Folding cycles

A folding bicycle is a bicycle designed to be folded up or otherwise reduced into a more manageable shape/size package or set of packages for ease of storage or portage. When folded, the bikes can be more easily carried into buildings, on public transportation (facilitating mixed-mode commuting and bicycle commuting), and more easily stored in compact living quarters or aboard a car, boat or plane. Foldable bikes are also often used as a travel bicycle (not to be confused touring bicycle) as an alternative to take-apart bikes. Some folding bicycles are also electrically empowered. A folding bicycle or electric-assisted folding bicycle is legally defined as a bicycle (or electric bicycle, e-bikes, respectively) in all nations, having to comply with all relevant safety standards to be road worthy. Folding mechanisms vary, with each offering a distinct combination of folding speed, folding ease, compactness, ride, weight, durability, complexity and price. Distinguished by the complexities of their folding mechanism, more demanding structural requirements, greater number of parts, and more specialized market appeal, folding bikes may be more expensive than comparable non-folding models. The choice of model, apart from cost considerations, is a matter of resolving the various practical requirements: a quick, easy fold, a compact folded size, or a faster but less compact model. There are also bicycles that provide similar advantages by separating into pieces rather than folding. America’s first folding bicycle’ does not actually fold at all! – rather, it breaks into two parts. After the war, Columbia Bicycles capitalized on the military use of their bicycles, and the folding Compax model was named the ‘Compax Paratrooper’ for the civilian market and brought to the market in 1947.