THE TIDE IS HIGH – OR IS IT LOW?

High step-through or low step-through – which is better for a folding bike?

The bike frame has a supporting position. Depending on its shape, it not only determines the appearance of your bike, but also influences the area of ​​use and riding comfort. While the high entry, also called Hightide at COAST, is perceived as particularly sporty, a low entry - Lowtide at COAST - is considered particularly comfortable. But: What are the advantages and disadvantages of the individual variants? And which of them is better suited for the folding bike? Questions upon questions - which we want to address in the following article.

low entry vs. high entry

For a long time, the high-entry bike was considered a typical "men's model". A more demanding climb, the inclined riding position and the sleek design make COAST Hightide bikes look particularly sporty. But gender issues are a thing of the past these days, as more and more women are now choosing bikes with the sporty frame shape. The high-entry bike offers particularly high stability and torsional rigidity thanks to its additional center tube, and is therefore particularly suitable for heavy loads. It is therefore the main frame shape for mountain bikes. A low-entry bike, on the other hand, allows for easier and more comfortable entry thanks to its special frame shape - it has no center bar. The leg does not have to be raised as high when getting on as with the Hightide, making the climb more comfortable and the descent a little easier. The sitting position on the Lowtide is a little more upright than on the Hightide, which relieves the strain on the back, neck and wrists.

Which entry point for the folding bike

In our experience, the frame shape plays a rather minor role in folding bikes. The reason: Since folding bikes are rather small with an average size of 20 inches, a high or low entry is not as important on folding models as it is on conventional bikes. For this reason, both high and low entry ensure comfortable mounting. The frame shape also has no influence on the riding experience in terms of maneuverability.

coaster brake or freewheel

Generally speaking, most folding models with coaster brakes are equipped with a low step-through, while in contrast the bike types with freewheel have a high step-through.

Our conclusion

High step-through or low step-through? With folding bikes, it's more a question of looks than riding comfort. Due to the comparatively small size of folding bikes, the frame shape is not too important for riders and is therefore a question of personal taste.