Comments on: 5 Folding Bikes for the City http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869 on architecture in New York and beyond Sat, 06 Apr 2013 01:42:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Steven Fleming http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869&cpage=1#comment-1443 Steven Fleming Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:24:03 +0000 http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869#comment-1443 Wonderful article. May I refer the avid scholar of architecture and small wheel bikes to a little piece I wrote on Norman Foster and his Moulton space frame: http://behoovingmoving.livejournal.com/62106.html Wonderful article. May I refer the avid scholar of architecture and small wheel bikes to a little piece I wrote on Norman Foster and his Moulton space frame:
http://behoovingmoving.livejournal.com/62106.html

]]> By: FoldingBikeLife http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869&cpage=1#comment-1024 FoldingBikeLife Tue, 03 Aug 2010 21:13:31 +0000 http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869#comment-1024 Excellent piece on folding bikes in the city. After years of putting off getting a bike in NYC, I finally bit the bullet a month ago and picked up a folder. I couldn't be happier with the decision and for once actually look forward to my daily commutes! I've actually had the recent opportunity to test ride several different folders and have been reviewing them on my site and a few others. Not all folders are created equal :) Excellent piece on folding bikes in the city. After years of putting off getting a bike in NYC, I finally bit the bullet a month ago and picked up a folder. I couldn’t be happier with the decision and for once actually look forward to my daily commutes!

I’ve actually had the recent opportunity to test ride several different folders and have been reviewing them on my site and a few others. Not all folders are created equal :)

]]> By: Sue http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869&cpage=1#comment-1023 Sue Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:55:16 +0000 http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869#comment-1023 One of the perks about folding bikes may be that they have small wheels, but I have a full-size Montague folding bike, & I love it. Once unfolded, it's a standard size and it rides with great sturdiness and comfort, so I never feel like I'm riding something that I can also fold down and store in my car or closet. I wouldn't trade the comfort while riding just so I can have a bike that folds a bit smaller. One of the perks about folding bikes may be that they have small wheels, but I have a full-size Montague folding bike, & I love it.  Once unfolded, it’s a standard size and it rides with great sturdiness and comfort, so I never feel like I’m riding something that I can also fold down and store in my car or closet.  I wouldn’t trade the comfort while riding just so I can have a bike that folds a bit smaller.

]]> By: Gareth http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869&cpage=1#comment-1022 Gareth Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:14:27 +0000 http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869#comment-1022 Fascinating post. Two observations. You mention that most of the issues with compact bikes are created by the need for it to fold. I generally agree, but one reason why small wheel bikes will not make it into the pro peleton is the lack of stability created by the revolving mass in the front wheel. This requires the rider to concentrate more on a small wheeled bike in keeping the bike upright and moving in a straight line. This is not an issue on short urban trips, but would rapidly become one in a competition over many miles. Anyone who doubts this should compare the difficulty of riding with no hands on 16" and a 700c wheeled bikes. Second observation is more trivial. You mention the UCI as regulating the Tour de France. They did, and they wish they still did, but in 2009 the TdF organisers decided they could do without the UCI. This led to a rather public spat with the UCI rather impotently threatening riders with sanctions if they took part in the race. Fascinating post. Two observations.

You mention that most of the issues with compact bikes are created by the need for it to fold. I generally agree, but one reason why small wheel bikes will not make it into the pro peleton is the lack of stability created by the revolving mass in the front wheel. This requires the rider to concentrate more on a small wheeled bike in keeping the bike upright and moving in a straight line. This is not an issue on short urban trips, but would rapidly become one in a competition over many miles. Anyone who doubts this should compare the difficulty of riding with no hands on 16″ and a 700c wheeled bikes.

Second observation is more trivial. You mention the UCI as regulating the Tour de France. They did, and they wish they still did, but in 2009 the TdF organisers decided they could do without the UCI. This led to a rather public spat with the UCI rather impotently threatening riders with sanctions if they took part in the race.

]]> By: Foo http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869&cpage=1#comment-1021 Foo Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:15:06 +0000 http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869#comment-1021 Since you describe the Tikit as the "performance" bike of the collection, it might be helpful to also show a picture of configuration which emphasizes the bike's customizability. I can't think of any better than the Speeding Tikit. Pics: http://tinyurl.com/yj22c7y http://tinyurl.com/ygnn97t Since you describe the Tikit as the “performance” bike of the collection, it might be helpful to also show a picture of configuration which emphasizes the bike’s customizability.  I can’t think of any better than the Speeding Tikit.  Pics:

http://tinyurl.com/yj22c7y

http://tinyurl.com/ygnn97t

]]> By: Pei http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869&cpage=1#comment-1020 Pei Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:14:53 +0000 http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869#comment-1020 I loved the story of the folding bike and its European origins. The technical part after was very thorough. Now a light bulb is blinking in the back of my mind :) I loved the story of the folding bike and its European origins. The technical part after was very thorough.  Now a light bulb is blinking in the back of my mind :)

]]> By: David Lam http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869&cpage=1#comment-1019 David Lam Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:11:11 +0000 http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869#comment-1019 Excellent information from an interesting angle. Well done! Excellent information from an interesting angle. Well done!

]]> By: Galfromdownunder http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869&cpage=1#comment-1018 Galfromdownunder Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:55:46 +0000 http://www.architakes.com/?p=3869#comment-1018 The Bike Friday's 'large folded size' didn't stop if from getting through 9 of the 11 buildings in the tikit on trial on 2007 http://www.bikefriday.com/tikitontrial - and one of the buildings that didn't allow it - the New York Public Library - didn't allow the Brompton either. Perhaps under the 'con' for Bike Friday you could modify it to 'large folded size compared to a Brompton' as you have done with the Mezzo, since the Brompton is clearly your benchmark here. Now all we have to do is get people out of their cars for short trips and moving under their own power. It might start here, by putting the horse before the cart: http://galfromdownunder.blogspot.com/2009/06/folding-bikes-start-with-horse-before.html The Bike Friday’s ‘large folded size’ didn’t stop if from getting through 9 of the 11 buildings in the tikit on trial on 2007 http://www.bikefriday.com/tikitontrial – and one of the buildings that didn’t allow it – the New York Public Library – didn’t allow the Brompton either. Perhaps under the ‘con’ for Bike Friday you could modify it to ‘large folded size compared to a Brompton’ as you have done with the Mezzo, since the Brompton is clearly your benchmark here.

Now all we have to do is get people out of their cars for short trips and moving under their own power. It might start here, by putting the horse before the cart:
http://galfromdownunder.blogspot.com/2009/06/folding-bikes-start-with-horse-before.html

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