Welcome to Foldable Bikes
Foldablebikes.co.uk offers help and advice for anyone who's thinking about investing in a folding bike. Folding bikes offer a range of benefits to their owners inc. Better Health, Money Saving, More Practical and they're even fun and environmentally friendly too.
Folding Bikes:- Who's Riding Them?
Folding bikes are suitable for everyone who can ride a regualr bike. Whether you're communting or enjoying a family day out riding in the country, there's a folding bike suitable for you.
Who else can benefit from a foldable bike?
There are lots circumstances when foldable bikes can come in handy, for camping trips, holiday homes e.g barges, chalets, caravans where storage space is limited. Photographers and fishermen can benefit from keeping a folding bike in the boot of their car too.
Cycling for Everyone
Almost everone can benefit from cycling, a foldable bike allows you to easily escape the towns and cities in your car and when you arrive at your destination, simply unfold your bike and enjoy riding in the fresh open air.
Cycling is fun, good for your health, ecological friendly and with a foldable bike it's easier and pracital so you'll enjoy those days out even more than if you were using a regular cumbersome fixed frame bike.
Take a look at the two most popular folding bike manufacturers Dahon and Brompton, we'll soon be adding reviews about the bikes available to our reviews section too.
Full Size Folding Bikes
Full size foldables are for those of us who want the benefits of a foldable bike whilst maintaining the comfort and stability of a full size bike.
"Some of the benefits of a full sized foldable bike are:
- There are usually fewer folding points (no Origami required!)
- They provide a stiffer ride
- Larger wheels provide extra dampening from road shocks
- Larger wheels ‘track’ in a straighter line than smaller wheels
Everything else is usually full-size – and standard - There are more components available for upgrades or add-ons
- There’s no embarrassment in riding one! "
Thanks to Jim at Montague Bicycles UK for providing the above information on full size foldables, you can read more advice from Jim on our Comments page.
Folding Bikes in the News
Sales shift gear
They've noticed the change as sales of "folders" are on the rise in the UK - about 75,000 of the 3.5 million bikes sold last year. Market leader Dahon says its sales are growing by about a third each year. UK-based Brompton says it's unable to keep pace with demand.
Partly it's down to technical improvements - folding bikes have improved both in the ride they give and how quick and easy they are to fold (7-15 seconds for a Brompton).
Other factors have also driven sales: the London congestion charge (and similar plans in 10 other UK centres); growing awareness about exercise; and the 7 July bombings which converted many to pedal power.
The city now boasts a high-profile cycling mayor and will this year host its second folding bike race for commuters. Across the rail network, standard bikes are either banned by train companies at peak times or must be booked-in.
Read the full BBC News Report here
Thanks for visiting Foldable Bikes
*** Montague Foldable Bikes Newsflash ***
Monday November 3rd will see a folding bike 'shoot-out' on the cult-viewing Channel 5 Gadget Show.
As well as the usual commuter-style folders our very own Swissbike LX will be ridden and tested by presenter Jon Bentley and also... Olympic Gold Medallist Rebecca Romero!!
We don't yet know how we have fared in the test, but suffice to say that the Swissbike is the only full-size (26" wheel) folding bike in the feature.
So be sure to set your TV recorder to catch the action at 8pm on Monday November 3rd - or better still, watch it as it airs.
Some of you may also have seen the LX featured in the gadget slot of last Sunday morning's 'Something for the Weekend' show. We weren't given much prior notice of this, so I couldn't alert you beforehand, but judging by the number of calls and emails we received on the Monday morning, many people saw it in any case.
Have a great weekend
Jim