Schwinn Hinge 20" Compact Folding Bike | S2278A

It's a great concept that I am very familkiar with. Would like to have a sturdier one able to carry a man weighing >220 lb...

Were I 40 years younger and 50 pounds lighter, I would be able to post an unconditionally positive review of this bike. As it is, I can recommend it only with some very important qualifications. The first one is weight. It warns in the owner's manual -- but not in the promotional material -- that the total load on the bike (your weight plus that of any luggage) should not exceed 230 pounds. The reason for this is a matter of physics. In order to remain vertically stable, you must maintain an adequate forward momentum. The heavier the load, the faster you have to go in order to stay upright. Since the bike has only one gear, even the slightest upward gradient in the street requires an enormous effort in order to maintain the necessary speed. If you are over 200 lbs, you would have to be strong and in great shape to accomplish it. If, like me, you are over 200 lbs and not in great shape, this is not the bike for you.

A second matter is the seat. The bike's seat is considrably narrower than my own (and probably yours). It is horribly uncomfortable and definitely not recommended for anyone with prostate issues. Yet to replace it would no doubt compromise its compactness for storage.

A third matter is its overall weight. It weighs in at around 36 lbs. I am told that by bicycle standards, this is indeed light. But by my standards, it is still pretty heavy. Think two 20 lb bags of potatoes, or a bag of water softener salt. A bit much for an old man like me.

I purcased this bike in order to get around my suburban neaigborhood more easily. But because of the above matters, I was unable to use it. But if you are in your twenties or thirties, are 175 lbs or less, and are reasonably athletic, then you might find this a good deal. Its greatest virtue is that it folds down to an easily stored size and is relatively easy set up again. Perfect for those short on storage and reluctant to use a bicycle as a livingroom conversation peice.