Easy folder: the Crosshead bicycle

Once considered the preserve of eccentric enthusiasts, folding bikes have become hugely popular - even fashionable - in recent years.

And in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, as commuters switch in greater numbers to more socially distanced modes of travel than bus and tube, it’s probably safe to assume that this form of transport will only become more popular. Indeed, market researcher Grand View Research predicts that the global market for folding bikes will grow by 9 percent in the next five years

The current market is dominated by UK firm Brompton, which sold almost 50,000 bikes in the year to March 2019 and has held on to its share in the face of numerous competitive efforts to develop a lower-cost alternative.

But in a growing market, there’s always room for fresh innovation, and Kent-based product designer Stuart Lambert - a self-confessed admirer of Brompton’s iconic folder - believes he might just have identified a gap in the market.