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Mini Velo: Soma Fabrication Came Out With One!
Yes, THAT mini velo! The rigid, non-folder, small wheel bike. Built of double butted Tange cro-mo steel, available in three sizes: 48, 53 and 55 cm.
Light and quick. $1200 street price. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hTyj3OL-9C...e_minivelo.jpg On the road: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hTyj3OL-9C...tical_blog.jpg Yup, its here now! :) |
I am in the market for a cro-mo steel minivelo for about 2 years. This one is pricey for the componentry though. Wish they were selling the frame only.
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yeah, Japan is ahead of the game. I wish I had access to a Masi frame:
http://image.blog.livedoor.jp/bicicl...9/694e26ac.JPG |
this shop ships http://en.item.rakuten.com/hideas/10000138/
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Nah, no good experiences with that kind of service. I am not in a hurry to get a new bike though. I will wait for someone in the Military or Federal L.E.O. to go to Japan and bring me one.
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FWIW, the Masi Name was sold off long ago.. Now it's just Paint.
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Bikes Direct is coming out with a Mini Velo. There is a thread where some of the bikes have already been purchased pre production.
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Windsor Shetland is name I found for one that is sold in the states.
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Originally Posted by Dynocoaster
(Post 12321099)
Bikes Direct is coming out with a Mini Velo. There is a thread where some of the bikes have already been purchased pre production.
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The Soma Mini Velo is available for purchase from their website.
The Bikes Direct mini velos to come out in May should be cheaper. So the good news is one no longer needs to import one from Japan to own a mini velo! |
This site http://minivelo.wordpress.com/author/minivelo/ mentions a couple of place in New York that have had Mini Velos.
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Originally Posted by NormanF
(Post 12316985)
Yes, THAT mini velo! The rigid, non-folder, small wheel bike. Built of double butted Tange cro-mo steel, available in three sizes: 48, 53 and 55 cm.
Light and quick. $1200 street price. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hTyj3OL-9C...e_minivelo.jpg On the road: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hTyj3OL-9C...tical_blog.jpg Yup, its here now! :) See that stuff on the riders back ? In the end thats why my dahon hammerhead had to go, no racks or ways to fit them....... minivelo makers please note: we still need racks. thank you . |
In jakarta, indonesia, the bianchi minivelo was just heavily discounted.
From 1000 dollars to 500 dollars.. Cheap huh? |
I do think mini-velos can be useful for dense urban environments, so hopefully this will take off.
Aesthetically I don't find it that pleasing, unfortunately. It might look a little neater if the top tube sloped towards the front (like the old-school TT bikes), although I have no idea how well that would work from a functional perspective. Or at least a few different paint options in the near future. |
I agree (with your first statement). I live in what must be one of the densest, most bike-unfriendly cities on the planet: Bangkok. I chose a mini velo because of its maneuverability (to dart between cars, motorcycles, vendors, people, dogs, drainage grates, etc.), its small wheels (accelerate very quickly), and size (easier to store or get onto Skytrain) with more simplicity and the ability to use standard parts than most folders (yes, I have them too). The streets are terrible here, and fat tires are a must if you value your life at all; so I am going to convert my 451's to 406's and use Big Apples.
As for forward-sloping top tubes - they really should be rear-sloping to give more clearance (important for climbing onto curbs when there is no room to hop them), to give more height at the head tube, and to create a stiffer frame (the front triangle on many mini velos is not really a triangle). I know many think this isn't as pretty, but I'll go with function first. |
Originally Posted by Bacciagalupe
(Post 12354306)
Aesthetically I don't find it that pleasing, unfortunately. It might look a little neater if the top tube sloped towards the front (like the old-school TT bikes), although I have no idea how well that would work from a functional perspective. Or at least a few different paint options in the near future.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/...8a388feae4.jpg With all the minivelos from big brand manufacturers, mine feel less special... |
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