As became more popular during the What to out for BROMPTON circuit breaker, folding bikes were sought Budget Size when folded: 58.5cm x 56.5cm x 27cm Evolution of folding 1 after for their practicality and convenience Beginners can expect to pay $250 to $500 for a size: 16 inches reliable folding . Budget between $500 Pros: It is compact when folded, its build quality and $1,500 for extras such as more gears and is good and it comes with a front luggage lighter materials. attachment. WHEEL Cons: It is expensive and has twitchy steering 2 Riding style – tness or leisure? because of the small wheel size. Single- to nine-speed bicycles are suitable for leisure riders going at ground. Those looking DEALS for a bigger challenge can go for 18-speed ones. 3 Size when folded The size of the folded bicycle matters if you have little space to store it. Generally, the bigger the wheel, the less compact it is when folded.

BIRDY (From $2,050) 4 Type of folding BROMPTON (From $2,500) While some bicycles with one or two hinges can Size when folded: 80cm (height) x 62cm (length) Size when folded: 58.5cm x 56.5cm x 27cm be folded in seconds, there are models that x 34cm (width) Wheel size: 18 inches Wheel size: 16 inches require to be removed before folding. Pros: An all-rounder, it can be tted with side Pros: It is compact when folded, its build quality is luggage and has front and rear suspension. good and it comes with a front luggage attachment. 5 Place of riding Will you be riding from home to your destination Cons: Its steering can feel heavy and it Cons: It is expensive and has twitchy steering or making part of the journey by car, train, bus or history cannot be rolled along when folded. because of the small wheel size. The of fo taxi? For example, if you take the train, you may ldi have to jostle for space with commuters while ng LINK A7 (From $650) carrying your bike. Folding bikes were Size when folded: derived from full-size ones. b 39.5cm x 80cm x 73cm 6 Customisability and accessories i Many cyclists take pride in customising their The (or boneshaker) is k Wheel size: 20 inches e bicycles, from changing the wheels so they can 1860s the rst type of bicycle with pedals s Pros: It has a kickstand as cycle faster to replacing parts to and was invented by Frenchman well as a handlebar whose make the bike lighter. Pierre Michaux and his son Ernest. height can be adjusted. Englishman William Grout (left) Cons: It is bulky when - With input from sports retailer invented the rst folding bike, 1878 folded and does not have Decathlon and Facebook but the complicated a luggage attachment. group Folding Bike. design did not take off. Cycling routes The Moulton, Raleigh Twenty and AYER RAJAH EXP JALAN BUKIT MERAH RESSWAY City Hall Portable were among EAST COAST PARKWAY DEPOT ROAD MRT station the iconic folding bikes Marina Bay during this period. 1960s D Course A Esplanade The design of today’s HortPark Gillman O R folding bikes takes 1970s Barracks N D O A CONNAUGHT ALEXANDRA S Singapore BAY EAST DRIVE R O a leaf from the R DRIVE ROAD E Mount Flyer D A

N T BAYFRONT BRIDGE BAYFRONT Raleigh Twenty. E Faber L

H E Marina

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Park

Park R Reservoir Labrador Park E

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O MRT station L Marina WEST COAS Bay Sands T P AR PORT ROAD Keppel KW AY Gardens Club HarbourFront CENTRAL BOULEVARD Marina Briton Andrew Ritchie (right) began MRT station by the Barrage production of the rst Brompton Labrador Bay Nature Reserve BAYFRONT AVENUE MARINA folding bike in 1981. folding Prive SHEARES AVENUE 1980s bikes hit the market in 1984 VivoCity GARDENS DRIVE while was DURATION: 1-1½ hours DURATION: 1-1½ hours founded in 1987. Kick off at Labrador Park MRT station and cycle A short route that offers scenic views of Singapore’s through art galleries in Gillman Barracks. Then cityscape as well as iconic buildings such as the climb uphill along Canterbury Road near HortPark and the and enjoy a panoramic view of Park. Esplanade. Those keen on longer rides can Finish the trail with sights from Labrador Nature continue cycling to . Reserve and Marina at Keppel Bay. Source: WWW.BIKEFOLDED.COM STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS