Folding Bikes - Progressive minivelo

Wanna turn some heads when you ride? 16 inch wheels, 66t ring.

http://route66.myweb.hinet.net/Product/products_brand/progressive/CX-160-8S.html

This was shown at the recent TW bike show.

JP home site

http://www.progressivebike.co.jp/

Daaa ... this goes to the right page

http://www.progressivebike.co.jp/sports/2007hp/cx201/cx1608s200.jpg

Unusual for sure and some very nice parts. i'd have a Brompton over this any day though!

and this links to the correct page

http://www.progressivebike.co.jp/sports/2007hp/cx201/cxindex.html

Whilst I think these non-folding small wheeled bikes are fun, and I'm interested, I'm not clear what the point is. Can anyone tell me? Don't get me wrong, I'm engaged in turning a Moulton Mini from the 60's into just such a tiny speed machine, but I'm doing it out of sheer bloody mindedness, to prove it can be done, and perhaps to embarrass some carbon fibre and lycra types. Is there a point, apart from that?

You love minis of any type don't you Sam?

Hope you don't also wear one when riding your Downtube in London! :P

Because they're inherantly lighter? Wheels have to weigh half that of a 700c wheelset so there's your savings right there. They have shorter wheelbase so nimbler in traffic plus the whole Moulton quick acceleration argument.

If one was being particularly bloody-minded one might say "Whilst all these big-wheeled road bikes are fun, I'm not clear what the point is. I can see how gearing them is easier but they weigh so much more and excellerate so much less impressively."

Lotus Seven or Bentley V8? I'm in the Lotus :)

I'd love to do some real-world testing on the acceleration thing. You'd have to make a 700c and a 16" bike with precisely the same riding position, bearings, rim and tyre width and overall weight to see if it's REALLY true.

Not at all simply placeth one ass on a Bromtpon and one on a hybrid 700cc and off you go! :D