I built this up a little more than year ago from a kids bike frame.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/...8a388feae4.jpg
Packed it up in a cardboard box and checked it as luggage, without getting dinged!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/...1a1f3f6d1f.jpg
Planning to convert back to a geared bike soon.

Any chance for an extra large model in the near future?

I off-roaded my Shetland prototype on Friday over about 4 miles of gravel road and hardpack. The tires*, aired down to 85psi, actually ride pretty well. If I hadn't been the only guy on the trail, I am pretty sure someon1e would have looked at me funny.

*still the original 451x28s, which I believe is the only tire size available to fit this bike. Production bikes with 406-40s will not have this problem!

The highest I run my tires on my Shetland is 85 psi LOL. When these wear out I think I can fit some 20 1-3/8 on there (probably going with Primo Comets) and those would be perfect for everything I would do with this little bike. Have you had any more problems with the seatpost slipping? I haven't had any issues yet. I put a Ritchey Pro seatpost in yesterday and a Bontrager Race Lux saddle on which should lighten up the bike a bit (not that it really matters) and make it more comfy.

I swapped the original saddle for my WTB Speed V Comp that is the correct size for my posterior and the seatpost issues went away. I think the OEM seat was a little wide and I was pushing it further back... you do have to tighten this seat clamp like you mean it.

And as to the tire size, I think a 451x38 (1 3/8) would fit in the front, but do you think it would fit in the rear? My rear wheel seems off-center between the stays and a 38mm tire would likely rub. Unless the guys at the LBS dished it wrong...

I think the 20 1 3/8 would fit under the brakes (although it might not), but if they did getting them past the brakepads might be a chore. I wonder if maybe just some 20 1 1/8 with a different profile (maybe more round) might be the way to go. I have tried to come up with reasons to buy some of these ITS Micro knobby tires. The Kevlar bead is 2 for $25 and the wire bead is 2 for $20.

https://www.jrbicycles.com/storefron...productId=2219

Why? Its best to stay with 406. Wider tire selection.

... because the prototypes were 451.

After riding some 27 1-1/8 tires the last couple of weeks on my Le Tour I am tempted to go thinner with my next tires instead of trying to fit something wider on my Shetland. The Shetland tires almost seem fat now. LOL Part of the reason is I could get ITS Micro knobby 20x1 tires for $10 a piece which could be pretty zippy.

I decided to sell ny Dahon so I figured I would try out the fenders from it on the Steland and hey they fit with some squeezing and some ingeuity. I rode the bike around a bunch last night to get the hardware I needed for the fenders and test them out and it was so fun.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/IMG_2378.jpg

Any of you 'early adopters' have friends/family members who own a Suburban? Curious to see if a mini would fit behind the third row with the seat back up or folded down.

I have a friend that has a late 90's Tahoe, but I won't see her till next week. What year is your Suburban? I could take my Shetland to a car lot and try it out. =P

gorgeous.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say it will fit behind the third row seat. Maybe some issues at the handlebars--they might have to hang over the top of the third row seat with the wheel on, but if the front wheel is removed, I'd be a lot that it would fit easily in the back of a Suburban, no problem.

Okay, from following the majority of this thread, it appears that the minis are stellar at densely populated, close quarters commuting or on the MUPs, but come up a bit short in Suburbia or the open road. Would that be an accurate statement? If so, then one of these things may not work for a new route I've been mulling...

I'm not sure that's true, I think the production machines with 406 tires will fare better than the prototypes with 451s. Better tire selection, frames designed for wider tires, better ride on bad roads.

I like mine quite a bit, I just can't ride it all the time because I'm quantifiably slower over the same commute route on the Shetland v. my MTB-with-drops and I have been unable to determine why.

Probably because your too busy having fun on the Shetland. :thumb:

This may be part of it, it also may be that certain rough spots on the route work/feel better on 26x1.5s (40-559s) than on 28-451s. Even once I got the fit worked out, I'm still a few minutes behind no matter how hard I push. Production bikes will have more rubber and have a more substantial feel to them on 40-406s.

There's also my nagging worry about the bent rear hub... again, production bikes will have 406 tires/wheels and will be able to take more abuse. Part of me is afraid that I will destroy the original 451 wheels... and I have looked, 451 wheels are pretty hard to find for less than I paid for this bike. 406 wheels... sure, any old bike shop has those. But not 451.

I don't have the cashola right now (I blame a toddler, a fence, and a trip to Hawaii), but if I did, I might get a set of long-reach brakes and retrofit 406 wheels to the Shetland... or trade the prototype for a production bike... :)

I'm running 26x1.5s myself and just now getting my average to about 15 mph on the mostly flat MUP that is my primary commute route. Though as you pointed out, the 451's aren't 406's (and you might want to look over that first paragraph ;)), how much of drop in speed are you seeing?

It's about 3-5 minutes on 11+ miles of uninterrupted suburbia (mix of expressway, street, and a tiny bit of sidewalk). On my 26" road/touring/MTB monster, I can do the ride in 44 minutes door-to-door consistently. My record is 40. On the Shetland, it is a minimum of 47 minutes and more like 50ish. And I am always more tired on the Shetland at the end of the ride. I think it's the extra work of momentum-keeping on the expressway.

Not the end of the world time-wise, but it is noticeable.

I was worried bout ruining my 451 wheels too. I decided I shouldn't worry so much. On the folding bike forum a member found this wheelset thats interesting. Shipping makes them jut under $60 and they are supposed to be 451. The front wheel would need to be spaced wider. Maybe I'll pull the trigger on a set of them when I have extra cash floating around in a few weeks. I don't know what kind of quality they are either, but they look cool. =P

http://www.amazon.com/wheel-Complete...602880&sr=8-10

Also I personally think the Shetland bikes are superior to the Nano's in a few ways. The Shetland frames we have are put together much better than the Nano's that are being sold right now. I think the frame dimensions and geometry are a bit different as well and I think the Shetland has longer seat tube and headtube based on my comparison in measurements from my Shetland to the biggest Nano in production now. If you ever consider getting rid of your Shetland please contact me I would be very interested in that sweet Yahoo of a bike you have. =) I like my Shetland, but I wouldn't mind one with a larger frame.

I just saw this Mini velo and I am tempted to buy one. $299 with v-brakes and fenders.

http://www.cittabikes.com/shop/citta...e-gazelle.html