Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

kwigglebike.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

281–290 of 431 posts

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#281

Post by kwigglebike »

bambax wrote: post #48

It looks absolutely amazing, but calling it "affordable" at €1600+ is a stretch. You can find non-electric folding bikes for under €200 that are quite sturdy and dependable (although not that small when folded). A few months ago I bought a used folding bike for €100, equipped it with a motor and battery that cost less than €400, for use on train trips. Nothing feels better than getting out of a long-distance train tr…

It is affordable for the workmanship and materials used. All stainless steel and aluminium.

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#282

Post by askvictor »

japanuspus wrote: post #242

I am puzzled by the choice of derailleur gears over intra-hub gears. The motivation must have been that it allows the integrated rims and hubs, which are probably much easier to manufacture than spoked wheels at this size. The downsides seem significant though: A derailleur with gears this small is going to wear very quickly, and when it is time to replace it, you just have to hope that Kwiggle is still around to sup…

Hub gears are also comparatively heavy; one of the selling points of this is it's low weight.

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#283

Post by MrKwiggle »

japanuspus wrote: post #242

I am puzzled by the choice of derailleur gears over intra-hub gears. The motivation must have been that it allows the integrated rims and hubs, which are probably much easier to manufacture than spoked wheels at this size. The downsides seem significant though: A derailleur with gears this small is going to wear very quickly, and when it is time to replace it, you just have to hope that Kwiggle is still around to sup…

For your information: I am the owner of Kwiggle. The sprockets on the Kwiggle have 7, 8 and 10 teeth and are naturally more stressed than larger sprockets. That's why we use sprocket material that is significantly more wear resistant than anything on the bike market, including Shimano and Campagnolo. The chain is Connex 8Sx, the best you can get. Our first customers are already almost 8,000 km on the road with first set of chain and sprockets.

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#284

Post by kwigglebike »

laurieg wrote: post #24

I've spent a long time with folding bikes over the years. My advice: bite the bullet and buy a Brompton[1]. Yes, Bromptons are expensive. But they ride like a bicycle, have gears, a stiff enough frame, luggage racks etc. There's very little compromise. The fastest I've done on mine is 45 kph and I've ridden 70km in a day. I carry it on and off buses and trains multiple times a day without issue. In the past I had an…

The thing is the Kwiggle is not just small but offers a new way of cycling which is much better for your body and uses more muscle groups than normal cycling. You have to ride one to understand :-)

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#285

Post by carabiner »

ridehelix wrote: post #168
laurieg wrote: post #24

I've spent a long time with folding bikes over the years. My advice: bite the bullet and buy a Brompton[1]. Yes, Bromptons are expensive. But they ride like a bicycle, have gears, a stiff enough frame, luggage racks etc. There's very little compromise. The fastest I've done on mine is 45 kph and I've ridden 70km in a day. I carry it on and off buses and trains multiple times a day without issue. In the past I had an…

A discussion about folding bikes would not be complete without mentioning Helix. Helix folds almost as small as a Brompton but has 24” wheels and standard bicycle components such as disc brakes, Shimano/SRAM drivetrain etc. Also the fold is the most compact possible, even more compact than Brompton in terms of maximizing the use of space. It also fits in a standard airline luggage without any disassembly which few ot…

Looks like some of your kickstarter backers have been waiting seven years for their bikes. Are your production issues ironed out yet?

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#286

Post by bambax »

kwigglebike wrote: post #281
bambax wrote: post #48

It looks absolutely amazing, but calling it "affordable" at €1600+ is a stretch. You can find non-electric folding bikes for under €200 that are quite sturdy and dependable (although not that small when folded). A few months ago I bought a used folding bike for €100, equipped it with a motor and battery that cost less than €400, for use on train trips. Nothing feels better than getting out of a long-distance train tr…

It is affordable for the workmanship and materials used. All stainless steel and aluminium.

That's not what "affordable" means, sorry.

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#287

Post by Someone »

Antipode wrote: post #147
Melatonic wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Real bicycles also have larger wheels for a reason - its much more efficient and rolls over bumps and ruts much easier.

What do you mean by efficient?

https://www.schwalbetires.com/tech_info/rolling_resistance:

“Tires with a smaller diameter have a higher rolling resistance with the same inflation pressure, because tire deformation is proportionally greater. The tire is flattened more and is “less round”.”

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#288

Post by gmac »

laurieg wrote: post #24

I've spent a long time with folding bikes over the years. My advice: bite the bullet and buy a Brompton[1]. Yes, Bromptons are expensive. But they ride like a bicycle, have gears, a stiff enough frame, luggage racks etc. There's very little compromise. The fastest I've done on mine is 45 kph and I've ridden 70km in a day. I carry it on and off buses and trains multiple times a day without issue. In the past I had an…

I'm sure Bromptons are great, but the prices are just ridiculous, and their marketing grates. I really don't need my bike to be handmade in London.

I have a Decathlon foldable. It doesn't fold quite as small as a Brompton, so I wouldn't want to be regularly taking it on public transport. But it's light and solid, folds easily and rides well at about one third the price.

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#289

Post by veltas »

japanuspus wrote: post #242

I am puzzled by the choice of derailleur gears over intra-hub gears. The motivation must have been that it allows the integrated rims and hubs, which are probably much easier to manufacture than spoked wheels at this size. The downsides seem significant though: A derailleur with gears this small is going to wear very quickly, and when it is time to replace it, you just have to hope that Kwiggle is still around to sup…

Okay less maintainable if it breaks but ... will it really break? I've done loads of miles on my bike with derailleur gears and that's not shown any sign of wear or failure.

Re: Folding bicycle small enough to fit in hand luggage

#290

Post by drewm1980 »

Tor3 wrote: post #256
ridehelix wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A discussion about folding bikes would not be complete without mentioning Helix. Helix folds almost as small as a Brompton but has 24” wheels and standard bicycle components such as disc brakes, Shimano/SRAM drivetrain etc. Also the fold is the most compact possible, even more compact than Brompton in terms of maximizing the use of space. It also fits in a standard airline luggage without any disassembly which few ot…

From the picture it looks like it would be unsteady unless you hold firmly onto the handle bars - is that right? What happens if you let go?

I'm also surprised by that seemingly negative fork rake.

This claims stability is more determined by fork ~trail. http://avaghon.nl/download/Naloop_Bikestability-Forkrake.pdf

This bike has a steeper head tube, reducing trail. But reducing rake (even if it goes negative), increases the trail again.

Stability is more complicated than just that, though... iirc bicycles have a bunch of nodes, including 1? 2? that are unstable but slow enough that riders don't notice they're compensating.

Post reply on HN