Back in June I commented on the imminent release of Clive Sinclair's odd but technically brilliant A-bike, in which I suggested that
anyone who wanted that sort of transport would probably already by satisfied with a folding scooter
Well, I reckon I might have been a bit harsh in that assessment. While clearly aimed at that market, this promotional video shows the thing in motion and you've got to admit that it moves like a "real" bike:
OK, it might not be your cup of tea (I'm still pretty sure it's not mine) but it's clearly more than just a fancy folding scooter.
Quick change
Of course you expect the company to show the folding mechanism in the best possible light, so how does it really work in the field? A couple of videos on YouTube show it in actual use, starting with this guy from Stuff magazine who goes from fully folded bike to motion in 20 seconds:
And it looks like some curious people asked this guy for a street demo—he needs a bit of practice, but he still manages to get it folded in 35 seconds:
Cult following?
Could the A-bike be developing its own cult following? There is already a dedicated portal site at A-Bike Central and A-Bike Owner is the blog of an enthusiast (who commutes a 12km round trip on it!) I don't read Japanese, but leonarhodo clearly thinks that the A-bike is cool enough to make modifications—and is that a GPS on the handlebar?!?
It's quicker than walking
I think the review in Stuff magazine sums up the market niche for this bike:
It's an alternative to walking rather than an alternative to cycling a regular bike - think of it as a replacement for those micro scooters that cluttered the pavements five years ago.
Just be careful where you choose to ride it—on a hill any steeper than this walking might be the faster option…
Comments
I like Sinclair's comments, he has clearly thought about how the bike could be used. I'm not sure about the commuting options though, having to deal with a folding bike as well as a bag (especially a laptop bag) doesn't appeal to me as I'd then end up with atleast 2 bulky items to get onto the train/bus.
Maybe a backpack over the shoulders and a folded bike under the arm? It would work for some.
Looks like you could take a nasty header with those small wheels and a fair percentage of rider weight over the front end. But I'd love to try one out. It looks like the thing for those mixed-mode expeditions.
I wouldn't mind having a go at one of these either—but I'm not sure that I'd make regular use of it.
The only folding bike that I've used to ride any real distance is the Dahon Boardwalk and I found that with the smaller wheels and shorter wheelbase I moderated the way I ride pretty quickly. I expect it's pretty much the same with the A-Bike, only more so. In fact A-Bike Owner reports on an incident where he nearly didn't moderate his riding—and almost attempted to cross a cattle grid on those tiny wheels!