Review of foldie - Hoptown 1

Review of foldie - Hoptown 1

Review of a gearless folding bicycle Hoptown 1. They are the perfect bike for commuters. Compact, foldable and transportable.

Wanted to present myself something for having successfully done the bicycle trip at Ladakh just 2 months back. What better place than Decathlon and so went over to the store in the weekend on Sunday, 10 August 2014. Happened to come across a folding bicycle. It had a few scratches on it. Got a good deal on it. Enter stage left - The Hoptown 1.

Btwin Hoptown 1

The Hoptown 1 bicycle is from the brand Btwin at Decathlon. The easy lateral-fold system means the bike takes up little space at home, at the office, in the boot of a car. Their functionality makes them easy to transport on public transportation systems. Even better is that it's a unisex variant and meant for all ages - from a high school going teenager to an elderly person.


Specifications

The Hoptown 1 is built with rigid steel frame designed for easy folding and carrying. The transmission is quantum strains drum roll single-speed flywheel with gear ratio of 50 X 16, ideal for smooth riding on urban conditions. The wheels are 20-inch single-wall rims and comes with a pair of 20" x 1.75" gumwall city tires ideal for city commute. Stopping is done by V-brakes for both the front and real wheels. The bicycle weighs 14.3 kgs and is priced at Rs.12,999/-. Lifetime warranty on the frame, stem (excl. hinge), rigid fork and handlebar.

This bicycle comes stock with a front reflector on the steel handlebar and a rear reflector on the seat tube that holds a sponge saddle. A side kick stand and a small flick bell comes stock on the bike. Fenders and rear load carriage rack can be installed but they would have to be purchased separately.


Folding bikes are expensive as they are bit complicated, both to design and to make. They are however ideal for short and long rides. Long rides are all about endurance and the ability of the bike. Folding bikes can perform just as well as any other bike when it comes to long distance rides. This is an urban commuter at best and so it's not to be used or treated like an MTB or a BMX.

The bicycle is sturdy and fine but be aware that the frame could crack or break apart just as in any bike, no matter what style it is. It will also depend on how well it is maintained and ridden. Folding bikes can definitely ride uphill but when it comes to steeper hills or mountains, it will need to have low gears, which means folding bike models with gears to take on the task.

The downside to folding bicycles is the weight. It's heavy as it's built with steel and lateral-fold system present at the centre of the frame, makes the bicycle bit tedious to lift when needed. A little bit of practice handling this bicycle will make this the least to worry about. All in all, a good purchase.

Alternatively, there are other folding bicycles definitely worth considering, such as Dahon, Brompton, Bike Friday, Tern, Montague, etc. They are better in build and quality, equipped with smooth refined gears and faster folding mechanisms. It comes at a higher price, but naturally!

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