Are Folding Bikes Good for Commuting?

There are a few reasons why a cyclist would not have a folding bike for their commute. But, the main reason we bet would mainly consist of: they don’t like them. Either they don’t like the look or the fact they will be less pacey that a racer or they less able to traverse rough environments in comfort like a mountain bike. These things are true, but the folding bike is not designed for those reasons, so it is an unfair comparison.

The folding bike is made for communicating. Picture this, you’re out on your single-speed city bike, flying along when you get a puncture. You do not have a puncture repair kit with you, so you’re walking to work now. You try to catch the bus, but the driver, rightly, doesn’t want you taking up disabled space with your large bike. If you’re lucky to be relatively close, you get off likely and may be able to buy a repair kit before you go home. If you’re not lucky, you’ll have a long walk the rest of the way, and perhaps home.

Now, imagine this. You’re riding to work on your folding bike, and you get a puncture. You don’t have a puncture repair kit, but it is only a minor annoyance as you just fold it up and catch the next bus. You get a return so getting home is a little more pricey, but not a problem. You repair the puncture for the next day, and all is well – if a little annoying.

We know this is not a one-size-fits-all story. Take your commuter out of a city and into the countryside and getting a puncture without a repair kit at hand will be equally as damaging. But if you’re a countryside cycle commuter, then you should undoubtedly have a repair kit and other accessories to hand!

The folding bike it a brilliant commuter choice. If the reason you aren’t willing to invest is that you don’t think that are any reputable makes, then you’d be wrong, let us show you.

Are Folding Bikes any Good?

There is a multitude of cycle brands that are always improving on their folding bike offering. Far gone are the flimsy offerings of the past. There’s a vast range available, in a variety of styles, colours and sizes.

Some of their main selling points are:

1. acceleration – due to smaller wheel size, their acceleration speed is surprisingly quick.
2. Easy to lock and store – we’ll cover this a more detail later, but they don’t take up much space and can be easily secured.
3. Easy to operate – contrary to some would-be buyers anxieties, they are easy to operate and ride.
4. Easy to sell-on – you will indeed find that when it comes to upgrading, a foldable bike is much easier to sell-on than their counterparts (especially in commute-heavy cities).

If you want to find a list of the best about the town, then take a look at this article from Bicycling.com: The Best Folding Bikes You Can Buy Right Now.

Can I Take a Folding Bike on the Bus?

Yes, as we covered in our preliminary story, you can take a folding bike on the bus if you need to. Do make sure it is folded before you take it on board. There is generally a storage space on the right as you enter a bus, most drivers will be happy with you placing it there, or taking it by your feet.

How to Lock a Folding Bike

Although these innovative designs bring security benefits, as the bike can be taken with a cyclist wherever they go, it is a more appealing prospect to have a purpose-built facility in which to store the bike at the end of a journey.

Folding bike lockers are therefore a great solution, providing a lockable compartment to store a bicycle, helmet and kit bag. They are a necessity in a bike store if the needs of all cyclists are to be accommodated. A space-saving solution, they are supplied in stacks of three, parking three bikes in a relatively small footprint. They can be integrated with existing key fobs or electronic lock systems for consistency across a site. Contact us at Turvec if you’re interested in having one installed in your local area or workplace.

So, if the only thing stopping you from investing in a folding bike is how much you love your current bicycle, think about all the advantages they offer the commuter. If nothing else, the portability and security options available to them makes them a strong prospect, and what keeps their current riders dedicated.