RE: Prodrive gets on its bike
Friday 23rd September 2016
You've probably picked up on the fact there's more love for cycling on PH than many might credit for a motoring forum; among the team here we enjoy turning a pedal on occasion and it seems it's a passion shared among many in the car industry too. Little surprise then collaborations between car and bike companies have been a fixture for many years, be that the famous Lotus track bike ridden to Olympic success by Chris Boardman, McLaren and Specialized sharing carbon fibre and aero know-how for fancy road bikes or Caterham building a lightweight chassis from Reynolds butted tubing.
Et voila!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.
Prodrive gets on its bike
Commute in style on Prodrive's new lightweight folding bike
Et voila!
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]
Discussion
Folding around the crank to maintain chain tension without a tensioner is a nice touch, but this new one is a good bit bigger than a Brompton. I think the weight is a secondary issue. If it won't fit in the train luggage racks, it'll never challenge the Brompton for real market share.
I'll still follow with interest though.
I'll still follow with interest though.
Much as I much admire Prodrive, I think on this occasion I'd rather support an injured ex serviceman who is part of Mission Motorsport and who has designed, built and is marketing a range of carbon fibre bikes including a fantastic folding machine called the Lios Nano. Check out www.liosbikes.com
ravon said:
Much as I much admire Prodrive, I think on this occasion I'd rather support an injured ex serviceman who is part of Mission Motorsport and who has designed, built and is marketing a range of carbon fibre bikes including a fantastic folding machine called the Lios Nano. Check out www.liosbikes.com
Bloody hell. And I thought Bromptons were expensive! Looks the business though.I don't see the need for carbon fibre folding bikes.
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.
Evilex said:
I don't see the need for carbon fibre folding bikes.
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.
Agree that cf isn't really solving a problem here and actually introduces a few new ones, but at least there is an Alfine version too.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.
I like the fold. Because I like riding fixed gear, which can't really be done on a brompton.
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.
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.
loudlashadjuster said:
ravon said:
Much as I much admire Prodrive, I think on this occasion I'd rather support an injured ex serviceman who is part of Mission Motorsport and who has designed, built and is marketing a range of carbon fibre bikes including a fantastic folding machine called the Lios Nano. Check out www.liosbikes.com
Bloody hell. And I thought Bromptons were expensive! Looks the business though.KimJongHealthy said:
I agree, a guy who wanted to make a salary by invading another country for oil which triggered decades of chaos and millions of deaths surely deserves it more.
I'd rather use that cash as toilet paper than hand out to an ars***e trying to build his marketing campaign on guilt.
This'll be interesting... I'd rather use that cash as toilet paper than hand out to an ars***e trying to build his marketing campaign on guilt.
KimJongHealthy said:
ravon said:
Much as I much admire Prodrive, I think on this occasion I'd rather support an injured ex serviceman who is part of Mission Motorsport and who has designed, built and is marketing a range of carbon fibre bikes including a fantastic folding machine called the Lios Nano. Check out www.liosbikes.com
I agree, a guy who wanted to make a salary by invading another country for oil which triggered decades of chaos and millions of deaths surely deserves it more.I'd rather use that cash as toilet paper than hand out to an ars***e trying to build his marketing campaign on guilt.
Edited by KimJongHealthy on Friday 23 September 12:52
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.
velocgee said:
For years I have been saying that Brompton should team up with McLaren and produce a CF model; a collaboration special.
Love Brommies. But the company is so averse to pushing the tech. Shame.
Not as averse as you may think.......Love Brommies. But the company is so averse to pushing the tech. Shame.
Edited by velocgee on Thursday 22 September 23:10
ravon said:
That is a truly vile comment, I'd love to meet you face to face and discuss. I''ll be at Goodwood on Wednesday all day, let's meet ?
You did kind of ask for it! You didn't need to say "injured ex serviceman". Does that make the bike better or something?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.
ravon said:
That is a truly vile comment, I'd love to meet you face to face and discuss. I''ll be at Goodwood on Wednesday all day, let's meet ?
You actually put me off those bikes. I hope you're not linked to the company in any way. Their website doesn't bang on about ex servicemen in any way at all. Perhaps you shouldn't either? This is a thread about prodrive making a folding bike. Not about which manufacturer is the most worthy.
Edited by el stovey on Friday 23 September 15:46
KimJongHealthy said:
Last time I checked, army service wasn't compulsory in this country.
I don't really think this forum is the place to talk about wars and who desrves what but for my take on it anybody who is prepared to serve there country deserves respect and your tone is not showing this, got a feeling with your name maybe your roots are not as a loyalist so push off and peddle your trash mouth somewhere else .I very seldom post, I'll certainly think hard about posting again. I don't want to get into an internet argument with people who just live for such an opportunity, thats why I invited the poster to meet face to face at Goodwood. I'm nothing to do with the cycle company, I've met the designer on a number of occasions at track days and much admired his design flair and ability, I thought it would interest people that he was a recovering soldier. I think his cycle looks a rather nicer machine than the Prodrive example.
I'm truly shocked and saddened by the hostility I've encountered .
I do support disabled people, many of whom are injured soldiers .
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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