There’s a well-known saying among photographers: “the best camera is the one you have with you.” While “best” might conjure images of cutting-edge technology and superior optics, these features are irrelevant if your camera is at home when a photo opportunity arises. A simpler camera, always at hand, is far more valuable.
This same principle holds true for bicycles, especially when considering utility cycling. The Best Folding Bike isn’t necessarily the highest-performing machine, but rather the one that seamlessly integrates into your daily life and meets your everyday needs.
Car boot full of stuff including two folding bikes
Recently, I visited my former home city of Edinburgh. It wasn’t a dedicated cycling trip, but my wife and I wanted to experience the city like we did in our younger days – by bike. Cycling is undoubtedly the most efficient and enjoyable way to navigate Edinburgh and rediscover familiar places.
We planned to bring bikes, but they needed to be secure enough for public locking (meaning not overly expensive) and compact enough to fit inside our car, alongside our luggage. I recall a previous trip driving to Edinburgh with bikes on the roof, the increased fuel consumption alone felt like the cost of another bicycle!
Luckily, we had two folding bikes readily available. The choice was simple. They easily fit into the car with all our belongings, making them the perfect solution for our trip.
Folding Bikes: Imperfectly Perfect for Real-World Cycling
Folding bikes come in various designs, from larger-wheeled models offering greater riding capability to ultra-portable options like the iconic Brompton. It’s true that they all involve some degree of compromise. However, missing the point if you focus on these compromises.
Dahon folding bike ready to ride
For this Edinburgh trip, I rode a well-used Dahon Vitesse D8 with 20-inch wheels, while my wife used a quirky Big Fish Carnielli, an unusual bike with 16-inch wheels I recently acquired in pristine condition from eBay. (More on this peculiar and delightful bike in a future “What We Ride” feature).
Neither of these bikes are designed for high-performance cycling. But crucially, they work. They are practical, usable bikes perfectly suited for zipping around a city.
Edinburgh’s streets include challenging cobblestones and potholes that could swallow a wheel whole. While not always the smoothest ride, our folding bikes handled the conditions admirably. They allowed us to explore far more of the city in a few days than if we had relied solely on walking or public transport.
This might seem obvious, but it’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of cycling perfection. As bike tech enthusiasts, we often obsess over the ideal setup for every scenario. This can lead to rigid thinking, like believing you must have a gravel bike with 50mm tires “just in case” you decide to go bikepacking in Chile, or dismissing a road bike as “unrideable” due to narrow rim widths.
We forget that these minor details are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Cyclists have been happily riding whatever bikes they had available for generations.
Riding a Brompton through the city at night
Objectively speaking, folding bikes are not performance machines. Their design prioritizes compactness over frame stiffness, often resulting in frames that are somewhat flexible. Their geometry tends to be short, upright, and responsive, sometimes to the point of feeling twitchy.
However, when the alternative is not cycling at all, folding bikes become incredibly appealing. This is precisely why you should consider investing in a best folding bike now. They remove barriers and make cycling a practical part of your life.
Top Folding Bike Recommendations for Practical Cyclists
Btwin 500: The Budget-Friendly Folding Bike
Orange folding bike
RRP £379.99 (Approx. $480 USD)
The Btwin 500 stands out as one of the most affordable folding bikes from a reputable brand, offering a surprising number of features for the price. Its 20-inch wheels provide a ride feel closer to that of a full-sized bike, while the 7-speed Shimano cassette offers a versatile range of gears for varied terrain. A notable bonus is the inclusion of lights as standard equipment. Weighing in at a claimed 12.9kg, it’s also respectably lightweight for a folding bike in this price range.
Brompton C-Line: The Quintessential Folding Bike
Brompton folding bike in front of graffiti wall
RRP from £1,250 (Approx. $1,580 USD)
Brompton is synonymous with folding bikes; it’s a truly genre-defining brand. While the A-Line model is the most budget-friendly in their range, the C-Line offers gearing options better suited for most riders. The Urban model features a 2-speed drivetrain, while the Explore version boasts a 6-speed setup for greater versatility.
Bromptons are famous for their tiny 16-inch wheels, which contribute to their incredibly compact folded size. Although a more significant investment upfront, Brompton bikes are renowned for holding their value exceptionally well compared to other bicycles, making them a worthwhile long-term purchase.
Looking for the best folding bike for your needs? Explore our comprehensive guide to the best folding bikes for commuting, travel, and easy storage. For an in-depth look at the Brompton range, check out our guide to Brompton folding bikes.
Tags: Folding Bike Commuting Practical Bikes
