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Minivelo inspiration picture thread [aka Diminutive Bike Prawn.]

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Minivelo inspiration picture thread [aka Diminutive Bike Prawn.]

Old 11-08-09, 03:04 AM
  #51  
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Originally Posted by stevegor
Perhaps some here think I should be banished to a dark, dank corner in the deep recesses of BF that caters for odd bikes?.....Oh yeah, that would be Alt Culture bike subforum.
No need to banish yourself. Internet forums are like sex in that they`d be no fun at all without a little internal friction
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Old 11-08-09, 06:00 AM
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A nice bike with a strange name - the Giant Idiom.

I think every English teacher in Asia should have one, but, if only the handlebar stem folds, is it a minivelo or a folder?



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Old 11-08-09, 06:27 AM
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They're not really too extreme. Their small wheels do look funny. Minnows in a world full of bike sharks. And some of them look so sexy!
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Old 11-08-09, 06:31 AM
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Good question. I think the black is cool and the tall stem reminds of the Dahon Smooth Hound/Hammerhead series. Since its rigid, its still a mini velo. Its too bad the only choice here for a bar high enough is a Wald high rise bar. I would like the Giant one for my Schwinn Qualifier.


I
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Old 11-08-09, 06:51 AM
  #55  
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Originally Posted by SesameCrunch
Unless some movie starlet gets photo'd riding one in a mini-skirt and it suddenly becomes chic and iconic .
Yeah, that would probably spike the sales for a summer, after which minivelo enthusiasts could grab them cheap on Craigslist.
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Old 11-08-09, 07:59 AM
  #56  
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I've mentioned before on the list that having owned an Alex Moulton for the last 25 years, I have found it easier to stuff the short bike in the car or find an out of the way corner of the house to keep it in. I can see minivelos being quite a boon to apartment/dorm dwellers and really anyone in living in relatively tight quarters.

BTW, I don't see Moulton bikes as minivelos, but I've found over the years it's surprisingly hard to write firm definitions of bike designs and then have to sort certain models into them.

Originally Posted by owenfinn
...if only the handlebar stem folds, is it a minivelo or a folder?
Yes.

The folding-handlebar-only idea was tried by Dahon with their Groove model a few years back. I thought it was a good idea; the marketplace didn't agree.

tcs
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Old 11-08-09, 12:53 PM
  #57  
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Melon Bikes has dealership listings in the States and makes a pretty good case for minivelos with their "GO20" er, mission, objective, vision or whatever. You can read about that here.

They show the following non-folding model(s) as coming attractions:




Unfortunately they don't give any arrival dates.

Melon also sells a folder called the Slice which looks exactly like the discontinued Pricepoint folder discussed some time ago.
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Old 11-08-09, 01:24 PM
  #58  
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Originally Posted by itsmoot
Unfortunately they don't give any arrival dates.
I sent them an e-mail. Let's see what the response is.
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Old 11-08-09, 01:31 PM
  #59  
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Originally Posted by tcs
BTW, I don't see Moulton bikes as minivelos, but I've found over the years it's surprisingly hard to write firm definitions of bike designs and then have to sort certain models into them.
s
Why would they not be minivelos, if they don't fold, and they don't, and if they don't come apart like my Standard F series?
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Old 11-08-09, 04:48 PM
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Will they be available here? No word on if/when that might happen yet.
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Old 11-08-09, 06:34 PM
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Bridgestone Moulton R2S



KHS P20 RA
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Old 11-08-09, 09:50 PM
  #62  
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Originally Posted by Schwinnsta
Why would they not be minivelos, if they don't fold, and they don't, and if they don't come apart like my Standard F series?
Depends on the definition of mini-velo. If it's any adult bike with relatively small diameter wheels, then Moultons would be mini-velos. (Of course, a BMX bike could qualify as a mini-velo under that definition.)

However, if a mini-velo is defined as a standard adult road bicycle design except using relatively small diameter wheels, then a Moulton wouldn't be a mini-velo despite the small wheels because Alex Moulton's consistent & insistent use of a low, open frame and f/r suspension.

Call it as you see it.

tcs

PS: the term "mini-velo" does not appear in Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary.
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Old 11-08-09, 10:47 PM
  #63  
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Originally Posted by tcs
PS: the term "mini-velo" does not appear in Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary.
Dang him- that would have solved the whole issue

Call em what you call em, they sure look sweet. There`s a shop about two hours drive from me that carries the Pashleys. Sometimes I`m tempted to go test drive one, but that`s a kind of scary proposition as it might end up being an expensive test drive. Especially since he`s got a demo with SA8 at reduced (but still high for me) price.

Tcs, what models have you had? You mentioned that yours was/were easy to pack into a car, but have you ever tried to disassemble it a bit more and stuff it into a suitcase for flights?
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Old 11-09-09, 05:20 AM
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tcs...
I think you're simply dancing around it. An easy definition for mini-velo is any adult bike built around road or hybrid geometry that uses small diameter wheels.

That's what most people mean when they say mini-velo... so yes, a Moulton would fit into that category. However, a BMX bike would not fit as it's built around an entirely different geometry. Now... if you modded that BMX to the point where you changed the geometry then sure, you might have yourself a mini-velo.

--sam
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Old 11-09-09, 08:34 AM
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The only thing I have to change on my mini-velo is the real wheel. Needs 32H to build a single speed. And a new crank and chainring. With fat tires, there is no need for a suspension fork.
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Old 11-09-09, 01:19 PM
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Originally Posted by GeorgePaul
I sent them an e-mail. Let's see what the response is.
From melon sales via e-mail this morning: "We should have the new non-folding models coming out mid 2010."
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Old 11-09-10, 11:14 PM
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Big Shot Bikes came out with the Mini Polo. Apparently, there is now a market for it here. My mini velo build was based off this model:



Its really cool!
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Old 11-10-10, 07:50 AM
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I got one of these giant escape 1 for about £160 via ebay. Best buy ever.

Really fast compared to my speed TR, especially climbing. Had a hammerhead once, this isn't so skittish and has fenders and have put an old TR rack on it (this is a stock pic) Sold in UK retail in 2008 season, still see some around.

Also takes up less space in the narrow hallway.
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Old 11-10-10, 09:28 AM
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Cool.

Bikesdirect has some sample mini velos... two Merciers and two Windors they're toying around with. The Merciers would be cro-moly and the Windsors would be alloy.

Quoted price is $299 delivered.

I think there's a definite market for them.
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Old 11-10-10, 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by gringo_gus



I got one of these giant escape 1 for about £160 via ebay. Best buy ever.

Really fast compared to my speed TR, especially climbing. Had a hammerhead once, this isn't so skittish and has fenders and have put an old TR rack on it (this is a stock pic) Sold in UK retail in 2008 season, still see some around.

Also takes up less space in the narrow hallway.
lets see some photos please.

Does it go in the car well with the wheels off?
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Old 11-10-10, 12:58 PM
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Originally Posted by bhkyte
lets see some photos please.

Does it go in the car well with the wheels off?
Actually, have never put in the car. Will get some pix done soon. Thinking of mounting a basket on the top of the rack. Not cool, but means I can dump my backpack in it, rather than faff with panniers.

Also i wonder if it was something of an ebay bargain because it wasn't listed under folding bikes, well it wasn't a folding bike was it - I think, actually I was voyeuring Moultons and came across it as "like Moulton".
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Old 11-13-10, 01:06 AM
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Originally Posted by LittlePixel
I'm just wondering WHY Dahon don't do a white Hammerhead. This thing is SWEET.
Check out the Dahon Wobbegong. I don't know where it's sold:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/eloysan...7607113910623/
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Old 11-13-10, 03:41 AM
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I`m pretty sure the Wobbegong was a past model that`s no longer sold, at least in N.A. Might have evolved into the Smooth Hound?
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Old 11-13-10, 05:22 AM
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Originally Posted by NormanF
Big Shot Bikes came out with the Mini Polo. Apparently, there is now a market for it here. My mini velo build was based off this model:


Its really cool!
Norman F, did you ever post pix of the rebuild - would love to see it...
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Old 11-13-10, 08:27 AM
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Fantastic! Any pix or links?

The blue melon above with front suspension had me excited, but someone posted that they scaled back and will no longer be offering it.

Originally Posted by NormanF
Cool.

Bikesdirect has some sample mini velos... two Merciers and two Windors they're toying around with. The Merciers would be cro-moly and the Windsors would be alloy.

Quoted price is $299 delivered.

I think there's a definite market for them.
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