TERN LINK A7

£475

The London company has become ubiquitous with the folding bike – especially in recent years – but its cheapest models come in at nearly double this price and you’ll have one gear instead of the seven available here. Brompton’s bikes also feature 16-inch wheels, which means the Tern, with its bigger wheels, does take a bit less getting used to. The riding experience on the Link A7 is very natural, and the 20-inch wheels and big tyres make for quite a floaty, comfortable trip. Used to the dimensions of a Brompton, the Tern at first felt bulky – and we had to ‘slam’ the stem to get a natural-feeling position on the bike – but in practice it sailed through all the same gaps in traffic. While the Tern is an excellent bike once unfolded, it’s not quite as portable as some other folders once you’ve packed it away. The 20-inch wheels that make for a nice ride also make for a slightly unwieldy package. For anyone looking to save money on bus or tube fares who lives an impractical distance from work to ride all the way, a folding bike truly is the answer, and this is a good one.