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| What is it? The best way to characterize it is that it is like a cross between a Bike Friday and a Brompton. Instead of just folding, it also disassembles and clamps together quickly to achieve the smallest size possible. This is as close as it gets to a bike that quick-folds really small, and has good frame design with normal componentry. There is nothing you can buy out there like this right now, and there probably never will be. When "folded" (or broken down) it is a solid unit that holds together and stands up on it's own. You can grab it anywhere to carry it. |
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| How small does it get? 27" high, 12" deep 19" wide. In the folding bike world, size is everything. I worked hard for every inch I was able to take away from it's final size, while trying to maintain a reasonable breakdown time. It's well within airline regulations for checked luggage (62" maximum of length, width, and height added together, before being charged as oversize). With fenders and rack are attached, it's one inch wider (20"). The left pedal sticks out 4" if it's not removed. Because it is narrower than the Brompton, it is easier to put in my lap on a bus seat. |
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| How long does it take to break down (or put together)? It takes one minute and 15 seconds. I can do it in a minute if I hurry. There is no difference in break down time if the rear rack, or fenders are in place. No wheels are removed, and the cables are left as is. |
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| How much does it weigh? With my Brooks steel rail saddle it weighs 27 lbs. With fenders, lights, fatter tires,etc the weight goes up. |
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| Do you have to pedal faster? This must be the commonest question I get about this bike, because of the small wheel size. The answer is no, unless you are trying to pedal down a hill at speed.. With the 20x1.35 tire (19" diameter, 406 wheel), the top gear is 96". This is a bit lower that I would like, and some fast downhills I have to coast. The low gear is about 18" - nice for long steep hills. The gearing is different, with larger chainrings and a very small freewheel cog, to help the gears feel normal. Chainrings are 56, 42, 30; freewheel is 32 - 11. |
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| Can I buy one? No, this is an experimental bike and I made it just for fun. There is a lot of labor involved in making any bike frame, and this one has plenty of details that would make the cost simply prohibitive. Compared to a standard bike frame, this one has over double the number of brazed joints, and multiple small brazed hardware pieces. |
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| How does it ride? Practically pedals itself. With light tires, it's nice for longer road rides. Wider tires make it suitable for dirt roads and trails. It's heavier weight (compared to, say, a 20lb road bike) makes it slower up hills. An hour of climbing on a mountain road will take me maybe 5 extra minutes compared to my road bike. Descents are about the same, or faster if the road is a rough one. Maybe it's the fatter tires and powerful V brakes that give me the courage to go faster. |
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| Is a folding bike worth it? What advantages are there? This is an important question. Many people simply don't need one. If you travel a lot, however, a good folder like a Bike Friday can make traveling with a bike so much simpler. Many people with folders hardly ever actually fold them. Commuters that may fold the bike twice a day or more, and are riding shorter distances around town, could be happy on a Brompton. It's nice to be able to fold the bike up and hide it in the trunk of the car. |
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| Don't small wheels give a harsher ride compared to full size wheels? I don't notice much difference. A smaller wheel will fall deeper into the pothole or irregularity than a larger one. If you ride directly on a rumble strip, a smaller wheel bike will be noticeably slower, and your dental work is more likely to loosen, although we all avoid rumble strips though. Wider tires are generally used, with greater pneumatic effect. Also, one must take into account the longer stem and seatpost used, which can absorb extra shock. The level of comfort between my folder and road bike are the same to me. |
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| Why aren't small wheels used in the Tour de France? It would be illegal to do so; against the regulations. The Moulton however, with its 17" wheels, still holds a world speed record. |
| The reason you rarely see small wheels on an adult bike is because most bicycle manufacturers simply don't use them. It has nothing to do with whether they are appropriate or not. |
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| Aren't smaller wheels less efficient? Some bike "experts" will tell you small wheels are "less efficient", but whatever evidence that could be produced on this is myopic, and doesn't take all the variables in account. Propagation of this myth diminishes the choices of bicycle variety that we have today; thereby doing a disservice to the public at large. Tire quality is the most significant variable, and there is a better choice of tires today for small wheels than ever before. For a primer on small wheels, see this link. |
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| What advantages do smaller wheels have? They are much stronger, and very unlikely to bent or get twisted. They accelerate faster, and are more aerodynamic. Possibilities for carrying loads are greatly enhanced, which is important for touring. Loads can be carried lower, with greater stability. You don't need any lowrider racks. Toeclip/foot overlap is a nonissue. They make perfect sense for shorter riders. Forcing very short people to ride 700c or 26" wheel bikes is really unnecessary. And of course they are an advantage on a portable bicycle. |
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