The growing popularity of consuming organic food and adopting a healthier life style, a trend growing in metropolitan cities, has also led to the growing popularity of the folding bike. One of the reasons why a folding bike is becoming more and more popular is because people are looking to meet their daily goals of healthy activity in more convenient ways. For instance, in cities such as New York City, where there are multiple parks, more and more people are looking for easily compacted bikes that they can be transported to and from the subway: a folding bike. In this short article, we will visit a few hesitancies and common questions that people tend have as they begin considering purchasing a folding bike for their own use.
There are typically a few concerns that most people who are unsure about the idea of purchasing a folding bike ask. One of the most popular questions that people who are looking to purchase a folding bike ask is: does a person have to pedal faster since the wheels of a folding bike are usually smaller? Folding bike manufacturers answer this concern with a quick no. The reason why folding bike manufactures can assure that the cyclist does not have to pedal faster is because the gearing in the folding bike follows the same design that a typical regular sized bicycle would have. People interested in the mechanical operation of a folding bike may wonder how the gearing similarity between a folding bike and a regular bike is achieved. Most manufacturers have to make certain adjustments such as oversizing the chain-rings of a folding bike, using smaller rear cogs, and sometimes using a combination of both adjustments if the situation calls for special design.
Another question that folding bike manufacturing companies are often asked is whether the smaller wheels are slower than larger wheels. This is a valid concern, since the folding bike always has smaller wheels than regular sized bikes. Unlike the previous question, the answer to this concern varies. For instance, if one was to conduct an experiment in regards to a folding bike, controlling for all other variables except wheel size; the smaller wheels would have a higher rolling resistance. However, as most physicists will point out, the rolling resistance of an object is only one factor in the object’s speed. In addition, the smaller wheels of a folding bike also have certain advantages, including the fact that they can accelerate faster than big wheels due to inertia. Moreover, the smaller wheels of a folding bike are also more aerodynamic, and they have a lighter weight than larger wheels. An interesting fact to take from this discussion is that the world speed record for a bicycle which took place twenty years ago was accomplished with small wheels (18 in wheels).
Another question, though perhaps not as popular but certainly very important, some people ask deals with the weight capacity of the folding bike. This is a very valid concern, since a folding bike tends to give the impression that it is very thin and delicate. It is always wise to seek out this information from the manufacturer of the specific folding bike that you are considering purchasing. However, most manufacturers claim that bicycles that have 16?20 wheel sizes can hold up to 230 pounds, or 105 kg. A second question that follows this concern is, will I be comfortable on a folding bike? Most manufacturers have been able to meet these concerns by designing the folding bike with long seat-posts than can easily be extended.
If you have concerns about purchasing a folding bike, your best move is to give us a call today. We would be more than happy to help you figure out the answers to all of your folding bike related questions and concerns. After all, the folding bike business is our business.