Originally Posted by
edwong3
Let me chime in. On many occasions, life is about compromises. If you live in a tiny apartment or bedroom, drive a sub-compact car or have to "park" your bike under a desk at work, such small bikes like the one in the photos you posted present the better option...
.... And lastly, these very compact bikes are "last mile" applications anyway. It's not like one is going to cross continents riding one of these. Horses for courses as they say.
Really, Ed? I live neither in an apartment nor am space constrained. I
choose to build and ride 16" (ISO305) bikes, not out of necessity, but rather due to their lively ride and spritely handling characteristics, quirky X-factor and relative uniqueness. They accelerate like a jack rabbit and are nimble, highly maneuverable and agile, turning on a dime, offering frolic and glee like no larger wheel or longer bicycle.
And no, they are not necessarily last mile rides. So long as you have customized the fit, are in good physical condition and are not unordinarily tall, you can ride them long distance. I've toured cross-country for weeks and cross-province for days in a 16" folder. My personal one-day record is 111km (69 miles). Three such examples:
Don't short change these bikes. Or confuse rider deficiencies for bike shortcomings.