rodar y rodar

No need to banish yourself. Internet forums are like sex in that they`d be no fun at all without a little internal friction

owenfinn

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?

NormanF

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!

NormanF

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

noteon 

Yeah, that would probably spike the sales for a summer, after which minivelo enthusiasts could grab them cheap on Craigslist.

tcs

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.

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

itsmoot

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.

GeorgePaul

I sent them an e-mail. Let's see what the response is.

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?

NormanF

Will they be available here? No word on if/when that might happen yet.

owenfinn

Bridgestone Moulton R2S



KHS P20 RA

tcs

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.

rodar y rodar

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?

Lalato

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

NormanF

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.

GeorgePaul

From melon sales via e-mail this morning: "We should have the new non-folding models coming out mid 2010."

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!

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.

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.

bhkyte

lets see some photos please.

Does it go in the car well with the wheels off?

gringo_gus

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".

EChing

Check out the Dahon Wobbegong. I don't know where it's sold:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/eloysan...7607113910623/

rodar y rodar

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?

gringo_gus

Norman F, did you ever post pix of the rebuild - would love to see it...

coolio

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.