Geared Folding Bikes vs Fixed Gear – The Differences

Introduction to folding bikes

A folding bike is designed to fold into a compact form, to allow better transport and storage. It is more easily carried into buildings and houses and fits better on public transportation. Having a portable bike makes a commute easier when you get to your destination: it just folds up and you can carry it! Folding bikes are perfect for someone in a compact living environment, such as a tiny house, houseboat, or small apartment. With the advancement of bike technology, you can expect that a folding bike virtually has the same performance characteristics as a full conventional bike. There are also different types of folding bikes to meet your distinct need: mountain bikes, super-compact bikes, and others.

There are more than 150 different kinds of folding bikes on the market today and they offer lots of advantages to bulkier bikes.

Gears on a folding bike

Gears are a vital part of riding a bicycle, right? While they are essential on longer rides, but are not always used if you just want to ride around the city! Any normal commuter really only needs three speeds on their folding bike. The gears then are well spaced to accommodate for hills, flat patches or roads, and descending down an incline. With a three geared bike, there is a gear for gentle hills and slower rides, one for starting up and going up larger hills, and another for cruising around and going downhill. These gears usually cover the ranges of topography encountered by the average commuter.

Gears are, at times, unnecessary added weight. Is the weight of your folding bike important to you? Opt for a single speed or fixed gear folding bike. Do you really need 24 gears on your folding bike? It really depends upon what you’ll be using it for and where you’ll be riding. Do you traverse up lots of hills on your commute? Try a geared folding bike! Will you be mostly riding on city streets? Maybe a single speed is more for you! A good comparison between fixed gear and geared folding bikes is that of a manual and automatic car.

Fixed Gear/Single Speed Folding Bikes

The fixed gear or single speed folding bike is simple and effective. Having a fixed gear allows the bike to be more lightweight than its geared companions. Fixed gear folding bikes are also usually less expensive and are easier to maintain because of their fewer parts. Some fixed gear folding bikes also have a coaster brake, which allows the rider to stop by pedaling backwards.  Because of their fixed geared nature, these folding bikes are also easier and faster to fold. Single speed bikes also so not have any derailleurs, so they don’t get in the way of your riding and the bikes folding up when not in use! While riding a fixed gear bike may be more difficult, it often provides a better workout! You may also have to pedal twice as much to achieve the same speed that a geared folding bike achieves, making you more tired faster. If you’re up for a challenge, try it!

Geared Folding Bikes

Geared folding bikes allow you to coast and give your legs a rest. A geared folding bike also allows easier riding up hills and steep slopes. Riding a single speed folding bike up a hill may require you to get off and walk up the hill. Geared folding bikes may also feature an internal gear hub, which helps you shift gears without pedaling. What’s the big deal with pedaling while shifting? You have to pedal anyway, right? Being able to shift while not pedaling makes a world of difference in two scenarios:

1. Getting started on your ride. You get to a red light you weren’t anticipating. With a single speed folding bike, you have to anticipate the light changes and shift down while pedaling beforehand. With a fixed gear folding with internal gear hub, you can shift right down with no problem!

2. Riding up steeper hills. Maybe the hill has a few inclines and you would normally shift to your lowest gear to get ready for the incline, worrying about stalling out as you shift lower. If your folding bike has an internal gear hub, you won’t have to jam the pedals and shift down. Just stop pedaling for a second and shift quickly into a lower gear. Easy!

An internal gear hub keeps all of the gears confined and sealed away from water, dirt, and dust. Having the gears tucked away also means you can be a little rougher on your ride without worrying about causing damage to the gears! On a normal or fixed gear folding bike, you would have to pay special attention to the gears when laying it down or doing any off-road cycling. Cleaning the gears would also be a pain! With an internal gear hub, everything internally is kept clean and is contained, which makes it very low maintenance! Most internal gear hubs have only one sprocket outside of the hub and the chain is always in the correct alignment. This lessens the wear on the sprocket and chain significantly, resulting in replacing your chains less often and less upkeep! Internal gear hubs are also easier to use. They eliminate the possibility of having your chains bind together when you shift gears by allowing you to shift without pedaling.

Which one is better?

Folding bikes are suitable for each and every lifestyle, from a world traveler to a daily commuter who travels by train and bike to work. Single speed or fixed gear folding bikes have their places in the world, just like geared folding bikes do. They serve different purposes and are intended for different riding styles. For casual cruising around town or to work, a single speed will most likely get you where you need to go, without costly maintenance. For a more adventurous rider who anticipates more hills and off-road terrains, a geared folding bike is for you. Either way, you can’t go wrong!