Utility Cycling - Small Whelled utility bike.

This was posted up in the folding section and I thought it would be of interest to the utility folk.

http://bicycledesign.net/2011/03/cinco-by-ortre-a-bike-for-everyday-cycling/

I live in a small apartment with a narrow stairwell and last year bought a 20inch wheeled KHS Westwood (no longer in production, was NOS). Came with decent rear rack and it is my summer bike. Much like this design it is much easier to haul up and down stairs than a full sized bike and despite the size I have no trouble hauling a full load of groceries with it.

http://www.khsbicycles.com/09_KF20_07.htm

Mine is currently getting a drive train upgrade and drop bars with barend shifters. I should have it done in a week or so and will post pics with it loaded with a week of groceries if anyone cares to see it.

It's basically a mini-velo with an integrated rack... very sensible.

Makes perfect sense and would be great for day to day stuff.

http://decide2ride.com/product_info.php?products_id=547&osCsid=4p19943msag7eaikp950uuf292

Review of this bike........
http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2010/12/decide-2-ride-boogie-small-wheeled-non.html

Talking about 20 inch wheels should make for interesting debate here in the utility section.:)

I have recently decided to base all of my Cargo Cycle products (with the exception of the fixed gear bikes I am building) on 20 inch diameter wheels: but I have chosen to use motorcycle rims.

The reason I have decided to blaze this trail is that all of the Husky dog racing rigs, pony carts, quads, trikes, (and conversions), and trailers that I have built over the last 18 months have all required 20 inch wheels.

I have in the protoype stages a front loading (bakfiets, cetma, etc. style) and a rear loading platform (8Frieght, etc) in the "tacking the frames up" welding stage; both on 20 inch wheels front and back.

The 20 inch wheels have many advantages for me and for my customers: Single size wheel front and back, a better utilisation of the frame within the overall wheel base; even a shorter wheel base for a given cargo load area, reduced and optimised parts inventory for me; rims, tyres, spokes, IGH etc.

I'm with Gareth. In addition, no other wheel will beat a 48-spoke 20" BMX wheel for sheer strength. Slick tire choices are even better than 26" MTB wheels. For an example of a current production model, you only have to look at the Freight Eight by Mike Burrows.

:)ensen

plus the smaller the tire the more torque there is which makes it easier to pedal when hauling a heavy load. i use to run a 20" tire on the back of whatever bike i used to haul my trailer to make it easier.