Folding bicycles travel well

Once the quirky love object of obsessed cyclists who couldn't travel anywhere without getting their ride in, the funky-looking folding bike has morphed into an everyman's transportation solution -- a fast, easy way to get to work and around town. These bikes don't just help you skirt painful airline bike-luggage fees; they collapse in seconds to carry-on size after you've pedaled to the subway, bus or carpool van. And when you get where you have to go, forget about locking the bike to a tree or a railing; just fold it, head up the elevator or stairs and set it quietly in the closet. It's as utilitarian as a jacket or an umbrella -- that you use for a 20-mile workout during the weekend.

March 9, 2009