As a passionate cyclist, you must have come across tons of folding bikes. Maybe you’re considering getting one pretty soon. But are folding bikes worth it?
Folding bikes are worth your money as they offer convenient transportation and storage. So, they are the best choice for urban commuters and riders with limited parking spaces. However folding bikes are unsuitable for off-road users, long-distance cyclists, and big and tall riders.
Perhaps you want to find out the good, the bad, and the ugly of folding bikes.
It’d also be great to learn the different types and some of the best recommendations for folding bikes.
This way, you’ll make an informed decision if your lifestyle allows having one or not.
Are Folding Bikes Worth It? – A Detailed Explanation
Folding bikes provide convenience to riders who so much need less space for transportation and storage for their bikes.
Most importantly, folding bikes are worth your money if;
- You have limited storage space at home or limited parking space at the workplace
- You love cycling to work
- You aim at cutting on transport costs while commuting to work
- Your bus terminal or train station is a bit far from where you stay, but you don’t intend to walk
- Your workplace or home is within the city
Having covered the situations when folding bikes are necessary, let’s proceed to find out why these bikes are worth it.
They are;
1. Easily Maneuverable
You can easily maneuver with your folding bike in heavy traffic spots.
You don’t have to struggle with moving it around like a regular bike.
Folding bikes, in contrast, offer convenience as you can fold them until you’re at a place where it’s comfortable to ride.
2. Excellent Safety
Regular bikes are less safe as smart thieves can devise ways to unlock them when you park them outdoors.
Folding bikes saves you the stress of carrying locks around.
Additionally, you are sure your bike isn’t at the risk of thieves. You can conveniently fold the bike and store it indoors.
3. Equipped To Carry Luggage
Most folding bikes come with luggage carriers to facilitate the carrying of light luggage on short tours.
4. Are Lightweight
Folding bikes are designed with light frame materials to facilitate easy folding.
The lightweight also promotes carrying the bike around.
Compared to regular bikes, weighing 30-40 pounds, folding bikes are lighter, weighing 24-30 pounds.
5. Convenient Transportation
Folding bikes provide convenience in transport as you can fold them while in trains and buses.
Additionally, you can carry it around in your car and use it to save fuel costs.
Perhaps you need to go to a nearby place, you can safely park your car and hop on your folding bike.
6. Allows You To Be On The Move
A folding bike offers spontaneous riding as you can grab it within short notice and get going.
There’s no wasting time thinking about strapping and parking with a folding bike.
A perfect example is the KESPOR K7 Folding Bike. This bike comes with an easy folding mechanism, which allows it to fold in seconds.
The 3 Types Of Folding Bikes With Examples
Folding bikes come in different types and designs. They are categorized into these three;
- Commuter bikes/city bikes
- Mountain bikes
- Exercise bikes
1. Foldable Commuter Bikes
Commuter bikes popularly known as city bikes are designed for the urban commute.
Their smaller gear range of about 7 to 8 speeds accounts for their city commute.
Folding commuter bikes also come with smaller wheels for shorter distance coverage.
One fantastic choice of a foldable commuter bike is the Hosote 20-inch Compact Folding Commuter Bike.
Weighing in at 33 pounds, this bike features lightweight hence easy to carry around.
It also folds pretty quickly to offer you the convenience you need.
Another option is the Huuh Folding Bikes for Adults (View On Amazon)
Its 20-inch wheels mean that this bike rolls seamlessly on urban pavements to give you a comfortable ride.
On top of this, this bike comes with a shorter gear range of about 7 speed to offer a quality city cycling experience.
Schwinn Loop Adult Folding Bike (View On Amazon) is another option for commuter folding bikes.
It comes with a detachable rear backpack to help you carry around your luggage conveniently.
In addition, this unique folding bike features lightweight frames to facilitate easy folding.
2. Foldable Mountain bikes
Foldable mountain bikes come with excellent features to accommodate the tough terrains.
Their wider gear range means that they can successfully overpower the rough trails.
Folding mountain bikes also come with powerful brakes for excellent stopping power in unforgiving trails.
What’s more, these bikes come with tough inbuilt, and rugged features to withstand challenging terrains.
A good example is the Eurobike SL-G6 Mountain Bike. This bike comes from high-end Shimano products.
Thus, a durable and strong bike you can enjoy riding for long.
3. Foldable Exercise bikes
If you’re interested in indoor workout training, there are a variety of folding exercise bikes for that.
A fantastic choice is the XTERRA Fitness FB350 Folding Exercise Bike (View On Amazon)
This bike takes little of your floor space when not in use as it folds up to 20.5 to 20 inches.
Are Folding Bikes Good For Long Rides?
Essentially, folding bikes are not designed for long rides. Their overall design makes them suitable for shorter rides.
For instance, their smaller gear range means that you can never depend on them for long rides.
Their smaller wheels as well cancel out long rides. Since these wheels don’t cover much ground, folding bikes can never manage to ride for long distances.
If you’re seeking to ride for long distances, you can check regular bikes equipped for that.
Are Folding Bikes Dangerous? When They Are Unsuitable
Generally, folding bikes require excellent care, especially for the carrying capacity.
If you overload them, they are dangerous for your riding as they can easily collapse.
Additionally, you should ride your folding bike safely. Doing so helps it stay in good condition for long.
So, are folding bikes unsuitable?
Perhaps you intend to ride off-road. Or maybe you’re tall and big, hence wondering if folding bikes suit you.
The truth is that folding bikes are unsuitable for you if;
1. You plan for off-road cycling
Unfortunately, folding bikes are not the best choice for bumpier rides.
This is due to their smaller wheels which are designed for on-road cycling.
Folding bikes are also not equipped for off-road riding due to their lack of suspension.
They are built with rigid suspension which is not good for absorbing bumps.
As a result, you can only use folding bikes for paved road riding.
2. You intend to ride for long distances
If you plan on riding for long distances, folding bikes are not for you.
First, their small wheels cover less ground, hence suitable for smaller distances.
Besides, folding bikes come with a smaller gear range which means they can only manage short rides.
3. You are either big or tall, or both
Taller and overweight riders can never cycle folding bikes. This is due to their lightweight which can never accommodate more than 300 pounds.
Folding bikes also have smaller frames which don’t match with taller guys.
FAQs
1. Are Folding Bikes Worth It?
Folding bikes are worth your money if you commute to work and need to save on commuting costs.
They are also a good choice if you have limited parking space at home or at the office.
2. Are Folding Bikes Any Good?
If you are an urban commuter, you’ll find folding bikes good for you.
First, folding bikes offer convenience if you need to carry them in the bus or train.
They are also convenient in terms of storage at home or at work.
3. Are Folding Bikes Good For Long Rides?
Generally, folding bikes are designed for urban commuting. Their smaller wheels ride excellently on smooth urban roads.
However, there are rare examples of folding bikes that come with a wider gear range and wider wheels. Therefore, they can cover long rides.
But originally, folding bikes ride seamlessly on shorter distances.
4. Are Folding Bikes Good For Exercise?
Essentially, folding bikes are good for urban commuting and short-distance riding.
Therefore, not reliable for exercise. However, you can use specialized foldable mountain or indoor bikes for your exercise.
5. Do Folding Bikes Break Easily?
If well taken care of, folding bikes never break easily. However, poor care and overloading lead to their breakdown.
If you surpass a given weight on your folding bike, their rim breaks and the frame bends.
So, you’ve to care for your bike to make it stay in good condition.
6. Do Folding Bikes Offer Comfort While Riding?
Folding bikes offer maximum comfort while riding, thanks to their excellent features.
The smaller wheels ride seamlessly on urban roads. On top of this, their low-lying geometry makes them a comfortable option.
Final Verdict
Perhaps you’re frequently asking the question; “Are folding bikes worth it?” Well, folding bikes offer you convenience and helps you cut transportation costs.These bikes are designed to cover shorter distances, thanks to their top-line features.
So, you can go ahead and get a folding bike if you’re looking for urban commuter bikes.
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