Alright so I'm going to bring a little history into the mix. Back in 2012 I wanted a lightweight folder. Something I could bring with me on the "L" train here in Chicago
because folders were the only bikes technically allowable past rush hour restrictions. I needed to get to my university and I could not bring forth a regular bike. So I researched a lot of bikes and folding bikes.
Eventually I decided on my Downtube Nova for it's lightweight and simplicity and price over everything else available at the time. I was a broke college student and did not have the funds to purchase my favorite bike. It was however light and passable. And no, I could not afford a Brompton!
But what I really wanted was this! A Tern Verge folding road bike.
This was basically the equivalent of a folding road bike of my dreams! And it cost upwards of $2000. Unfortunately I did not have this kind of money. I never did get one but I would've love to have riden this at top speed! My dream was to keep up with the spandex crowd with a folding bike which was seen as a strange inferior design. Folders have always been seen as less than but I see them as a great engineering marvel. This folder even had a two speed chain ring!
I wish I could still find this folding bike someday. It just has a very aggressive stance and a beautiful design. Oh yeah and did I mention these usually weighed around 20-30 lbs max.
Forget about a suspension fork or tail, no suspension seatpost, no electric motors or pedal assist controllers, no incorrect odometers or speedometers to unlock, no unnecessary drama. It was just you, the bike and the road.
I miss these old folding bike days but electric propulsion has really changed the landscape of bicycling as we know it.