Dahon Vitesse P18 Folding bike with 18 gears RRP £733

The Dahon Vitesse P18 is a folding bike designed for riders who want genuine gearing range without carrying around a full-sized frame. With 18 gears and 20-inch wheels, it sits in the middle ground between ultralight portability and everyday practicality. The aluminium frame keeps weight down, and Dahon's patented folding system means you can collapse it to a manageable size for trains, buses, or storage without needing tools or much fiddling.

The 18-speed setup uses a triple chainring and 6-speed cassette, giving you plenty of options across flat terrain and moderate hills. V-brakes handle stopping duties reliably; they're direct-pull linear brakes, which means good modulation and easy maintenance with parts you'll find at any bike shop. The 20-inch wheels strike a practical balance—they're small enough to keep the folded package compact and the bike relatively light, but large enough that you're not constantly pedalling to maintain momentum on longer stretches.

Day to day, the Vitesse P18 works well for commuters who combine cycling with public transport, or anyone living in a flat with limited storage space. The gearing means you won't be straining on hills, and the folding frame means you can take it with you without relying on bike parking or racks. It's suited to mixed urban riding where you might cover 5 to 15 kilometres per journey, and it folds down enough to tuck into a cupboard or carry onto a train without looking comically oversized.