DAHON HELIOS, $580 ūMaterial: 7005 aluminum / Rims: Alloy with stainless spokes / Weight: 23.5 lbs. / Gearing: 8-speed/grip shift

Not so long ago, if you wanted to bring a bike along cruising, you had to partially disassemble it to fit below, then try to reassemble the ball of rust when you were ready to use it again.

Fortunately, there have been some marked improvements in the bicycle industry in last decade, particularly in the niche market of foldable bicycles, once derided by purist as expensive, clumsy and soft on performance. Several manufacturers have been refining them for the last 20 years and now offer bikes constructed of more sea-friendly materials with folding systems that allow easier stowage, without affecting the frame’s rigidity too much. …