Folding Bikes - Not a folder, but interesting new small wheeled design...

Just saw this and thought I would post it...

http://www.nhfoley.com/Etta/

Neat crank forward design with integrated storage.

Oooooh, shiny...

looks like you're seated way up high...with a longgggg handle post. but very interesting..

Looks weird but I bet its comfortable to ride. The built in storage is very cool

I like the storage too, the crank forward feature and flat food technology that goes with it. But it does look weird and kind of awkward to pedal. Hmmmm. I wonder how long it is? Most of these crank-forward bikes are pretty long in length.

They do seem to be going out of their way to make it feel vaguely like a car (headlights, seat & an open trunk). I wonder how much it is?

Looks very phallic if you asks me, almost as if you want to impress the female riders...

It looks like you would get some major heel strike with how close the crank is to the front wheel. In fact it almost looks like if you do a sharp right turn the tire would actually hit crank.

Fascinating design. I like the seating position, integrated storage, and lighting. I wonder how heavy it is. Also, it looks quite long. I wonder if it's practical to store in a city apartment or if it would require locking on the street at all times.

Interesting design exercise, I would be interested to see what the size range is along with some geometry numbers. I don't have problem with included lighting, personally I think it should be the law. I am not a huge fan of integrated lights unless they use an off the shelf part that is going to be around for a few years.

Aaron :)

Mmmm... No thanks.

Besides, how do you do it if you have to brake? I want to see a video.

Do you have to jump from that upright position?

I mean that the feet seem to be quite far away from the floor.

I wish the inventor all the best, but I'm pessimistic. Giant had a design with a seating position like that but more conventional looking, the Revive, but they have discontinued it.

Looks very phallic if you asks me, almost as if you want to impress the female riders...

Oh puhleezeee!!! I doubt if women want to go running around in a penis looking contraption. That thing behind her seat looks yucky and the seat looks like a mini tractor seat. Can't be that comfortable pressing on your lower back like that.



Mmmm... No thanks.

Besides, how do you do it if you have to brake? I want to see a video.

Do you have to jump from that upright position?

I mean that the feet seem to be quite far away from the floor.

In a crank forward design your feel supposedly are able to touch the ground when you stop so you don't have to get off the bike. However, she does seem to be pretty high on her seat. One leg seems pretty extended too. Doesn't look very comfortably really.

SunnyFlorida,

That was exactly the point I was trying to make in a tongue in cheek way. It was not meant to offend anyone.

It looks like a spin on the Giant Revive, which is NOT a folder but a 20" wheel crank forward.

The same telescoping quick release handlebar and quick release seat are also found on the Revive. Its one size fits all. Just set up the seat and handlebar for the height of a given rider and one is set! Its quite simple.

A crank forward takes getting used to but its quite fast over level terrain due to the different set of muscles you're using to propel the bike forward. Riding it is pure fun!

Its really cool. It is the Revive carried forward, with a more usable cargo space in the rear. What the young lady is doing is cool. I like my Revive!

http://www.nhfoley.com/images/Riding.jpg

I like it a lot - has a lot of interesting ideas; It's sort of the spiritual successor to the utility of the F frame moulton.
LOL at the whole-foods bag; they clearly know their upwardly mobile liberal hipster-ish market!

It is completely ugly, very silly, and has the aesthetics of an explosion in a plumbing factory. :twitchy:

But, someone will buy it. Ignore me: I've said the same thing about the Brompton.

"Car-like riding position is efficient and familiar."

Wow, 125 years of bicycle design is wrong, and the correct answer was right there in how we sit in cars all along!



Save us from graduate design students.

tcs

It's sort of the spiritual successor to the utility of the F frame moulton.

Alas, that Dr. Moulton should live so long to hear comments like that.

tcs

Okay, I'll pile on as well....

Distinct similarities to the Burrows 8 Freight, no?http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wS5lMHRLf7g/SkIWybo2SgI/AAAAAAAAAik/FVtkquck51c/s400/8freight.jpg

I like the integrated storage, but it's small and very limited in shape; how would you carry, say, a pizza?

While I understand that the front wheel is small in order to avoid interference with the pedals, it's a poor choice. Such a small front wheel will have a significant adverse effect the bicycle's handling. And why a larger rear wheel? I can't think of any advantage to that.

Car-like riding position is familiar, yes. Efficient, no.

Looks like an IXI on steroids.

FWIW, I had a Revive for a while. On level surfaces I adored it. Up hills it was impossible. I think this bike looks very interesting.

And I detest it when people who have never ridden anything like it are immediately negative - you're just like those people who have never ridden a folder who say how awful folders must be.

There's hub gear on the rear wheel and only 1 brake lever on the handlebars.

There's hub gear on the rear wheel and only 1 brake lever on the handlebars.

Might have a coaster brake along with the hand brake, I have seen that one a couple of bikes recently.

Aaron :)

"Car-like riding position is efficient and familiar."

Wow, 125 years of bicycle design is wrong, and the correct answer was right there in how we sit in cars all along!


I'd just like to point out that the car-like riding position is a lot older than 125 years.
http://www.alfredtpalmer.com/XAm120%20wagon%20driver%201.jpg.renditions/XAm120%20wagon%20driver%201_medium.jpg

I'm dubious of the seat and leg extension on that bike