Shop folding bikes: https://www.halfords.com/bikes/folding-bikes/
Unsure about folding bikes and struggling to find which one is best for you?
Don’t worry! Our video answers the question ‘what is a folding bike?’ and will help you choose your perfect one! [Halfords. We Fit. We Service. We Repair.]
Folding bikes are perfect if you want a bike you can pop in the boot of your car or under your desk at work, easily carry on the train, take away in your caravan, or keep in your house or flat.
Folding bikes are fully functional bikes – so they’ve got everything you’d find on a non-folding bike – but they fold down to make them easier to carry and store. At Halfords, we’ve got a great range of folding bikes to suit every budget, including an e-bike model. Pop instore or explore our site to see all the options.
To keep them compact, these bikes have much smaller wheels and there’s generally two wheel sizes: 16” or 20”. If you want to have a ride closer to your normal bike then 20” wheels are a better choice, but they obviously don’t fold down as small. A 16” wheel bike is smaller and may be lighter, but might be less stable and doesn’t cruise as fast when you are riding.
These bikes have extended seat posts and steerer tubes. These longer tubes mean that they are adjustable to suit all sizes, but the amount of adjustment does vary from bike to bike. Don’t for a second think that these dimensions make them awkward. They’re really easy to manoeuvre and to get on and off.
So when you’re choosing the right folding bike for you, here’s a few things to to consider.
The main thing to think about is the fold. You’ve going to be buying this bike because you regularly want to fold it away, so make sure the way it folds works for you.
You’ll want to look at how small it will be when it’s folded. Is that small enough to fit under your desk or in your boot?
The next thing to think about is the oily parts. Are the gears and chain on the ‘inside’ of the bike when it’s folded or even covered by a chain guard? Both these features keep the dirty parts out of the way – perfect for commuting.
Check if you can wheel the bike along when it’s folded. This tends to be easier than carrying the bike, but with some models this isn’t possible.
Some riders find it useful to have a bike bag to help keep things clean when carrying their bikes, and some types of public transport only allow folded bikes in bags. We sell suitable bags for a range of folding bikes.
As well as looking at how the bike folds up, here are some other features to keep an eye out for:
The weight is a big thing. You’re more likely to be carrying a folding bike, so make sure it’s light enough for you to lift! Bikes like this alloy frame product with an alloy frame can really help here.
Bikes with hub gears are worth investing in. With these, the gears are hidden inside the wheel. That means less maintenance and oily parts to get you dirty, as well as more reliability.
Gearing is also key as the wheels are so small. If you live somewhere where you’ll be pedalling up and down a lot of hills, then you will want a larger spread of gears than someone who lives in a flatter area.
If you’re commuting, mudguards and luggage racks are also important You’ll want to be keeping your work clothes clean, and space to carry your lunch is a big bonus too.
Finally, if you are going to be tackling a few bigger hills on your bike, or if you simply want a little extra assistance, a folding electric bike is a great option. At Halfords we’ve got this Carrera Crosscity – with its 313Wh battery it’ll give you around 30 miles of power assistance at speeds of up to 15.5mph. Perfect for taking some of the strain out of a journey.
As a general rule with folding bikes, it’s worth spending a little more to get a bike that’s made of higher quality components and lighter materials. This will make them easier to use every day, and more durable.
So we hope that was useful. If you need a little more advice on which is the right bike for you, pop to your nearest store and we’ll be happy to help you.
1 Comment
Yo