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SINCLAIR AT IT AGAIN
SINCLAIR AT IT AGAIN
5-TS1000,UK ZX81<-Sheelagh, US ZX81, 2-TS1500/KDLX , 3-TS2040 printer, 2-TS2020 cassette decks, ZXPAND+AY, ZeddyNET, ZXBlast, UDG, ZX8CCB, AERCO, BUILDS/REPAIRS ZX Spectrum, ZX80 Minstrel, ZXMAX48 v1 v2, 2-TS-2068, ROM, 16kRAM
- RetroTechie
- Posts: 379
- Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2011 12:16 am
- Location: Hengelo, NL
- Contact:
Re: SINCLAIR AT IT AGAIN
I can only imagine Sir Clive isn't much of a cyclist himself...
The design is ingenious, no doubt about that. But imho it severely lacks in the "practical" department:
a) What is the point of an electric folding bicycle, really? For short distances or combination with public transport, you just want to shed as much of the weight/size as practical. If even a 1 or 2 km. ride to/from station is too tiring, then walk or get a taxi. For pull-from-back-of-car uses, the 'last mile' isn't long enough to warrant the electric add-on. For longer rides, get a regular bike with (or without!) all the features you desire.
A successful Kickstarter campaign in this case only proves there's enough people interested in buying such a bike. Not necessarily that it's practical in day-to-day usage.
b) Those wheels are waaayy too small. Which is a serious safety hazard on pothole-ridden roads like you have in London. Or any road with a big enough hole in unexpected place. What's more: in folded state, they sit in such a way that you could have >2x bigger wheels without increasing size of the folded package.
People have been cycling mostly on 26-28" tires for good reasons... Downsize those wheels when you want, but no more than necessary.
As for Sir Clive's quote above: no people won't. You get on, start pedaling, and steer. Like any other bicycle. Everything else is a matter of where you're riding, preferences, and practical limitations (not to mention cost).
The design is ingenious, no doubt about that. But imho it severely lacks in the "practical" department:
a) What is the point of an electric folding bicycle, really? For short distances or combination with public transport, you just want to shed as much of the weight/size as practical. If even a 1 or 2 km. ride to/from station is too tiring, then walk or get a taxi. For pull-from-back-of-car uses, the 'last mile' isn't long enough to warrant the electric add-on. For longer rides, get a regular bike with (or without!) all the features you desire.
A successful Kickstarter campaign in this case only proves there's enough people interested in buying such a bike. Not necessarily that it's practical in day-to-day usage.
b) Those wheels are waaayy too small. Which is a serious safety hazard on pothole-ridden roads like you have in London. Or any road with a big enough hole in unexpected place. What's more: in folded state, they sit in such a way that you could have >2x bigger wheels without increasing size of the folded package.
People have been cycling mostly on 26-28" tires for good reasons... Downsize those wheels when you want, but no more than necessary.
As for Sir Clive's quote above: no people won't. You get on, start pedaling, and steer. Like any other bicycle. Everything else is a matter of where you're riding, preferences, and practical limitations (not to mention cost).
- 1024MAK
- Posts: 5118
- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:56 am
- Location: Looking forward to summer in Somerset, UK...
Re: SINCLAIR AT IT AGAIN
Some years ago, near the middle of Bristol city, a pothole blew out the nearside front tyre on my car!
So a bicycle like this would be very vulnerable to badly maintained cycle paths and roads.
Mark
So a bicycle like this would be very vulnerable to badly maintained cycle paths and roads.
Mark
ZX81 Variations
ZX81 Chip Pin-outs
ZX81 Video Transistor Buffer Amp
Standby alert
There are four lights!
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer later in the year.
ZX81 Chip Pin-outs
ZX81 Video Transistor Buffer Amp
Standby alert
There are four lights!
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer later in the year.
Re: SINCLAIR AT IT AGAIN
Yes - be careful using that bike.
Re: SINCLAIR AT IT AGAIN
I think this grating can be used to make a wheel into a Mobius band quicklike... Now to try it.
5-TS1000,UK ZX81<-Sheelagh, US ZX81, 2-TS1500/KDLX , 3-TS2040 printer, 2-TS2020 cassette decks, ZXPAND+AY, ZeddyNET, ZXBlast, UDG, ZX8CCB, AERCO, BUILDS/REPAIRS ZX Spectrum, ZX80 Minstrel, ZXMAX48 v1 v2, 2-TS-2068, ROM, 16kRAM