches wider to fit larger frames and tire sizes, features side cinch straps and stuffs into its own pocket. The Bike Friday Travel Bag allows you to easily carry or store your Bike Friday. Quick-fold your bike, fit it into its durable bag, and zip up! Black nylon coated pack fabric. Two sturdy woven handles and an adjustable shoulder strap allow you to carry your bike onto the bus, train or elevator with ease. A good way to keep it protected in the trunk of your vehicle too. Fits all single Bike Fridays. Wt: 672 grams. Rolls up to 4 1/2″ diameter, 14″ long. Proudly made here in Eugene, Oregon.
How to order your bike on this page:
- Follow all the steps in the drop-down menus above then “Add to cart” and follow steps in your cart to purchase.
- A Bike Friday Expert will follow up with you to determine your sizing, pick-up /ship date (production takes 5-7 weeks on average) and confirm any other needed details about your order.
- Then you get your bike!
Additional Ways to Order with More Options:
We offer many more options than we can post here without overwhelming people. We can likely build what you are looking for. Just contact us and tell a friendly Bike Expert what you are looking for.
Bike Friday 10 Year WarrantyWe have a strong warranty on our frames against defects in material and/or workmanship for 10 years. Warranty is non-transferable. Bicycle components (excluding tires, chain, cables, etc.) generally have a 1-year limited warranty. CLICK HERE for full warranty information.
Submit your review | |
I have a Pocket Rocket built for me way back in 1995 and I have put a zillion miles on it since. Based on this extensive experience here is my advice. If you need or want a bicycle that folds for travel or storage in a small space--and if not just buy a full size bicycle but a foldable bicycle is probably is what you want or you wouldn't be on the Bike Friday website right now--then stop comparison shopping and just buy a Bike Friday. Not only is the design and build quality of Bike Fridays is top notch but in addition they have a huge advantage over their competitors, namely that they will custom build the bike to exactly duplicate your ideal riding position. That's critical because the human body works most efficiently within a very narrow range so no matter what type of riding you do, the fit of the bicycle is the most important thing. Just raising or lowering the seat post or handlebars doesn't cut it. Imagine trying to run in shoes too small or large for example. Another Bike Friday plus besides the phenomenal build quality and custom fit is they mostly use conventional parts so replacements or upgrades will likely be available far into the future. The bottom line of my review is if you need or want a bicycle that folds into a small space then based on my 30 years and a zillion miles of experience with my Pocket Rocket stop comparison shopping and just have Bike Friday build you a bike because if quality and performance is important to you, Bike Friday is your best choice. By the way my review is based on my Pocket Rocket but I feel sure my comments apply to all their other models because Bike Friday's design philosophy is the same across their entire model range.
Christine and I got our custom steeds back in 2010. We are recovering(that’s me) former bike racers. Christine actually raced for the US in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and I raced as a domestic professional for a few years as well. All that to say that we know an excellent handling bike and that is how our Bike Fridays ride. We’ve done very technical descents and climbs - no problem. The wheel size seems to make the handling a bit quicker but completely predictable and the bikes feel completely at home at 45+mph on descents. I’ve done plenty of fast group rides on mine and the laughs stop when they find themselves dropped by “funny bike.” But what’s the best way to truly see if your Bike Friday can keep up? Basically it climbs well, accelerates quickly, but because of its smaller wheels, doesn’t seem to hold top speeds as well as regular size wheeled bikes. I hope this helps anyone thinking of getting one.
I picked up my Pocket Rocket Super Pro in June 2019 in Oregon and have since been riding regularly in Singapore (where I live), San Francisco Bay Area (my second home), Seoul, and most recently Taiwan.
I have recently completed a 5-day 900km+ (almost 600 miles) around the Island of Taiwan alone and I am super impressed by how the bike was able to hold up and perform so well! I put in more than 200km a day 5 days straight with lots of climbing in the mountain.
Thanks for making such a great bike!
Riding my Bike Friday brings a new meaning to Dancing on the Pedals. I love it and it loves me! We have formed a perfect partnership on the undulations of Hertfordshire where I live when not on a bicycle race.
-Phil Liggett, Voice of the Tour de France 7/13/17 (pocket rocket owner)
Three weeks ago I received my Bike Friday "Pocket Rocket Pro". What a great bike. I ordered this bike to use for travel since it fits in a suitcase and can be checked as luggage on a plane. However, after riding this bike, I have stored my carbon fiber, electric shifting road bike and now ride only the Bike Friday. I ride with our local club and found this bike to be very comfortable and very responsive on the road. I am not a bike racer, but have no problems staying up with our club members... Looking forward to our bike trips this year in Texas and Vermont. What a great Bike !!!
I ordered from Bike Friday a bike that would perfectly match the fit of my most comfortable bike for long distance riding. I ordered a Pocket Rocket Pro, as I wanted the bike to be something that, if I needed to, I could ride in races and other events. I wanted the controls to be familiar, and as much as possible the set up to be identical to that of my most pleasant race bike, a titanium Serotta built to fit me in 2006. So, when I ordered the bike from Bike Friday, I measured everything exactly to the nearest 0.5mm, confirmed this against my fit measurements on file and provided them with all of the information they requested.
90 days later, a box arrived, and though I was anxious to get it all together, I very carefully clipped each zip tie and went through all of the parts one by one, before beginning assembly. I have a default approach to putting things together. I figure things out, try a few things, if something doesn’t work, I try something else, but it took only a moment to realize what care had been put into building this bike and I felt it deserved more respect. So instead of my “when all else fails read the instructions” technique, I sat down and read the very clear paperwork that came with the bike and laid out each piece with great care. Then I began to put the bike together. Having done the necessary reading, everything was easy. The bike had been well packed and each piece was well protected. Of course, Bike Friday makes bikes for many purposes and that includes bikes that come together and break down in seconds, but this was not that. The Pocket Rocket Pro is designed to be the best possible combination of a fully functional race bike and a bike that packs easily and efficiently. And what a combination it is.
As the bike came together I continued to be amazed. The fit and finish was impeccable. There was one detail I did not think was a masterpiece, and that is the little plate with my name on it that they added at no cost to me. The adhesive had peeled off a bit and so it was a bit loose. Nothing necessary or even useful, it was just a cute add-on, done in my opinion too cheaply. I would rather not have it. Again, the overall fit and finish is excellent. Rather than providing me with a fixed and ultra light stem, they included an adjustable one, so that I could dial in the precise fit and then send it back for them to use as a template for the final. Frankly, for me I do not think this was necessary as I have all of my fit numbers precisely logged and ready to go. I assume that this is not the case for most people, and as such, the adjustable stem process is a good step. It was a non-issue for me, however, as they make the process so easy. There is a next day air box, label, and packing material included, and once I had confirmed my fit, I had the new stem in hand in less than a week. Well done!
So, I got the bike all set up, did some local riding and packed the bike up in a rather spacious suitcase (provided) with all of my riding gear including helmet, shoes, pump, etc., as well as my garment bag, and hopped on a plane for Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. …
“Each day for the next week, after I had done what I was there to do, I got on the Bike Friday and took off. As I rode off the property of the ashram, I rode into a world to which I have limited exposure, a world that I would never have seen without the bike.
I rode the bike hard at times: standing sprints up hills (trying to keep up with 3 young people on one Honda Rebel Motorcycle, yelling, “Come, come we race!”) and braking hard (on a descent a water buffalo, easily 1000 pounds, burst forth from the bushes on the side of the road). I also rode the bike on familiar roads here in the Catskills, climbing Meads Mountain and descending McDaniel, roads I have ridden many, many times on bikes I know well. There is nothing this bike does not do well. It would not be the first bike I would reach for if the only factor were the ride. I own beautiful bikes built for me by Spectrum and Serotta. For most days I would reach for one of them. But the fact that I can consider this bike, which weighs under 20 pounds and fits in a suitcase, against them at all, the fact that I give up so little in handling, braking, climbing, and descending, as compared to bikes that are arguably the best in the world, is an astonishing testament to the abilities of Bike Friday.
I would recommend a Bike Friday to anyone who is looking for a folder and would urge them to do as I did, contact Bike Friday, tell them what you are looking for, listen well and then make choices. The people at Bike Friday know what they are doing, and the engineering work behind their designs, much of which was done by legendary bicycle builder Rob English, simply works.
This design for this bike has been rolling around in my head for a few years. I want to spend some part of my retirement catching cheap flights to new places that need exploring, and taking a bike with me that can easily be assembled and transported, perhaps across oceans. I have been riding Bike Fridays for about 10 years now, so I am admittedly biased in their favor. What’s not to like? They make a great product and strive to make each purchase a uniquely pleasurable experience.
The bike is a Pocket Rocket fixie fitted with a Gates CDX belt drive. 70 teeth in the front, 21 in the rear, for now (gonna try a 19 soon). I asked Walter to make it as clean as possible – no fender, rack, or water bottle braze-ons – since it will not be used for long jaunts. The ultralight stem and titanium seatpost keep it simple, comfortable, light, and kinda good looking. I’m a bit of a minimalist, and don’t mind doing a bit of assembly once I have reached my destination. In the same vein, the wheels are bolt-ons with Paul hubs, Alex rims, and Schwalbe Ones – no skewers. SRAM provided Force front brakes (with a Cane Creek lever) and a Force crank that stays with the simple-but-good theme. The handlebars are a set of 36cm drop bars I had laying around that BF cut short and turned upside down, making something like a bullhorn. In order for the handlebars to work, Walter had them create a custom 4 bolt stem, so the bars do not have to be cut in the middle. Seems like there is no issue the folks at BF don’t have an answer for. They provided a clean and pretty white paint job that generated a huge smile when it was unboxed, and they even let me continue keeping it clean with just a head badge instead of the usual decals. Yup, I peeled the stickers off the rims too. Don’t blame BF for the glow in the dark paint experiment over some of the white paint (I submitted 3 pix). I’ve always wanted to try out some of the new strontium based glow in the dark paint on a bike. The glow is cool – like a green white hot steel rod, but it’s kinda pointless since the cars attention is what you are going for, not the kid on the sidewalk that shouts out “cool!” When the cars lights are on you they wash out any glow from the paint. Still, it’s a fun conversation starter. That strontium paint is verrry expensive, and a bit challenging to apply - I did that part myself.
But how well does the bike work? For me, exquisitely. I like the control, quiet, and speed limiter that a fixie brings with it. I’m not into big hills or high speed, so we are a good match. The belt makes this bike a fantastic hop on and go bike, or a commuter, or a traveler. No grease to bang against while you get it assembled. No more apologizing for grease stains after you bump into someone in the stairway on the way to your cube. I’ve put about 1000 miles on it in the last two months – still no creaks or any other issues of any kind. BUT, I haven’t had to remove the back tire yet. The setup looks pretty intuitive for wheel/belt removal and tensioning.
One of the great things about this bike is how little you have to think when you ride it – no gears to change, no higher speed to attain, no chain to watch out for against your leg. Just get on and go, in whatever you are wearing. I suspect one of the reasons it just works for me is because BF put a lot of work and thought into the design and build quality (the PR line has been around a while, and has gone through some refinements). It feels solid, smooth, and trustworthy. It really does handle pretty much like my big wheel bikes. I wouldn’t ride it across west Texas (I’m in Austin), but I will definitely be checking out cities (and surrounding areas) with it. It helps me avoid the transportation expense when I travel, and does it in a really fun way.
But what about the PakIT? Doesn’t it achieve the same things? I like where the PakIT is going, but I am not an IGH fan – so heavy when carrying up the stairs, and doesn’t really mesh well with my quest for control/simplicity. Walter and I talked about a nice PakIT single speed, but the gearing was not conducive to the way I like to ride. Still I will be watching the PakIT as it matures, in case Gates or other belt manufacturers come up with gearing options that make it even more attractive. Heck, the PakIT might be the next addition to my stable.
It is so cool that there are folks still trying to make the world better, and make people like me happy at the same time, at what I think is a pretty affordable price. I’m very happy with this bike.
Last July 4th weekend I visited the factory and you were the only one there. You gave us a very nice tour and let me try some bikes. When I returned to Eugene a week later before heading home to Pennsylvania, I got measured and tried some more bikes. Then when home I ordered my new Pro & case. Peter Berra was very helpful in getting it sized perfectly. There was a little problem with one item not as spec’d. Tim Link took care of that and the bike is great. I’ve already taken it to Durango Colorado and assembled bike and trailer at airport then riding to my destination on dirt roads. I‘ve ridden it with several fast roadie groups and I keep saying to my friends - ‘it rides just like a regular road bike.’
Thanks again for everything,
Gary
Full disclosure: I am a Bike Consultant for Bike Friday. Of the several Fridays that I own, my Pocket Rocket Pro is hands down the funnest Friday in the stable. It's lightweight, stiff, and nimble, and it can climb hills like nobody's business. My Pro and I have been on many memorable trips together, including exploring the Columbia River Gorge, circling the Crater Lake rim, and touring California Wine Country. If you're looking for a no-nonsense road bike that's sure to put a smile on your face every time you ride, you can't go wrong with the Pocket Rocket Pro!
The Pocket Rocket Super Pro has been my companion on so many levels that it has become part of my rhythm and direction. I may not get a chance to ride every day but not a day goes by that I don’t say, “Thank you” for being there and if I can only find time to saddle up then we’ll make our move again.
Ted Johnson –
I wanted to offer a review from a tall guy so that prospective buyers in the vicinity of my size can have some assurance that a Pocket Rocket will work for them. I also have comments about the PR that should apply to any rider.
My adult bike riding started on road bikes designed for speed. I then got interested in bike touring but was frustrated because my overloaded carbon fiber bike kept suffering broken spokes. I realized I needed a different bike for touring but still wanted to go fast, and also wanted something it would be easy to carry on overseas trips as I travel a lot.
Research lead me to Bike Friday. I perhaps should have gotten a New World Tourist, but was a sucker for the “speed” marketing of the Pocket Rocket and thought it would be adequate for the touring I was then doing, which was not “credit card touring” but also not fully loaded. I was concerned whether I’d fit on a “little bike” – I’m 6’5″ (196cm), have a 36″ (91cm) inseam and weigh 215lb (98kg) – but the BF people told me I would and I decided to take the chance.
About 20,000 km later, I’m still thrilled with my Pocket Rocket and still ride it a lot even though I have stable of four bikes. I fit on it fine (I have the largest model and a long stem) and have used my BF-PR for city commuting (mostly Tokyo), fast rides, and many thousands of kilometers of touring in multiple countries. Most of that touring has been moderately loaded (bike & “civilian” clothes to last a week or two, laptop, camera gear, etc.) and a couple of trips have been fully-loaded touring (including tent, ground cover, sleeping bag & cooking equipment). The PR has held up beautifully in all applications even though it’s not marketed for what I most used it for, moderately loaded touring and city commuting. I get a lot of “circus bear” comments and people asking me if I have to pedal faster to make the wheels spin fast enough to keep up with others (no!) but I’ve loved riding the bike. Hopping on it generates a special smile that I don’t get with my non-BF bikes (which I still love too).
The only negative I see to the PR model is tire limitations. Tires for a PR are hard to find (the other BF models use 20-406, the common BMX size that can be found anywhere, but PR’s use the elusive 20-451’s. You need to order 20-451 tires online and always carry a spare or two because you are not going to find these tires in 99% of retail locations that sell tires. Further, you basically only have two widths available: 1 1/8, which feels a bit like a 23 on a 700cc tire and leads to a tight sporty ride where you feel the painted lines on the highway, or 1 3/8, which feels plush after riding 1 1/8 and is fine for fast rides but is narrow for touring purposes (it feels about like riding a 30 on a 700cc tire). With only narrow tires available, a PR is only suited for tarmac or the gentlest of packed gravel or similar paths.
So, while I love my BF-PR, because I’ve become increasingly interested in loaded touring and wanted greater capability to get off pavement with wider tires, I looked into the All-Packa (not suitable for someone my height) and recently bought a Diamond Llama (too early in the relationship to review).
The last comment I’ll add is that I’m mechanically inept and not a person who enjoys tinkering on bikes, but even I got so I could quickly tear down and build up my BF for travel, carrying it in a Samsonite suitcase and, occasionally, in only a vinyl cover. The first tear down and build up probably took me 3 hours each as I studied each part and began to figure out bike components, but after doing this a few times it became a leisurely paced 30 minutes on each side of travel and a good way to keep up with ensuring that all is in good working order. My BF-PR has seen flights to multiple countries and been tossed around on trains and buses, but it has been indestructible so far.
Helen Lyth –
My Pocket Rocket Pro has now done around 100,000km – all in Australia. It’s pretty much the only bike I ride. It’s light, but carries what I need in a pannier or two, and slots into my old Renault Scenic without any folding (held up by a couple of elastic ‘octopus’ straps). We’ve just been to Canberra (from Geelong near Melbourne) for the annual Australian Bike Friday Club gathering – with my bike and my friend’s small-wheeled ebike. My Rocket (named affectionately, Rosie – for her power raspberry colour), had no trouble with hills and loved the supportive cycling infrastructure of Australia’s capital city.
David M –
As I got serious about ordering a Bike Friday, I engaged in consultation with Walt, who was very good in guiding me in all aspects of sizing and picking components. I never intended this to be my go to bike, but it was not long before I was commuting, touring and just plain riding my Friday for fun! It felt like I was riding my LeJune, except for the quickness I experienced. It is like driving a sports car vs a family sedan. But best of all, I can take all of this with me, where ever I may travel.
Brian B –
Have pocket rocket pro w sram red. Travel everywhere w it. Big climbs and modestly fast descents (wheels are a little small to go too fast w confidence!). But I love it. Almost perfect! 4 stars. The 5th star will come when they make it fold smaller and quicker for transport and with a cleaner, waxed chain!
Jeff Bailey –
First, my many thanks to Steve who made the ordering process fun and easy. I received the bike before the anticipated shipping date – that’s always a nice surprise. Putting it all together was a snap (no pun intended) and riding it has exceeded my expectations. The bike performs like none I’ve ridden. The gearing, shifting and overall feel are superior. Sprinting is quicker than I have experienced on my standard road bike. Climbing is also a breeze. I don’t feel like I’m riding a small-wheeled bike until I look down. I thoroughly enjoy the comments I hear on the American River bike trail (Sacramento County) such as, “Did you see the size of that thing?” Of course, I hear them behind me as I pass other riders. Thanks Green Gear Cycling for providing a superior product!
Joseph Gravier –
Walter, I cannot thank you enough. My Fixed Gear Pocket Rocket is awesome. It rides like a dream and has become MY FAVORITE RIDE. I’ve had it for almost 2 weeks now and I cannot get enough of it. I’ve been using it at least twice a week as my commuter (25 miles one way. Manhattan to long island). It’s quick, nimble and handles the various NYC potholes like a champ. Keep up the great work! Regards, Joe. Read about Fixed Fridays
P Ryan –
An old mate of mine used to do duathlons with me in Japan on an Air Friday years ago. We all had a good laugh at him, but he always had the last laugh by beating us soundly. Strangely, that didn’t stop us having a go at him for his bike. Human nature I guess. I always thought he was an amazing athlete overcoming this handicap of a bike he had. Then one day, years later I was looking for a new commuting bike. I commute every day in Tokyo 7km each way 5 days a week, all year, and the old clunker gave up the ghost. Tested the Pocket Rocket at Amanda in Tokyo, and I was completely sold. Your bikes are light, responsive and lively. Mr. Chiba of Amanda is an amazing frame builder himself, with the most awesome wooden racing bike you have ever seen (it even has willow wheels!). He designs and makes his own folder, but even he was in awe of your bikes. Congratulations.
David Miller –
Lots of Bike Friday owners have stories about riding all over the world. Me–I ride the rollers on my porch. I commuted to work by bike for about 30 years, a good number of them on my red Pocket Rocket Pro or my candy-apple red Pocket Rocket fixed gear (my current ride). My company relocated me to Shanghai in June 2009. My wife and I live right in the heart of downtown, a 20-minute walk from work. It’s worth noting that Shanghai is the second-largest urban area by population in the world (after Mumbai). Although I’m familiar with the skills needed to handle a bike in traffic day in and day out, the street scene here has me, shall we say, a bit intimidated. Although the Chinese people I’ve encountered and befriended are invariably kind and gracious, my company discourages us expats from driving cars, and there are horror stories about foreigners getting into unfortunate encounters with locals on the streets, even on bicycles. Therefore I generally restrict my riding to a set of E-Motion rollers on the balcony of our 23rd-floor apartment. These rollers are great–very user-friendly. I’ve only been out on the road once in the last seven months. It’s not so bad, really. I’m doing OK on my goal of riding four or five days a week. It’s mainly a mind game convincing myself that my iPod is a good substitute for changing scenery. Good riding to you. February 2010
James Thurber –
A Perfect Century Bike – Over the last two years I’ve been using my Pocket Rocket for Bay Area Century rides. It has turned out to be an outstanding Century rider. It’s also rare as the San Francisco region tends to attract the latest (most expensive) carbon fiber wonder bikes. My Purple Pocket Rocket has been the only folder on the Tour de Menlo, Sequoia Century, Tour de Cure and other rides about the beautiful coast range near San Francisco. I have one other bike — a SOMA (56 cm) equipped with very low gears and good for some of our 15 percent (plus) hills, but the Pocket Rocket continues to give the best combination of great comfort, excellent ride characteristics and the incredible ability to fold up and fit nearly anywhere. I’ve upgraded the Rocket a bit — changing the Tiagra triple crank to a compact, upgrading the brakes (the stock Tiagra were pretty good, not much difference) and when touring using an 11 x 32 cassette. However, most of the time I stick with the Capreo gearing (with the compact crank) which is fine up to about 9 percent grades. [Note: The Capreo hub cannot be fitted with a different cassette so Bike Friday supplied me with a new wheel / hub — very inexpensive and well worth it for touring] Perhaps the best part of the Bike Friday experience was the personal fitting. No matter what I ride NOTHING fits me as well as my Purple Pocket Rocket. The relationship between seat / pedals and bar is simply … perfect. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Would I do it again? In a heart beat!
U Kim –
I’ve had tons of fun on this bike over the years. I got it over 10 years ago. I opted for a single chainring and H-bars to keep it simple. I regret the H-bar and will eventually convert to drops. As I’ve gotten older and more sensible, I ordered a new steerer tube extension to raise the front end. BF had this made and shipped in a week. I have the suitcase trailer, but I don’t enjoy riding with it. I use a rack and panniers most of the time.
This bike is fast enough most of the time. Climbing is a pleasure with the smaller wheels and low gear ratio. The Capreo hub helps, but I would consider the new internal hubs if I were buying now. I’m running chunky Schwalbe Marathon tires to avoid flats, but you can also get fast Continentals for events. (I do NOT recommend the slightly larger 451 wheels like my wife has on her Pocket Rocket. Tire options are much too limited, and they’re not really much faster.)
One thing I highly recommend is upgrading cable housing. The long bendy run of cable from bars to rear derailleur makes for miserable shifting with standard housing. I’ve set up my wife’s bike with housing stops at the guides and Nokon sealed housing. Shifting was vastly improved. See if this is an option when you buy.
We’re off to Barcelona this week. Should be fun.
Jeff Linder –
The Pocket Rocket Super Pro has been my companion on so many levels that it has become part of my rhythm and direction. I may not get a chance to ride every day but not a day goes by that I don’t say, “Thank you” for being there and if I can only find time to saddle up then we’ll make our move again.
Robbie Dow –
Full disclosure: I am a Bike Consultant for Bike Friday. Of the several Fridays that I own, my Pocket Rocket Pro is hands down the funnest Friday in the stable. It’s lightweight, stiff, and nimble, and it can climb hills like nobody’s business. My Pro and I have been on many memorable trips together, including exploring the Columbia River Gorge, circling the Crater Lake rim, and touring California Wine Country. If you’re looking for a no-nonsense road bike that’s sure to put a smile on your face every time you ride, you can’t go wrong with the Pocket Rocket Pro!
Gary G –
Last July 4th weekend I visited the factory and you were the only one there. You gave us a very nice tour and let me try some bikes. When I returned to Eugene a week later before heading home to Pennsylvania, I got measured and tried some more bikes. Then when home I ordered my new Pro & case. Peter Berra was very helpful in getting it sized perfectly. There was a little problem with one item not as spec’d. Tim Link took care of that and the bike is great. I’ve already taken it to Durango Colorado and assembled bike and trailer at airport then riding to my destination on dirt roads. I‘ve ridden it with several fast roadie groups and I keep saying to my friends – ‘it rides just like a regular road bike.’
Thanks again for everything,
Gary
Eric Moore –
This design for this bike has been rolling around in my head for a few years. I want to spend some part of my retirement catching cheap flights to new places that need exploring, and taking a bike with me that can easily be assembled and transported, perhaps across oceans. I have been riding Bike Fridays for about 10 years now, so I am admittedly biased in their favor. What’s not to like? They make a great product and strive to make each purchase a uniquely pleasurable experience.
The bike is a Pocket Rocket fixie fitted with a Gates CDX belt drive. 70 teeth in the front, 21 in the rear, for now (gonna try a 19 soon). I asked Walter to make it as clean as possible – no fender, rack, or water bottle braze-ons – since it will not be used for long jaunts. The ultralight stem and titanium seatpost keep it simple, comfortable, light, and kinda good looking. I’m a bit of a minimalist, and don’t mind doing a bit of assembly once I have reached my destination. In the same vein, the wheels are bolt-ons with Paul hubs, Alex rims, and Schwalbe Ones – no skewers. SRAM provided Force front brakes (with a Cane Creek lever) and a Force crank that stays with the simple-but-good theme. The handlebars are a set of 36cm drop bars I had laying around that BF cut short and turned upside down, making something like a bullhorn. In order for the handlebars to work, Walter had them create a custom 4 bolt stem, so the bars do not have to be cut in the middle. Seems like there is no issue the folks at BF don’t have an answer for. They provided a clean and pretty white paint job that generated a huge smile when it was unboxed, and they even let me continue keeping it clean with just a head badge instead of the usual decals. Yup, I peeled the stickers off the rims too. Don’t blame BF for the glow in the dark paint experiment over some of the white paint (I submitted 3 pix). I’ve always wanted to try out some of the new strontium based glow in the dark paint on a bike. The glow is cool – like a green white hot steel rod, but it’s kinda pointless since the cars attention is what you are going for, not the kid on the sidewalk that shouts out “cool!” When the cars lights are on you they wash out any glow from the paint. Still, it’s a fun conversation starter. That strontium paint is verrry expensive, and a bit challenging to apply – I did that part myself.
But how well does the bike work? For me, exquisitely. I like the control, quiet, and speed limiter that a fixie brings with it. I’m not into big hills or high speed, so we are a good match. The belt makes this bike a fantastic hop on and go bike, or a commuter, or a traveler. No grease to bang against while you get it assembled. No more apologizing for grease stains after you bump into someone in the stairway on the way to your cube. I’ve put about 1000 miles on it in the last two months – still no creaks or any other issues of any kind. BUT, I haven’t had to remove the back tire yet. The setup looks pretty intuitive for wheel/belt removal and tensioning.
One of the great things about this bike is how little you have to think when you ride it – no gears to change, no higher speed to attain, no chain to watch out for against your leg. Just get on and go, in whatever you are wearing. I suspect one of the reasons it just works for me is because BF put a lot of work and thought into the design and build quality (the PR line has been around a while, and has gone through some refinements). It feels solid, smooth, and trustworthy. It really does handle pretty much like my big wheel bikes. I wouldn’t ride it across west Texas (I’m in Austin), but I will definitely be checking out cities (and surrounding areas) with it. It helps me avoid the transportation expense when I travel, and does it in a really fun way.
But what about the PakIT? Doesn’t it achieve the same things? I like where the PakIT is going, but I am not an IGH fan – so heavy when carrying up the stairs, and doesn’t really mesh well with my quest for control/simplicity. Walter and I talked about a nice PakIT single speed, but the gearing was not conducive to the way I like to ride. Still I will be watching the PakIT as it matures, in case Gates or other belt manufacturers come up with gearing options that make it even more attractive. Heck, the PakIT might be the next addition to my stable.
It is so cool that there are folks still trying to make the world better, and make people like me happy at the same time, at what I think is a pretty affordable price. I’m very happy with this bike.
Douglas Hoffman –
I ordered from Bike Friday a bike that would perfectly match the fit of my most comfortable bike for long distance riding. I ordered a Pocket Rocket Pro, as I wanted the bike to be something that, if I needed to, I could ride in races and other events. I wanted the controls to be familiar, and as much as possible the set up to be identical to that of my most pleasant race bike, a titanium Serotta built to fit me in 2006. So, when I ordered the bike from Bike Friday, I measured everything exactly to the nearest 0.5mm, confirmed this against my fit measurements on file and provided them with all of the information they requested.
90 days later, a box arrived, and though I was anxious to get it all together, I very carefully clipped each zip tie and went through all of the parts one by one, before beginning assembly. I have a default approach to putting things together. I figure things out, try a few things, if something doesn’t work, I try something else, but it took only a moment to realize what care had been put into building this bike and I felt it deserved more respect. So instead of my “when all else fails read the instructions” technique, I sat down and read the very clear paperwork that came with the bike and laid out each piece with great care. Then I began to put the bike together. Having done the necessary reading, everything was easy. The bike had been well packed and each piece was well protected. Of course, Bike Friday makes bikes for many purposes and that includes bikes that come together and break down in seconds, but this was not that. The Pocket Rocket Pro is designed to be the best possible combination of a fully functional race bike and a bike that packs easily and efficiently. And what a combination it is.
As the bike came together I continued to be amazed. The fit and finish was impeccable. There was one detail I did not think was a masterpiece, and that is the little plate with my name on it that they added at no cost to me. The adhesive had peeled off a bit and so it was a bit loose. Nothing necessary or even useful, it was just a cute add-on, done in my opinion too cheaply. I would rather not have it. Again, the overall fit and finish is excellent. Rather than providing me with a fixed and ultra light stem, they included an adjustable one, so that I could dial in the precise fit and then send it back for them to use as a template for the final. Frankly, for me I do not think this was necessary as I have all of my fit numbers precisely logged and ready to go. I assume that this is not the case for most people, and as such, the adjustable stem process is a good step. It was a non-issue for me, however, as they make the process so easy. There is a next day air box, label, and packing material included, and once I had confirmed my fit, I had the new stem in hand in less than a week. Well done!
So, I got the bike all set up, did some local riding and packed the bike up in a rather spacious suitcase (provided) with all of my riding gear including helmet, shoes, pump, etc., as well as my garment bag, and hopped on a plane for Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. …
“Each day for the next week, after I had done what I was there to do, I got on the Bike Friday and took off. As I rode off the property of the ashram, I rode into a world to which I have limited exposure, a world that I would never have seen without the bike.
I rode the bike hard at times: standing sprints up hills (trying to keep up with 3 young people on one Honda Rebel Motorcycle, yelling, “Come, come we race!”) and braking hard (on a descent a water buffalo, easily 1000 pounds, burst forth from the bushes on the side of the road). I also rode the bike on familiar roads here in the Catskills, climbing Meads Mountain and descending McDaniel, roads I have ridden many, many times on bikes I know well. There is nothing this bike does not do well. It would not be the first bike I would reach for if the only factor were the ride. I own beautiful bikes built for me by Spectrum and Serotta. For most days I would reach for one of them. But the fact that I can consider this bike, which weighs under 20 pounds and fits in a suitcase, against them at all, the fact that I give up so little in handling, braking, climbing, and descending, as compared to bikes that are arguably the best in the world, is an astonishing testament to the abilities of Bike Friday.
I would recommend a Bike Friday to anyone who is looking for a folder and would urge them to do as I did, contact Bike Friday, tell them what you are looking for, listen well and then make choices. The people at Bike Friday know what they are doing, and the engineering work behind their designs, much of which was done by legendary bicycle builder Rob English, simply works.
Bob Figeira –
Three weeks ago I received my Bike Friday “Pocket Rocket Pro”. What a great bike. I ordered this bike to use for travel since it fits in a suitcase and can be checked as luggage on a plane. However, after riding this bike, I have stored my carbon fiber, electric shifting road bike and now ride only the Bike Friday. I ride with our local club and found this bike to be very comfortable and very responsive on the road. I am not a bike racer, but have no problems staying up with our club members… Looking forward to our bike trips this year in Texas and Vermont. What a great Bike !!!
Phil Liggett –
Riding my Bike Friday brings a new meaning to Dancing on the Pedals. I love it and it loves me! We have formed a perfect partnership on the undulations of Hertfordshire where I live when not on a bicycle race.
-Phil Liggett, Voice of the Tour de France 7/13/17 (pocket rocket owner)
Alfred Pong –
I picked up my Pocket Rocket Super Pro in June 2019 in Oregon and have since been riding regularly in Singapore (where I live), San Francisco Bay Area (my second home), Seoul, and most recently Taiwan.
I have recently completed a 5-day 900km+ (almost 600 miles) around the Island of Taiwan alone and I am super impressed by how the bike was able to hold up and perform so well! I put in more than 200km a day 5 days straight with lots of climbing in the mountain.
Thanks for making such a great bike!
Ted Huang –
Christine and I got our custom steeds back in 2010. We are recovering(that’s me) former bike racers. Christine actually raced for the US in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and I raced as a domestic professional for a few years as well. All that to say that we know an excellent handling bike and that is how our Bike Fridays ride. We’ve done very technical descents and climbs – no problem. The wheel size seems to make the handling a bit quicker but completely predictable and the bikes feel completely at home at 45+mph on descents. I’ve done plenty of fast group rides on mine and the laughs stop when they find themselves dropped by “funny bike.” But what’s the best way to truly see if your Bike Friday can keep up? Basically it climbs well, accelerates quickly, but because of its smaller wheels, doesn’t seem to hold top speeds as well as regular size wheeled bikes. I hope this helps anyone thinking of getting one.
Mike K –
I have a Pocket Rocket built for me way back in 1995 and I have put a zillion miles on it since. Based on this extensive experience here is my advice. If you need or want a bicycle that folds for travel or storage in a small space–and if not just buy a full size bicycle but a foldable bicycle is probably is what you want or you wouldn’t be on the Bike Friday website right now–then stop comparison shopping and just buy a Bike Friday. Not only is the design and build quality of Bike Fridays is top notch but in addition they have a huge advantage over their competitors, namely that they will custom build the bike to exactly duplicate your ideal riding position. That’s critical because the human body works most efficiently within a very narrow range so no matter what type of riding you do, the fit of the bicycle is the most important thing. Just raising or lowering the seat post or handlebars doesn’t cut it. Imagine trying to run in shoes too small or large for example. Another Bike Friday plus besides the phenomenal build quality and custom fit is they mostly use conventional parts so replacements or upgrades will likely be available far into the future. The bottom line of my review is if you need or want a bicycle that folds into a small space then based on my 30 years and a zillion miles of experience with my Pocket Rocket stop comparison shopping and just have Bike Friday build you a bike because if quality and performance is important to you, Bike Friday is your best choice. By the way my review is based on my Pocket Rocket but I feel sure my comments apply to all their other models because Bike Friday’s design philosophy is the same across their entire model range.