So I think I'm going to buy a Mini Velo. I just made a circuit of about 5 bike shops in my city (Gwangju, SK) and although there are several available locally they seem to be either very low end or very high end. So I'm thinking about chancing it and buying one off the internet.


https://www.athatb.com/shop/dvProduct...&pcode=1&prvs=

I'm looking specifically at this Cello Nuvola Expert. Reynolds 520 steel tubeset, drop bars and nice components.

It appears to come in a 430mm, 470mm and 490mm sizes.

At one of the shops I was able to sit on the carbon fiber Mini Velo that Cello offers. (this one https://www.athatb.com/shop/dvProduct...&pcode=1&prvs=) It felt good, but I wasn't allowed to ride it so one thing I wasn't able to check for was clearance with my knees while pedaling out of the saddle. I'm pretty sure that the carbon version is only offered in one size though I'm not exactly sure what the cm measurement of it is.

I'm 6'1". I used to ride a 57cm road bike in the US. Right now I'm just riding the Mezzo (a one size fits all folding bike) and it fits me well enough. I've never actually measured my inseam but I normally wear pants that measure 30".

Anyone with any experience riding other Mini Velo bikes have any sizing advice? I'd assume I have to go with the 490, but I want to make sure that it will be large enough for me. From the picture it appears that the Cello comes with a solid amount of steerer tube uncut and I could also flip the stem up if need be.

I'm not entirely sure, but I think that is the 430 pictured. One of the detail shots shows the 430mm decal, but I suppose it is possible that the other shots are of the Med or Large sizes.

hey- tangential here- but, as a nominally 6'1 guy who is rebuilding one of those cheapie 'Citta' minis, let me suggest another means for getting the bars up on these minis. I'm using a RANS "LD" 7-inch riser:
... see: https://www.shoprans.com/handlebars/7-curved-riser/ ... it is pretty decent.

More news at 11, once this project is truly road-worthy.

Joe (or should we call you tangential now? ),

Hijack to Joe's tangential:

Funny that, I just got one of these put on my Citta for the same reason.

https://rideabike.com/product/montagu...m0030-qc37.htm


By the way, how are you going to attach that riser. are you going to use a Flip-it assembly?

Nope, either going to use a 31.8 seatpost binder clamp with a QR to make it (hopefully not too!) easily demountable, or will use their (RANS) "recommended" twin-bolt steerer clamp. Likewise am preloading the headset, clamping down a similar 28.6 clamp at the base of the stack, and then removing the top cap. These risers oversleeve the 1 1/8 steerer.

Near as I can tell, the flip-it is a hinge that adds a 3D element to the steering of those wacky recumbent velomobiles... that'd be nuts! Oh yeah, of course I am running the LD backward of its usual install.

If you do that are you going to make a cut in the steerer tube and use the clamp as a pinch bolt? Don't think I understand this option, will wait for pics

OK, this option I understand. Basically the same system I am using with my mod above.

Yeah the hinge ads "tilt steering" sort of, but it can be pinned so it doesn't hinge. the advantage is that it is easy to use the original system (cap, bolt and star nut) to pre-load the head bearings, but it does add weight, complexity and fuglyness.

Measure. toptube length is .. ? .. [unsaid] but you have a conventional stem as shown,
you can always buy a different one. add stem raisers , perhaps,
say you want the fork steerer left as long as they come [before they reach for a hacksaw.]

the RANS riser is already slotted and drilled and is larger than / fits over the existing 1 1/8 steerer. A compression/pinch clamp will go around all of that, and snugs the riser onto the steerer just like any other threadless stem. I can still stack it higher with spacers, but don't really need much - the steerer goes up almost to where the bend begins, which I hope makes for an even sturdier connection.

Curious, does the Rans piece include a long 6mm bolt to make the threadless
headset preload adjustment scheme still work..?

I put a QBP 'locking spacer' on my bike to keep the integrated headset,
from coming apart, with the fork, on the floor..
when I took the stem off ..

So I figured out that the carbon ones are all the 470mm size. Through a lot of charades, phrasebook translation and pointing I went ahead and had a shop order me the 490mm size in silver.

Hopefully by the fact that I repeatedly pointed at the large size he'll understand not to cut the steerer tube.

Hah, just out of paranoia I google translated "please do not cut the steerer tube" and texted it to the guy.

I should have the bike by tomorrow. I'll see how all of this works out.

I would have measured the TT length, but like I said I wasn't able to see an example of the bike in person.

Best of luck and keep us posted. And pics, we want pics.

I really like this bike.

Posted up a thread in the road forum: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...5#post14103085