Prodrive gets on its bike
Commute in style on Prodrive's new lightweight folding bike
Seems Prodrive wants in too, putting its expertise in lightweight engineering behind a new folding bike design called the Hummingbird, created by Petre Craciun and claimed to weigh less than anything else in the market. And whether you use a folder to speed up the run to the station or office, or perhaps as a paddock bike at race meetings, this looks like a seriously cool way to combine a love of motorsport and cycling in one compact package.
Bromptons remain the default choice for many but even the lightest ones can be hefty to hump up and down stairs in busy stations, the weight issue inspiring Craciun's design and developed by Prodrive with a carbon front end and intricate looking aluminium swingarm. This folds around the axis of the bottom bracket, maintaining chain tension even when folded and keeping the whole design light, stylish and easy to use. If, like a Brompton, it can squeeze into the front luggage compartment of Porsches, Ferraris, McLarens and similar sports cars they could be onto a real first-world urban transport solution here - we're hoping to grab a go with one when the first production examples are available in October. Watch this space...
[Sources: Autocar]
I'll still follow with interest though.
The very fact that folders... Fold brings it's own set of compromises that the use of composites does little to address except weight.
This is not like a Brompton. It's only a single speed and only has a front brake. It's more of a cool ”Shove it in my car boot as a cool occasional bike” than a Brompton, which is more commuter orientated.
The very fact that folders... Fold brings it's own set of compromises that the use of composites does little to address except weight.
This is not like a Brompton. It's only a single speed and only has a front brake. It's more of a cool ”Shove it in my car boot as a cool occasional bike” than a Brompton, which is more commuter orientated.
The brompton remains the king of the fold though.
Regards materials, I'm not sure I'd want to drop my carbon bike down an escalator, have it bashed around by other commuters, etc. Like a lot of problems people identify with bikes the simpliest solution is to 'get stronger' or 'get fitter'.
If this bike had a forward fold (like brompton and dahon) i'd be interested, but as it stands it's not a contender.
GoCycle does the 'tech' with a bad fold thing.
Brompton remain the king of folding commuter bikes. Absolute work horses.
I'd rather use that cash as toilet paper than hand out to an ars***e trying to build his marketing campaign on guilt.
I'd rather use that cash as toilet paper than hand out to an ars***e trying to build his marketing campaign on guilt.
FWIW, the ex-serviceman concerned was probably just doing his job and went where he was sent. Blame the powers that be... but that wouldn't be as much fun would it.
Love Brommies. But the company is so averse to pushing the tech. Shame.
Do you know the life story of the guy that invented the bike in this article and have somehow compared their lives in order to determine which cause is more worthy?!
Your original comment just seemed a bit prejudiced.
Anyway, why would you feel sorry for an "injured ex serviceman"? I don't. He knew what he was getting into. Nobody made him do it. It was his choice. He was a soldier, end of. Soldiers don't need your sympathy, they're just doing their job.
This is a thread about prodrive making a folding bike. Not about which manufacturer is the most worthy.
I'm truly shocked and saddened by the hostility I've encountered .
I do support disabled people, many of whom are injured soldiers .
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