What is a folding bike?
A folding bike is designed to fold into a compact form, to allow better transport and storage. It is more easily carried into buildings and houses and fits better on public transportation. Having a portable bike makes a commute easier when you get to your destination: it just folds up and you can carry it! Folding bikes are perfect for someone in a compact living environment, such as a tiny house, houseboat, or small apartment. With the advancement of bike technology, you can expect that a folding bike virtually has the same performance characteristics as a full conventional bike. There are also different types of folding bikes to meet your distinct need: mountain bikes, super-compact bikes, and others.
There are more than 150 different kinds of folding bikes on the market today and they offer lots of advantages to bulkier cycles.
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Why folding bicycles?
They are compact, portable, and easy to transport! The real purpose behind a folding bike is to increase portability. Folding bikes, because of their compactable nature, allow the rider greater flexibility in getting from point A to point B. Some public transportation systems do not allow full bicycles onboard, and some trains have limited space. Folding bicycles easily fit into a bag for easy storage on public transportation, without taking up a lot of space! Also, mixed-use commuting with a bike and public transit if often cheaper than buying a car! If you ever decide to sell your folding bike, you’ll be happy to know that they have a high resale value!
Folding bikes come in all shapes and sizes to almost accommodate anyone. Conventional bikes usually have only one size frame, which make it difficult to accommodate different riders. Folding bikes come in a wide range of adjustments; the seat posts and handlebars extend up to four times higher than those on a conventional bike!
Folding bikes have higher potential for speed and acceleration due to their smaller wheels. They are also easy to handle and maneuver around streets. They are easy adaptable to any lifestyle! Folding bikes are also relatively thief proof because proof their compact nature!
Folding bikes offer a lot more freedom. With these bikes, you gain the ability to travel almost anywhere with your bike. This can open up entirely new ways of travelling and exploring!
Considering a folding bike? Here are some questions to ask yourself!
- Where will you be using the bike?
- What are my needs for the cycle?
- What is my budget? Remember, you get what you pay for! Good quality folding bikes may seem expensive, but it may save you money over time in terms of being able to get a smaller apartment or bike to work more often.
- Are you concerned with the weight of your folding bike?
- How portable does your folding bike need to be?
All folding bikes are not created equal; they all have different virtues and serve different needs!
How to choose a folding bike
Each folding bike offers a distinct combination of weight, durability, cost, folding speed, folding ease, and compactness. Because of their folding mechanism and greater amount of parts, folding bikes tend to be more expensive than conventional bikes. To determine which type of folding bike is for you, think about whether you would rather have a quick folding bike, a smaller size when compacted, or a faster but less compact bike. You unfortunately cannot have it all! Expect to pay more money for a light folding bike and less for a bulkier model. If you expect top commute a lot by rail, bus, or train, a compact bike that folds very quickly is probably best. If you plan to use your folding bike for weekend getaways, you could use almost any kind of folding bike.
Types of folding bicyles
- Folding Bikes with Full-sized Wheels
If you can’t deal with small wheels, Dahon and Montague makes a few folding bikes with conventional wheel. These full size folding bikes start at about $230.
- Grand Tourer Folding Bikes: 20-inch wheels and above
These real ‘compact’ folding bikes have wheels that measure 20 inches or less. Typically, bikes with 20 inch wheels perform well, but fold slowly and produce a large bundle that may be difficult to transport. These bikes start around $1,200.
- Super-compact Folding Bikes: 16 or 18 inch wheels
Bikes with 16 or 18-inch wheels come with a more limited range. However, with the right tires and other parts, the best super-compact bikes can be capable of 50-100 mile rides. Typically, this type of folding bike is the most compact and the fastest folding, folding down in about 20 seconds or less. Although the smaller wheels can make for a harsher ride, these bikes are very compact and able to be wheeled around the grocery store, carried casually onto a train, or kept under your desk at work.
- Very Small Wheeled Folding Bikes: under 16-inch wheels
These small wheeled bikes are generally less agile on the road and rarely offer suspension. The soft tires can make pedaling hard work and most of these bikes produce a larger bundle when folded down.
Top 6 Best Selling Folding Bikes
Prodeco v3 Storm 8 Speed
This bike is perfect to short trips around the city or sightseeing. Although not designed for hard riding, this electric bicycle is designed for increased speed and high torque. This bike is easy to assemble, charges quickly and inexpensively, and provides a smooth ride.
Dahon Mu Uno
With its easy maintenance, fast folding ability, and smooth ride, the Dahon Mu Uno folding bike is a good option for a daily commute. This bike is not well suited for hilly areas, but handles flat areas like a breeze.
Dahon Vybe C7a
For quick trips to stores in the neighborhood, the Dahon Vybe c7a fits the bill! This bike features great strong brakes and seven gears. It folds easily into a small package for quick transport, and the wheels lock together when folded, so it stays together!
Schwinn Loop 7 Speed
Designed for commuting and all types of terrain, this seven speed folding bike offers it all for a low price. The Schwinn Loop 7 Speed is easy to get on and off of and features smooth gear shifting.
Dahon Speed Uno
Ideal for the busy lifestyle of urban commuters, this folding bike folds and unfolds very easily. Although the bike may be a little heavy to carry long distances, the Dahon Speed Uno makes up for that in speed on the bike
Dahon Mariner D7
Folding in less than 15 seconds, the Dahon Mariner D7 is well suited to fit the needs of daily commuter. With its comfortable ride and beautiful design, it is also good to ride on patches of uneven pavement!
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