Bicycles with tire sizes of 20 inches or less are called "mini velo." Since their tires are small, their overall length is also short, allowing them to be carried in a car without being folded.

So, I’d like to seriously consider whether a folding function is necessary for a mini velo.

Do you fold your mini velo daily?

I bought a folding mini velo and tried using it to see if I would fold it daily, but I hardly ever folded it.

I park my bicycle in the apartment's bike parking area and lock it. There have been instances of tampering, but it has never been stolen.

When parking it in the bike lot, there's no need to fold it; in fact, it's more convenient not to. What if I were to bring it into my room?

Since it's a mini velo, I can take it through the entrance and into the elevator without folding it. I could leave it at the entrance, but that would obstruct my family, so I'd need to take it further into the room.

I'd probably feel reluctant to bring it inside with the tires still dirty from outside, so I'd lay down a sheet or cardboard in the room and fold the mini velo to place it there.

However, I actually tried it, and it was quite in the way. It might be fine for someone living alone, but since I live with my family, having a bicycle in the room causes various inconveniences.

Sand accumulates on the sheet and cardboard, making it difficult to clean the room. Honestly, I feel that even a mini velo should probably only be brought as far as the entrance.

Of course, if I had a private garage or similar, I could bring it in without worrying, but I don't have such an environment.

Related Article: Highly Recommended Mini Velos

Folding function comes in handy in unexpected situations

Although the folding function wasn't useful daily, it proved helpful in an unexpected situation: a flat tire.

A mini velo is perfectly suitable for commuting, as long as it's not a long distance like 10-20km.

However, "malfunctions," which are the fate of bicycles, cannot be avoided. They can be largely prevented with proper maintenance, but I neglected that.

I happened to find a bike parking lot, so I pushed it there and parked it, but I couldn't ride the bike with a flat tire. Since it's a mini velo, I could carry it, but my mini velo is an e-bike, weighing about 20kg. While lifting it is fine, carrying it for several kilometers to a bike shop would be too heavy.

If I could just get home, I could fix the flat myself. I have the tools and materials, so it's just a matter of time and effort.

So, I went home and then drove to pick up the mini velo. At that time, I knew it would easily fit in the car, but the car's width wasn't enough to accommodate the full length of the bicycle.

By the way, my car is a Suzuki Solio Bandit. It's like the regular car version of a WagonR, I suppose. It can carry a lot of luggage, but I need to fold down the seats.

It would fit if I folded down the rear seats, but that's a bit of a hassle. So, I folded the bicycle instead.

The folded mini velo fit into the small space that would usually only hold a shopping bag, and I was able to bring it home safely.

If it were a child's bicycle, the child might also be in the car. Even with a mini velo, being able to fold it allows for loading into a small space without having to fold down seats.

The folding type is definitely recommended for travel

For car trips, as mentioned above, if you fold it and put it in the car, even a small trunk space can accommodate a mini velo.

Also, for trains or airplanes, you can bring it as luggage using a bike bag (please check the size regulations in advance).

When traveling, you don't have transportation at your destination. Taxis don't quite feel like a vacation, and walking limits your travel distance.

Having a bicycle at your travel destination suddenly expands your world. You can stop whenever you like and enjoy small discoveries, and you can easily ride through narrow streets.

Even in hot spring towns, castle towns, or old downtown areas, having a bicycle allows for easy riding. Even for a mini velo, it needs to be foldable in such cases.

Depending on the bicycle, few companies will accept its unfolded full length as luggage. Although the volume doesn't change, folding it reduces its length in the long direction. In the case of mini velos, they become a size that can be carried as luggage on most public transportation.

A bike travel bag is essential. Even if it becomes very compact, many transportation companies seem to require it to be in a travel bag.

Summary

After seriously considering whether a mini velo needs a folding function, I concluded that having one is more convenient.

However, it seems that I hardly ever fold it in daily use. In practice, I only folded it a few times a year. Nevertheless, the folding function is a desirable feature.

 Related Article: What Exactly is a Mini Velo, Highly Popular Among Bicycle Enthusiasts?