| Many people thinking of folding bikes as a | | | | |
| bit of a joke. This is because in the past | | | | So why choosing a folding bike? |
| many folding bikes were unwieldy and awkward | | | | |
| to ride, and some models were prone to | | | | - Folding bikes can be packed away. That |
| collapse. However, in recent years, new | | | | makes them easy to store, suitable for |
| designs have come to the fore, and folding | | | | carrying on the bus or train, and is a big |
| bikes have greatly improved - so much so that | | | | advantage of you worried about bicycle theft. |
| any negative reputation is no longer | | | | |
| deserved. | | | | - If you're worried about the possibility of |
| | | | punctures or mechanical problems when |
| Of course, just like any other type of bike, | | | | commuting, again folding bikes come into |
| folding bicycles do require that the | | | | their own - as in the event of a problem you |
| designers have to make some choices and | | | | can simply fold the bike away and hop on the |
| compromises in the design between various | | | | bus or train. |
| different priorities. In the case of folding | | | | |
| bicycles, designers have to strike a balance | | | | One thing to be aware of though is that |
| between the folding capability, the quality | | | | folding bikes generally have smaller wheels |
| of the ride, and the price - and you will | | | | than other types of bikes. There are many |
| find that different models of folding bikes | | | | types of tyre choices around, some with |
| have struck this balance at different points. | | | | puncture-resistant bands and reflective |
| For example, some folding bicycles (mainly | | | | strips, but because of their small size, tyre |
| those designed for short hops) are designed | | | | pressure is especially important - if you let |
| to be simple to fold and unfurl every time | | | | your tyres go soft - riding becomes like |
| they are ridden, whereas are designed to be | | | | running through treacle! Therefore be sure to |
| kept unfolded most of the time and only | | | | invest in a decent bicycle pump! |
| folded away once in a while. | | | | |