A folding bike is similar to your conventional bicycle; really the only distinguishing feature is its folding mechanism that enables for great convenience in transport and storage. With people trying to make best utilization of the space offered by their disposal, folding bikes are becoming the preferred choice.
There clearly was a thorough range of folding bikes featuring different frame designs, wheel sizes, folding mechanisms and gears. The very best one for you is dependent on your cycling profile and needs.
1. Ride type -
The type of riding you are doing is the most essential consideration. Do you really make use of your bike for leisure trips round the corner, or would you utilize it for the regular commute to office or do you make use of it for mountain tours? Bikes for regular commute need to be comfortable and lightweight; yet they must hold up against regular travel. Mountain bikes are made for off-road travel across an array of terrains.
2. Wheel size -
The second criterion to tick against may be the wheel size. It determines how portable your bike may be along with the ride comfort. 26", 24", 22", 20" 16" and 14" would be the different available wheel diameters. Folding bikes in 14" and 16" are among the smallest wheels, made for leisure rides. Smaller wheel sizes are much less stable when cornering. Folding bike 26" wheels having said that are typically fitted to mountain bikes because they offer the highest degree of stability.
3. Frame design and material -
The concept of including a folding mechanism would be to add functionality to your bike. The frame and build material have a say in it. Aluminum, steel, carbon fiber and titanium would be the commonly used build materials for folding bikes. Titanium and carbon fiber are lightweight, but very costly. Aluminum and steel are really durable, but heavier with steel being the heaviest.
The frame design should not make the folding mechanism redundant.
4. Gears or no gears -
Amateur cyclists might ask what difference gears make to your performance of a bike. One, they allow you to adjust the speed. Additionally they make maneuvering tricky terrains like hilly areas a lot easier. The actual only real benefit a non-gear bike offers is that it breaks down less often.
5. Maintenance -
Bikes, if they will be the folding or non-folding type, require regular maintenance for optimum performance. Your bike components including the inner tubes, tires, rims along with other spare parts should always be readily available. If you don't, you'll have to pay extra to source them. Not only this, you will end up not able to use your bike until it gets repaired.
6. Ease of folding -
How easy will it be to fold the bike? Different brands take advantage of different folding mechanisms. There is the split fold, triangular hinge and break away mechanism. Into the spilt mechanism, the bike has a single hinge makes it possible for the bike to be folded by 50 percent. It is quickest to fold. The triangular hinge mechanism features more hinges and clasps and lets you fold the bike into a far more compact form. But it is more complicated in comparison. The very last lets you fold the bike by disassembling selected parts.
So, when shopping for a folding bike, do consider each one of these factors. Compare bikes from different brands at different price points to get just the best.
