Cut your compactness in half with Folding Bikes.

It seems that from the minute we are born we are preprogrammed to love riding a bike.The problem is that the more traditional formats are bulky,making it impractical for those living in units or houses lacking storage or those with motor vehicles incapable of transporting them.The invention and rise in popularity of folding bikes over recent times has seen these predicaments overcome.Three questions commonly thought of with respect to this category of man powered transport include:are they really different to their normal mainstream counterparts and if so how and do they vary depending on the manufacturer?

Folding bikes are really not a new phenomenon.In actual fact they date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s where especially the French and British deemed their value useful in the military.Those early models included specially designed rifle racks and later ones catered for the idea of using them after parachuting into enemy territory.

When compared to regular bikes,folding bikes do have some characteristics pertinent to them.As they tend to be made in one size and have to cater for each rider’s unique phenotype,the number of places that can be altered throughout the structure is more abundant.Examples of these adjustment points, which over extend past the normal bike range,include the seat post and handlebar stems.Despite the need for this compensation in making these areas of the bike suitable for any rider,the distance from the seat to the pedal and the seat to the handlebars as well as the wheelbase is nearer to normal standards.

Nowadays this type of bike is manufactured by many companies and differs in many features.The main characteristic in which they vary is with respect to their folding mechanism and to some extent it is really this that will govern overall cost.The half fold, styled on the typical diamond frame but can fold up on itself at the midway point,the triangle hinge where the rear section of the bike and its associated wheel fold downward and turn over and the break away which is a combination of folding and deconstructing,are the three main ways to decrease the overall size.Consequently, the mechanisms used to lower and raise the seat and handlebars as well as how the sections remain fixed in place will also differ.This will in turn affect the advantages and disadvantages of each as compaction size,weight, wheel diameter; speed of assembly and smoothness to ride may be compromised within each model.

In a world where it seems everything we do has negative impacts on the environment,using a folding bike is one way in which we can do our bit to help.

In large cities where commuter travel times are always on the increase, combining public transport with pedal power not only produces less greenhouse gas emissions,but also can save you time and money.It is a truly win-win situation for all.

Tony Smith is a cycling enthusiast who has been writing for top bike retailers such as CycleSurgery for over 8 years. CycleSurgery is the online bike retailer with over twenty stores nationwide with expert staff on hand to advise on top of the range bikes in addition to cycling clothing, components, folding bikes, mtb shoes and bike security solutions.