The Joy of Folding Bikes | Hacker News

A Hacker News discussion highlighted folding bikes as a strong fit for commuters and travelers who need easy storage, train access, and car portability.

Commenters praised models like Brompton and Tern Eclipse P18 for transit-friendly convenience and lower bike-theft risk in cities like Boston.

The main tradeoffs were clear: slower speeds, weaker climbing on hills, and a rougher ride than full-size bikes, especially on rough roads.

Folding bikes were also seen as less practical for heavy cargo, long tours, and other use cases where larger bikes perform better.