Folding Bike - Tips To Help With Your Selection

With such a wide range of foldable bikes to choose from, it's really a challenge and a headache for the layman to pick the right bike. Simply from top manufacturers itself, your nearest bike store may carry a wide range of wheel sizes, folding mechanisms and folding systems. For major brands there are at least more than thirty models of collapsible bikes to select from. Just the figure itself is already mind boggling. However, adhering to these few tips of selecting a folding bike is actually quite simple. Basically, the primary factor starts with YOU and yes ask YOURSELF what is your purpose in getting a folding or a collapsible bike. Just a few helpful tips here that will help limit with your selection:

Safety is primary

It should be be your main concern. Ensure that the latches of all foldable parts are designed to be securely locked.

Personal Preference Vs Fancy Features

When contemplating one, keep in mind the basic rule of thumb, the 80 and 20 ratio. Extra emphasis is place on those mechanisms that you really want most and little on those features that you rarely use. Everyone has different needs for a bike. So there is no one type of foldable bike that suits all the different requirement. However it is possible to narrow your selection choice. The significant things which need to be considered are the types of folding systems, riding comfort, your budget as well as your own personal preference.

Riding Comfort

For many a time you are on the bike peddling away, hence the seat option is an important consideration. Ease of ride and comfort and sitting down posture are all essential factors to note. Select a bike that offers you several adjusting options to suit your best personal preference. A nicely installed bike can result in significantly less strain on your limbs and will ensure significantly greater enjoyment. All these important factors should be incorporated when finally choosing your ideal folding bike.

Visit A Reputable Vendor

Who else can provide you with good advice on the particular type of bike that suits you? Certainly, the dealer who is experience, knowledgeable and has a wide array of leading brands and designs to enable you to compare different models and also to test ride. So visit the right bike shop is crucial. Go for an established retailer that can provide you with good guidance, have experience staff, correct tools and equipment to render after sale service and maintenance. Prior to the visit, a little research on the different brands, models and reviews of the foldable bike may very well be valuable while visiting the outlet. A test ride is important to help you check out on the ease of riding, comfort of seat and posture after adjustment to the optimum height and reach of different models. Get a feel of the bike as it is going to be your close companion for a long time.

What is Your Need

Decide on what is you need in purchasing a folding bike and type of riding you intent to use. Is it for recreation, traveling, short errands or for sporting activities?

Choose Your Wheel Sizes & Gear System

Folding Bikes come in different wheel sizes. Popular brand bikes come with a few different wheel dimensions: 16 inch, 20 inch, 24 inch and 26 inch. These dimensions will impact on the riding performance and ease of carrying your bike.

16 inch diameter wheel size - It is light and compact when collapsed and ideal for taking in public transport. However, there will be a compromise for the compact size and riding comfort. Comfort for taller riders would be disadvantage on long ride. If compactability is your requirement then this may well be your option.

20 inch diameter wheel size - advantage of performance and compact when folded. Bike with this size delivers both comfort and efficient in ride and also ease of transport when folded.

24 & 26 Inch diameter wheel size - a normal size bike that can be collapsed and efficient performance. Consider the advantage of this full size bike if you need a bike that gives you both performance and looks of a normal full size bike but come with folding availability.

Single or Multi-Gear - Single gear bike offers comfortable ride on level track but it is cheaper and easy to maintain. Multi-gears provide ease of cycling over hilly ground with the varying combinations of the gears. Such bikes are more pricey and requires skilled technician to maintain and costly to up keep.

Accessories for your selection

Finally, after you have made your final choice on the type and model of the folding bike, you have to choose your accessories to complement your selected bike. For safety, select components that are sturdy, durable and light in weight. Bearing in mind that the better the accessories the greater is the ride and comfort. Once you have chosen your bike, you proceed to choose the basic equipment, safety accessories like helmets, front and rear lights, bells, padlock and so on. Once a final choice is made, ride safely and enjoy your foldable bike.