this is sort of a complain.
but not sure to whom I am addressing.

I have been interested in reading sheldon's article about small wheel and gear ratio, and the cassette with a 9t cog. yes, the capreo has been around since 2005(?).

but, learning from websites, I felt rather dissappointed to know the facts that shimano is not wholeheartedly supporting the small wheel bike industry.

how do I make such conclusion, you might ask..?

take for instance, the big player like dahon.
how many of their 16" bikes uses the capreo?
correct me if I am wrong, only starting this 2009, the curve gets the capreo.

now let us look at the Downtube line of bikes.
some say, the minis now don't come with capreo anymore, due to short supply(?)
the mini is now back with sturmey archer 8speed internal gear.

meanwhile, here in indonesia, the market for folding bikes is blooming.
but, the 20" wheels becomes the more affordable (and better value-for-money) choice.

there is this local brand that also produces 16" wheels.
but as you can guess, they are normally singlespeed.
some are equipped with 6speed derailer, but (you can count the gear inches yourself) are still geared too low with the 14-18t freewheel.

eventually, many buyers would convert their 16" to an internally geared hub. but the range of 170% is still inadequate, in my opinion.

so, what's my point?
isn't there someone (beside dissapointing shimano) that can make a freewheel, of let's say 6sp 9t-20t,
affordable, for the masses of 16" folders?
and yes, the OLD should be something like 126, or 110, NOT 135...
or, should we 16" folders lovers just be content with a century(?) old design of the 3 speed internal gear?

is this wishful thinking??


TEDI K WARDHANA
-vehicle, not toy. transport, not sport-