BH Ibiza BP70

It’s becoming increasingly common to see people taking advantage of bicycles to travel around our towns. In recent years, many of these ‘city cyclists’ have opted for folding bikes as their means of transport, enjoying the benefits of comfortable bikes that are easy to transport as well as simple to store because they hardly take up any space at all.

Surprising though it may seem, folding bikes actually originated in the seafaring sector: “They were first used on ships and oil tankers so that sailors could move about on them. They were later used on pleasure boats. These bicycles were appealing because they took up very little space and they could also be used to travel around the local area wherever the ship docked.  They were also used by people who had mobile homes. Nowadays, as houses and garages offer less and less space, these bikes are having a global impact”, said Roberto López, BH’s product manager. The first folding bikes date back to the 70s.

As we have already pointed out, the BH bikes’ great portability and space-saving attributes mean that they are a dream come true for many people, and they are also easy to ride. “The use of bikes in cities is constantly increasing, and these models mean that it’s easy to get around and to transport bikes. They also have small wheels which makes journeys in cities easy and comfortable as this helps when turning and steering”, stated Roberto.

BH Ibiza: a tourist in your own city

BH has been marketing this kind of bike for five years with its Ibiza range, which received its name due to the bikes’ touristic appearance. Initially there was only one model of folding bike that was made from steel components. This model’s widespread acceptance encouraged the Basque company to release four models in total, with the 70 being the highest spec model to date. This bike uses aluminium in the frame and the other components, as well as a six-speed Shimano, which makes it lighter in terms of handling as it barely weighs 12 kilograms. To top it all off, each of these ergonomic bikes comes with a carrying case – like a sports bag that can be carried on your shoulder – as well as a carrying rack, battery-operated rear light and aluminium mudguards.

It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes a few words alone can be very powerful. We’ll use the BP70 again as an example, to give you an idea of the tiny amount of space these bikes take up: when folded this bike is only 78cm high, 66cms long and 32cms wide – it’s so small it’s almost the same size as a side table.

The volume of sales for folding bikes is steadily growing each year, particularly in Mediterranean countries (Spain and France). Thus these bikes aren’t just a dream but have become a reality in terms of transport for thousands of people around the world. This reality is growing each day, like the prospects for BH’s folding bikes: this is a different, more practical and easier way of getting around town. They may be small but they offer many benefits and have a great deal of potential.