Advice on buying a folding bicycle

Which model of Folding bicycle is right for me?

Your height, weight, age, fitness level and whether you are male or female plus what is the bike being for, will all contribute towards making the decision of which bike is right for you. There are too many factors involved to list all the permutations, so give us a call and we will help narrow down your options, otherwise we hope the following information regarding folding bicycles will be of use to you.

Commuting:
Think about your journey and the reasons why you want to introduce a bicycle into your commute. I say this because we have spoken to hundreds of people who have not properly thought it out and are on the verge of making a very costly mistake.
One of the most common mistakes is - if the bike folds it must be portable. Think about it you are 45 years old and not as fit as you used to be, you buy a folding bike which you will ride to the station, no problem, then you need to lug it up the stairs over the track, maybe a problem, then you need to fold it to put on the train, usually not a problem, then you need to carry it down the escalators and through all those corridors and on the tube, can be a problem if the bike is too heavy (there might be a better way as well), then through the corridors and up the escalator on the otherside, then unfold (we are nearly there) and ride to the office, then we need to either lock it up outside or fold it again and carry it into the office. If you have not done it before or at least tested your journey with a bike you must agree there is a lot of folding and lugging involved which will be made worse with a heavier bike, even a few less pounds can make so much difference. So the advice here is talk to other commuters and find out what works for them, it might not be a folding bike OR what about a bike on either side which would cut out all the folding and carrying. If you are convinced about using a portable bike then our advice is to spend the extra on a light (as near to 10Kg or less) as possible. Also consider a 16 inch wheel bike, they are more compact and lighter than 20 inch models. The above example is worst case scenario so don't be put off as there are so many good reasons for using a bicycle for getting to and from your work.

Leisure Cycling:
A lot people today think that folding bicycles are only for commuters, well that may have been so, but there are so many advantages in owning a folding bicycle although you will pay a bit more for the privilege. Another misconception is that folding bikes all have smaller 16 or 20 inch wheels, take a look at the Dahon top of the range Flo, Cadenza and Zero-g with 26 inch wheels, these bikes will fold in half in a few seconds and will fit into most car boots, so if you enjoy driving into the countryside for a bike ride then a 26 inch wheel folder is for you. They are also recommended if you ride to the office, that is home - bike - office and back no tubes or trains. The reason is that if it is too wet to ride home you can get a lift home and take the bike in the boot ready for your ride back to office the next day. Folding bicycles with 20 inch wheels should be considered where storage space is limited i.e. flats, boats and caravans.

How much should I pay for a good folding bike?
Budget has to be the first consideration as most people will be looking to spend as little as they need to. Assuming you buy the bike that is right for you then your folding bicycle will become a very personal item, so make sure you buy the best quality you can afford; there is one sure factor with bicycles and that is if it is cheap then it will be made from cheap components and cheap components just don't work as well.
Remember cycling is still one of the most enjoyable forms of transport!

How does the ride performance of a Dahon folding bike compare to traditional non-folding bicycle?
Very well. Everything starts with the frame and we use patented folding mechanisms and proprietary frame tubing to guarantee a strong and stiff platform. Our frames are among the stiffest in the industry. A patented manufacturing process ensures proper alignment. Geometry of the frame is also critical for proper handling and stability as well as efficient power transfer from the rider. Our full size bikes all feature standard frame geometry so you can't even tell that you're riding a portable bicycle. Our compact bikes (16" and 20" wheel sizes) feature our BioLogic frame geometry and deliver superb riding comfort and efficiency. Most of our small-wheeled bicycles feature Telescope stems and seat posts that deliver a perfect, custom fit for riders of all sizes. Finally, parts selection is critical. For instance, to make up for smaller wheel sizes, we either use a smaller rear cog or a larger chainwheel (or a combination of both) so that pedaling a Dahon is the same as pedaling a traditional bike. This seems pretty obvious but you'd be surprised at the number of folding bikes on the market that are geared improperly. And for brakes, we only use the most advanced direct pull (V style) or disc brakes - we've long since retired 19th century technology caliper brakes. This same attention to detail is used on each and every component that we use. Over the last 20 years, we've concentrated a great deal of our efforts on improving riding performance: we've tinkered with riding position, wheelbase, head angle, fork rake, components, frame materials and construction methods, all to improve the ride of our bicycles. But the proof is in the ride so take a test ride!

Do smaller wheels mean that I'd have to pedal like crazy just to get anywhere?
No, we gear every bicycle we make to ride like a traditional bicycle so that you don't have to pedal any harder or faster. To do this, we use special oversized chainrings, smaller rear cogs, or a combination of both.

Are smaller wheels less efficient than large wheels?
No. On the contrary, small wheels actually have many performance advantages compared to larger wheels. Firstly, smaller wheels have a lower moment of inertia that allows significantly faster acceleration and more responsive steering. Secondly, small wheels have lower aerodynamic drag than larger wheels. Thirdly, small wheels can be built to be lighter than larger wheels. And finally, small wheels are by definition stronger than larger wheels. In fact the world speed record for a bicycle ridden in an upright position was set 20 years ago on a bike with 18" wheels. In fact, the only significant disadvantage of small wheels can be when riding on uneven surfaces.

I'm a big guy; will your bicycles support my weight and offer a proper riding position?
All of our 16" and 20" wheel size bicycles are rated for riders up to 230 lbs. (105 kg.) Our 26" bicycles are rated for riders up to 240 lbs (110 kg). In terms of riding position, our compact bicycles (16" and 20") are designed with Telescope seat posts for a customized fit. As a general rule, our 16" models are ideal for riders 4'6" - 6'2" tall, 20" models for riders from 4'10" - 6'4", and 26" models for riders from 5'4" - 6'2". These guidelines may vary slightly depending on your riding style and preferred riding position. Take a test ride - that is the best way to see if a bike meets your requirements.