Bikes - Folding

The Tern Verge X30h is a small-wheeled folding bike, but it displays none of the utilitarian features usually associated with this genre. Instead, it's a sporty little number, with slick tyres, aero-wheels, some nice kit and a fancy paint job. Without doubt, it looks fast. And, as folding bikes go, it rides pretty fast as well. But when it comes to the actual folding, some features leave a lot to be desired.

Folding bikes are always a compromise between the folded package and the ride characteristics. It's not a straight line correlation but the basic rule is that the bigger-wheeled bikes are easier to get on with on the road, but not as easy to hoik onto a train. They don't get bigger wheeled than the Montague: this is a full sized 700c bike, so don't expect it to fit in your glove box.

Designed to be the 'ultimate urban bicycle', the Dahon IOS XL is an interesting addition to the ever growing folding bike sector. Made by folder specialists Dahon, the IOS XL immediately makes its presence felt, with its price, its weight, and the sheer number of bells and whistles that come as standard for that not insignificant price.

The Kansi 3twenty is the mid-range machine in a new family of UK-designed folding bikes. As well as this 3-speed, there's a singlespeed with a coaster brake, the 1twenty, and 9-speed derailleur version, the 9twenty. They share the same frame.

There are three types of folding bikes. On one end of the scale, there is the folding bike that concentrates completely on the fold and ride quality is therefore a secondary consideration. At the other end of the scale is the bike that is designed for riding but that you can also fold if you have enough time and the right tools to hand, in other words a bike that you wouldn’t want to fold multiple times per day.

You can get a lot of bike for £300 these days – a fully-featured road iron or a very decent flat-barred hybrid. And if you want a folding bike? Well, cheap folders have always been part of the market but the Compact from Revolution is something a little bit different: a fully featured, fully kitted out, all Aluminium folder for just £279. It's a folder with a bit of class, too, built by fold-meisters Dahon and featuring locking main and stem hinges.