Praxis

Want more suggestions? Consider a folding bike, if you don't think Dahon has a lock on your market segment(s).

Also, you ever see the Bike Friday Family Tandem Traveler? It's a folder, but the interesting thing is that it fits a stoker from 36" (with a stoker kit) to 6'2", and a captain from 4'10" to 6'5". It looks a lot like the mini-velo in that it has 20" wheels, so it keeps the overall length down to around 7 feet with both wheels still on.

Even if it didn't fold (which I suspect you're not interested in), this smaller size would be a lot easier to store and transport than a full tandem, and gets even easier with the front wheel removed. A lot of parents want to bike with their kids, and something like that is great fun. I imagine you can share some parts (longer seatpost, stem extension) with the mini-velos, and the BF tandem uses a triple crank so that a tandem-specific crank isn't needed ('cause I know you don't need to be dealing with hard to find parts). BF tends to use pretty standard parts.

You guys don't seem to be terribly engineering driven, preferring to just copy what's out there and mass produce inexpensive stuff. I don't like to take work away from Bike Friday, but I'm willing to consider that an inexpensive family tandem may increase the market for everyone (and more choice is better, no?). About the only engineering challenge I see is how to deal with chain tension for the timing chain; since the BF model folds (or more correctly "disassembles") they deal with it with adjustment in the parts that come apart for travel. Seems like an eccentric bottom bracket is popular, but I suspect that for you guys an idler pulley would be a better choice (cheaper, but less efficient which shouldn't bother the target market too much).

Think about it. Lots of people buy n+1 bikes for all sorts of reasons; it's really easy to justify another bike if the reason is "it's the only one I can ride with my kid/wife/husband/date/whatever".

bikesdirect_com

We are going to start pre-selling them now; for a special price [basically at cost as I want people to be able to try these]

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/nano.htm

I do not think all the info is loaded yet; but anyone can feel free to pre-order now
These should be in and ship out by May 20th
I would not be surprised if they sold at completely at this price

FlatSix911

Nice price for the Nano ...

NormanF

BD, I wouldn't be surprised if at the introductory price, all the stock is gone well before the end of May.

Its a lot of bike for very little money. Even at $300, its still a heckuva deal!

mconlonx

This bike with upgraded handlebars and shifters now soon to be owned by BFer monsterpile...

solbrothers

i need to throw some tall risers on this to make it more comfortable for my 6'6" frame

NormanF

soulbrothers, if you can't get the stem high enough, order a new fork with an uncut steerer. Tell the LBS NOT to cut the steerer until you can dial in the proper height.

solbrothers

order another fork from where?

solbrothers

also, the current fork is threaded, thats how i got it. mine was one of the prototype mini velo bikes

mconlonx

I used a cheap stem extender.

Dynocoaster 

I wonder if the Windsor Shetland will be sold by BD also?

2manybikes

I'm too tired to read this whole thread.

Alex Moulton made a lot of bikes that fit into the mini-velo description. Lots of info on line. One claim was that the same frame size with smaller wheels make for better drafting because the bike is shorter and the rider is closer to the draft.

The lower frame and lower wheels take less effort to tip or turn because the weight is lower. A shorter bike can handle well in tight conditions.
I had a cheap Dahon folder (20") that I put high pressure slicks on. It was a blast to ride and weave in and out of things. Great handling with cars, bikes. and peds all around. It handled very well. Especially in a tight place. The frame and wheels are closer to the ground than a full size bike. When a bike is top heavy it takes more effort to lean it over and back quickly. The lower center of gravity bike takes less effort to change lean and direction.
This is amplified with a motorcycle that is top heavy compared to one that is lower, even if the bikes are the same total weight. On a long dirt bike ride this becomes becomes very obvious. It took me a while to get fast on an overhead cam four stroke motorcycle that I built, compared to two strokes, with nothing but a cylinder head and cylinder above the crankcase. Eventually I got stronger and adapted to it.

The LT

Any more news on the monstercross bikes?

Leukybear 

+1

crossnut

Come on guys! No monstercross/ss cross spy photos yet? We're dying here! Throw us a bone on these, please.

Elisdad

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...monster_cross/

Build your own

A 29er with drops?

Elisdad

The bike will ship with 45s according to BD. It looks like you can squeeze in a much wider tire if you choose to though.

FlatSix911

Nice ride ... Price?

arp415

Anyone do a conversion on a nano yet?

monsterpile

Here is a thread in the Folding bikes forum with a conversion.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...e-thread/page4

crossnut

Oh, gee, wonderful... Tell me it ain't so? A cross bike with the cable guides UNDER the top tube, AGAIN? Seriously? So much right, and blown by under tube cable guides, AGAIN. Please, please, please, tell me it ain't so, and these are just pre-production prototypes?

FlatSix911

Good point ... with so much to like

zazenzach

i think the mini velos look kind neat. i can see them catching on for more leisurely riding. cant see it good for much else though, i dont think i would ever get one personally though

the rest i wouldnt touch with a ten foot pole

crossnut

I guess I could do like I did with the original Fantom Cross Uno; take a grinder to the danged ole misplaced guides... Hey BD, I have an engineering degree and an mba, any openings in your r&d/market research division?