Design Responses > About Bikes > Typology >
Fold-Up

Designed to be easier to store and transport than other bikes, folding bikes are experiencing a rennaisance in many cities due to pressures on domestic and workplace storage space and recent rail policy changes that disallow transportation of non-folding bikes on peak time trains. There are many frame designs offered by various brands, each with a different design solution to enable the bike to fold.

Most designs utilise threaded clamp or quick release mechanisms to enable sections of the frame to be ‘folded’ or ‘retracted’. Typically, folding frame designs contract as follows:
1. Head tube and handlebars fold down over front wheel.
2. Seat post retracts down into seat tube.
3. Pedals fold back against cranks.
4. Top tube folds in two locating the front wheel beside the front wheel.

The largest single component of a folding bike is the wheel. Though design proposals exist for ‘folding wheels’ none are currently commercially available. Consequently most folding bikes utilise small wheel diameters.

One of the most compact folding systems is the ‘tail fold’ mechanism offered by Brompton Cycles. The tail fold allows both wheels to be positioned alongside the chain ring reducing the overall size of the folded bike. Amongst those folders that deploy an alternative folding mechanism to the one described are the Sinclair A-Bike and the Strida 5.0.

Gears
From 2 internal hub up to 24 derailleur gears

Brakes / Levers
Calliper road brake

Typical Accessories
Lights, Rack

Strengths
• Easy to store under a desk or in a cupboard

Weaknesses
• The small wheels are good for storage but lead to less stability when riding