Folding Bikes - A Swedish recumbent folder

You will find it hard to find a more minimalistic machine than this beauty!


Monty (http://www.liggcykel.se/montypage.html)

That's pretty cool!! But wouldn't some BRAKES be a good thing?? ...... maybe I'm missing something.

Rik

That's pretty cool!! But wouldn't some BRAKES be a good thing?? ...... maybe I'm missing something.

Rik
Yep! You are missing something, it has the typical European back pedal brake in the rear hub, even minimalistic machines have to stop sometime!!!! ;)

It is a 3 speed with a coaster brake and it is FWD.I hope he develops it further and puts it in production.I like it. :D

It is a 3 speed with a coaster brake and it is FWD.I hope he develops it further and puts it in production.I like it. :D

Duh! Well corrected! Heavy session on the old 'chainlube' last night! Even the LED Xmas lights that decorate my Long-John had run out of power by the time I got home :eek: :beer: :o

Hi Chop,

Cool Bike! :)
I would love to try one of these, but I hope I am better at riding one, unlike a Flevobike Trike I tried a few years ago. Even though it had three wheels I distinctly felt that it could still fall over very easily.

Still, I hope one day to either get one, or make one, and master it! Hopefully!? ;)

Andy.

Very unique indeed. I wonder how your're supposed to peddal and turn at the same time? That huge chainring tells me it's overgeared for any serious riding.

Still. Very good first attempt.

Very unique indeed. I wonder how your're supposed to peddal and turn at the same time? That huge chainring tells me it's overgeared for any serious riding.

Still. Very good first attempt.

I would imagine that you wouldn't need to turn very much to steer, as simply banking it would achieve more, and he does say that they did a 90km (55 mile) run.

That's an awesome machine. The only thing that would slow him down would be a sharp turn at slow speed; better wear gloves.

Riding no hands is a blast, and front pivot steers are nice - no need for a head set. But still, this design is better suited for a trike, especially at stop lights.

However, I think the tilting trike is still the best design, and Bram's is separable to boot:
fastfwd (http://www.fastfwd.nl/eng/fietsen.php)

(The page shows dead picture links, but if you press them, the pictures still load.)

The English and others have toured on three speeds .Heinz Stucke traveled the world on a 3 speed before he got his Bike friday. I think a 7 or 8 speed backpedal hub would be sufficient also he needs to add a way to carry luggage if he wants to tour with it.I think it could be a good city bike although it is very low and maybe a flag should be added or a flashing neon sign.Possibly a rack over the rear fender could allow luggage.

Man some real nice bikes here, i love the folding capability of some! As for touring with few gears, yes, many have proven it can be done and i like the idea and simplicity of it. But i think it is only feasible if you are a strong rider or are willing to

1. Have a rather high lowest gear (so your high gear can climb easily). Or
2. Walk up steep inclines.

One other thing which people have always had as an argument against touring on bents is that they are not as easy to climb with since you cannot stand up on the pedals. Anyone know if this is true or a fable?

One other thing which people have always had as an argument against touring on bents is that they are not as easy to climb with since you cannot stand up on the pedals. Anyone know if this is true or a fable?
V1nce, you live in the land of recumbents and you haven't tried yet??! ;) If you live anywhere near Amsterdam there's a really good shop there (http://www.ligfietswinkel.nl/indexEng.htm). Gerhard's a really nice bloke and I'm sure he'd be happy to sort you out with a test ride or rental. My wife and I rented recumbents there and cycled around Holland for 4 days in September :)

Anyways - I had a recumbent for 2 years (a Dutch Challenge Hurricane semi-lowracer) and can confirm that it's AWESOME for touring, commuting, well anything really. And yes, it does go up hills! But recumbents often weigh a little more - hence heavier up hill. And you can't stand up so you can't use different muscles to "rest", you have to sit and spin your way to the top. It's no problem, you get used to it pretty quick. Personally I found the speed and comfort of a recumbent were in a whole different league to upright bikes. I only sold it because it was too big and inconvenient for a small city apartment (hence I'm on the folding bikes forum!!)

Magnus

Cool,.. thanks for that info! I have heard great things about the hurricanes as well as certain trike models. The thing is there is such an overwhelming amount of models and types of bents that i just wouldn't know where to start. And the size and storage would be an issue for me too,.. but one day maybe! :)

The thing is there is such an overwhelming amount of models and types of bents that i just wouldn't know where to start.
LOL, I think most people feel that way! I started out by trying every model available at the 3 shops in/near London. Several times ;-) A good source of online info (though somewhat USA-biased) is www.bentrideronline.com

As to the storage issue - I hope more people can develop folding recumbents like this sweet Swedish one!

Magnus