A Few Questions To Ask When Buying A Folding Bike
Folding bikes are great, especially for single people who want to take their cycling around town or around the park, or for those who like to travel long distances on relatively easy transport methods. Basically, folding bikes are made to make cycling more convenient-as can be. Want one? SAME.
There's a lot to think about when it come to finding that perfect folding bike for yourself, though: size. Bigger is NOT always better. You don't have to go from six feet tall to ten feet tall to get the benefits of a folding bike, after all. The important thing is making sure that your body type can handle the weight and proportions of the bike. The best models have seats and handlebars that are designed for the average person, but if you're over six feet, you'll want to get a slightly larger frame that offers more room.
Other things to consider are riding style and preference. If you don't want to lock your bike up all the time when you're out, you need to make sure you get one that offers frame-lock options. Or else, you'll have to put up with a constantly locking back wheel. (And if you plan on going anywhere on the road during the day, you'll want a bit of headroom to prevent sore necks at night.) Think about whether you want a folding bike with a cargo area below the seat or one with a front rack only.
Take a look at how stable your lifestyle is before you decide on a particular type of folding bike. If you're taking a mountain bike, for example, you don't want to choose a folding bike that's too lightweight or unstable. But on a budget bike, you may not have much to worry about stability at all. If you ride regularly on pavement, you'll probably want a more stable bike. Again, ask around or read reviews online.
Another thing you should consider is whether you want a folding bike that's easy to fold and store when not in use. On a budget bike, you probably won't have a lot of room in your garage, for instance, so buying one that's very easy to transport is a good idea. Folding bikes that can be folded flat are ideal if you don't have a lot of storage space, or if you're not going anywhere for a long time. Still, on a budget bike, you should make sure you can afford to buy a bike like this. A quality folding bike will be very sturdy, and you should make sure it'll last for years.
How hard is it to repair a flat tire? Flat tires are an annoying fact of life for anyone who rides a bike. When they happen, you have to get down on your bike and pull it into the nearest repair shop. Some people will try to take off the tire without damaging it, but it could still be a frustrating experience. To make sure you can take off a flat tire easily, look at the manual for the brand you're buying the bike from.
How will you use the bike? This is a question that you should ask any time you buy a folding bike. Will you be mostly using it indoors or mostly outside, in hot weather? The bigger the group riding the bike, the more you should count the number of people you'll be carrying around. If you have a smaller group, consider buying a lighter model. If you ride alone or with friends, you may have a few extra people you'd prefer to carry.
Buying a cheap folding bike or a low quality model may limit where you can take it. For most people, however, there's no reason not to buy a folding bike. Once you start using it, you'll quickly discover why so many people are getting on them.