I'm all for more submissions about manually-operated things on wheels.
Like "Rediscovering the Handcart"
https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2026/04/rediscovering-the-...
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47873192
The Joy of Folding Bikes
31–40 of 199 posts
Re: The Joy of Folding Bikes
#32They're obviously great for commuting. For general use, they are in theory thief-proof because you can take them everywhere with you. The downside is they're expensive so you HAVE to take them everywhere with you. Leave them out and they'll get stolen. For that reason I think the happiest I've been is with a dirt cheap bike in Japan. Didn't even lock it properly (just a key built into the frame) and could park it out…
I have owned a AU$7,000 (US$5,000) ebike in Sydney, Australia for a few years and have parked it everywhere without worrying about it getting stolen. It has a built in lock that blocks the front spokes, an alarm and I use a $200 chain lock around the frame to fix it to something.
For me, just having a $7,000 bike parked on the street would be too stressful even if it didn't get stolen. I've had bikes stolen in Australia and there is basically nothing you can do about it. The thieves have hoodies, masks, and battery powered grinders that will cut any lock.
The only defense is storing your bike inside. And then you get karens on the owners corp whinging that you aren't allowed to take bikes inside. Who also don't give two shits when your bike gets stolen from the basement bike storage.
Re: The Joy of Folding Bikes
#33As someone who rode a folding bike for several years as their primary mode of transportation, I personally found no joy in it. It was simply the only option for being allowed on the commuter rail into the city during "rush" hours. I eventually got fed up with it and gave it away and chained up a full sized beater bike at the city limits and rode that the last few miles after getting off the rail. I'd prefer to never ride one ever again tbh
Re: The Joy of Folding Bikes
#34The article touched on it, and I agree, the biggest benefits for me are the portability and storability. I can easily fit my folding bike into my car trunk, and very easily fit another one in the back seat. This enables you to drive to the start of a distant cycling route without having to deal with bike racks behind or on top of your car. So much less friction to you just going somewhere and cycling around. And the…
> "You can't really use them for hauling heavy loads, so forget bicycle touring or pulling a little trailer for kids or other things"
Eh?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzRqKP0XmhQ - Brompton with Burley Travoy trailer while the guy moves house.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocMRuUBUFrU - Bromtpon with Cyclone trailer while grocery shopping.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvBA1K8oFmQ - Brompton with child trailer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOH3wEB0pS8 - with different child trailer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waW1wq07JsA - Brompton with child seat adapter in front of the rider.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV60S7ma4d4 - Brompton with child seat on the back.
Re: The Joy of Folding Bikes
#35As someone who rode a folding bike for several years as their primary mode of transportation, I personally found no joy in it. It was simply the only option for being allowed on the commuter rail into the city during "rush" hours. I eventually got fed up with it and gave it away and chained up a full sized beater bike at the city limits and rode that the last few miles after getting off the rail. I'd prefer to never…
That said I love my fixed gear beater and I would take that thing over the fanciest folder in existence.
Re: The Joy of Folding Bikes
#36You could just always buy a cheap one on Amazon and then make a real investment if you like
Re: The Joy of Folding Bikes
#37I had a Brompton in Boston. It makes absolutely everyone happy. It's been a conversation starter with everyone from 15 year old kids dressed to give a don't start anything vibe to 75 year old retirees. As TFA notes, they're allowed on trains even during rush hour when full-size bikes are not. They fold effortlessly; folding and unfolding a couple times a day at the station is no hassle at all. They ride much like a f…
The 16" tires killed all the joy I normally get from riding a bike tbh. I tried better seats, shock absorber posts, different gear ratios, everything. Just sucked the joy out of the ride for me. Hiding "throw away" bikes around the city and far off bus stops etc ended up being my solution and it worked better for me at least.
Re: The Joy of Folding Bikes
#38I extracted a lot of utility out of a folding bike during university in Korea. The smaller wheels are indeed a tradeoff for space vs. comfort but all in all it was a useful purchase.
There are a couple of companies doing full-size, or nearly full-size wheels on folding bikes --- very glad of my Montague Swissbike X50, and considered a Change Bike, and still want a Helix.
Re: The Joy of Folding Bikes
#39The reality is that all bikes can be folded once. The magic is in those that can be reliably unfolded for reuse.
Re: The Joy of Folding Bikes
#40I had a Brompton in Boston. It makes absolutely everyone happy. It's been a conversation starter with everyone from 15 year old kids dressed to give a don't start anything vibe to 75 year old retirees. As TFA notes, they're allowed on trains even during rush hour when full-size bikes are not. They fold effortlessly; folding and unfolding a couple times a day at the station is no hassle at all. They ride much like a f…
The 16" tires killed all the joy I normally get from riding a bike tbh. I tried better seats, shock absorber posts, different gear ratios, everything. Just sucked the joy out of the ride for me. Hiding "throw away" bikes around the city and far off bus stops etc ended up being my solution and it worked better for me at least.
Admittedly, I’ve never ridden a 16” wheeled bike. My 20” is rough enough that I’ve never bothered considering the smaller wheeled models. Maybe if I bike/train commuted every day rather than a few times a month.