Folding, Electric, both or neither?

[Puffafish]

Greetings all,

I have been considering getting a bike for a 10 mile each way commute.

As there are some hills on the way and I'm a casual cyclist, I was thinking of getting an electric one to help. At the same time, I was thinking about getting a folding option; both to take it into the office and hide under my desk to keep it safe, and so I can take it on holiday easily.

Then there comes the budget, again as I'm casual, I was hoping to spend no more than £700, hopefully closer to £600.

While I have these requests, I was talking to a friend who's an avid mountain biker. His advice was: set a budget, spend it all on the bike with the fewest features in order to get the best quality.

To give some idea, I was looking at:
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/electric-bikes/coyote-connect-folding-electric-bike as a folding electric
or
http://www.e-bikesdirect.co.uk/Item...icity_Revolver_Hybrid_2016_Electric_Bike.aspx
as a standard electric.
Other bikes are available, they were just my first thoughts

So, my question is: is it worth spending £600 on an electric-folding bike, or should I spend £600 on a standard road bike?

 

[welsh dragon]

Have a look at the pedelecs forum. Loads of advice there. For that budget, a whoosh bike could fit the bill for you, and they do folders as well.

 

[ChrisV]

10 miles isn't a long commute, once you'd been doing it a few weeks you'd be absolutely fine.

If there's no storage at work and you go on holiday a lot, then you need a folder I suppose.

But if 90% of your use of it will be to and from work and you can lock it up there then I'd be inclined to invest it in a road bike or fast hybrid.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

http://www.asbikes.co.uk/

Slightly more expensive new and from experience quite a chunky fold, you'll need a big desk

As above, don't necessarily count out self-propelled bikes at this stage, you know your fitness and likely enthusiasm. But whatever you pick good on you & enjoy.

10 miles is do'able in a reasonable time with a bit of practice and on a folding bike too if storage at work is a bother. Have a look at the folding forum on here too for the overwhelming (largely valid) love for Bromptons and alternative options - Dahon, Tern & other foldy bikes that hit your preferred price point more readily.

I'd also suggest considering a road bike either with dropped or flat bars or a cyclo cross depending on storage & options for comfort, less on road routes etc