Are folding bikes good for long-distance rides?

Summer is coming and the weather is warming up. So why not take your folding bike for a ride right now and enjoy the great outdoors.

But are these portable bikes actually decent for proper distances? 

The pros of folding bikes for distance riding

There are some genuine advantages to taking a folder on longer rides. For starters, the mix-and-match transport options are brilliant. Got a massive headwind? Knackered after 60km? Just fold the thing up and hop on a train or a bus.

The security aspect is surprisingly important too. When on holiday, you don’t have to spend half the time worrying about your expensive road bike locked outside. With a fold-up bike, you just bring it inside your room like a slightly odd piece of luggage. 

The limitations to consider

That said, there are compromises. The smaller wheels mean you travel less distance on a single rotation of the pedals, and therefore your legs will have a lot more work to do in covering long distances.

The tiny wheels and structural differences of a folding bike also cause you to feel EVERY bump in the road. After about 70km, my insides were practically rattling loose on some of the rougher country lanes near us.

And while manufacturers have worked miracles with folding frame designs, they’re still not as efficient as a proper road or touring bike. You’ll burn more energy covering the same distance, especially on climbs.

If you need a bike for both rocky roads and city roads, then you could go for a hybrid bike. You can find many options on Bobbin Bikes.  And if you’ve got a family, you can ensure everyone in your household gets a brand new comfortable bike as Bobbin Bikes has bike options for toddlers such as the balance bikes, to adult bikes like the city bikes.

The best folding bike for longer journeys

If you’re serious about taking a folding bike on longer rides, you need to choose wisely. Bobbin bikes has a really cool folder called Bobbin Fold.

With a comfortable saddle and 7 gears, it’s set up to keep you riding across a wide range of terrain (although I wouldn’t recommend anything too steep or completely off-road).

What I particularly like about the Fold is how normal it feels to ride. Some folders have you hunched over like a question mark, but this one lets you sit in a pretty natural position. The steel frame also takes the edge off road vibrations better than expected – crucial when you’re several hours into a ride and every little comfort counts.

Tips for successful long-distance folding bike trips

If you’re mad enough to try distance riding on a folder, here’s what you need to know. First, ruthlessly minimize what you’re carrying.

Be smarter about route planning. Instead of going to cycle to mountain terrain, try to find easy straight roads. 

You can try the “bike-train-bike” approach where you ride 50-60km to a train station, take a 30-minute train ride through the boring industrial section, then continue riding in the next scenic area. You end up seeing much better countryside than you would on a conventional bike tour where you’re committed to every single kilometer.

When all is said and done, folders aren’t the first bike I’d grab for a long ride, but they’re way more capable than most cyclists give them credit for. 

**Contributed post