sinclair launches world's smallest folding bike

[[email protected]]

Gawnsoft <[email protected]> writes:

> Yes - one of the things that leaps out from the article about the
> A-bike is that it's pricing is currently claimed as £160!
>
> For something that folds smaller and lighter than a Brommie, in almost
> as fast a time.
>

Indeed, it'd be nice to get one and try to hack some proper wheels
onto it.

Yes, I know spoked wheels are expensive, but they're worth the effort.

A

 

[Andy Leighton]

On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 14:17:00 +0100,
[Not Responding] <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 12:56:39 GMT, Julesh
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Gawnsoft wrote:
>>
>>> I was never a Spectrum person. I wanted a 6502 too much. So I had an
>>> Oric (or two).
>>>
>>I recall, white with two blue stripes and tiny keys wasn't it?
>>
>
> Was it the Oric that had a tiny built-in LCD screen allowing you to
> programme the thing?

No I don't think so. Are you thinking about the Grundy Newbrain which
had a 1x16 display (but I don't think it was LCD)? I don't know whether
you could actually use the machine without a TV/monitor hooked up either.

--
Andy Leighton => [email protected]
"The Lord is my shepherd, but we still lost the sheep dog trials"
- Robert Rankin, _They Came And Ate Us_

 

[Tim Downie]

"JohnB" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Alan Braggins wrote:
>
> > The picture at
> >
http://www.straitstimes.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2004-07-03/h20.jpg
> > looks a bit like a Strida, only with ridiculously small wheels and a
less
> > plausible looking pedal position.
> > I don't care what cunning suspension mechanism is packed in there, those
> > wheels aren't going to work anywhere with potholes or kerbs.
>
> Clearly someone needs to develop the folding wheel.

Admittedly for the yachting market but with a bit of ingenuity....

http://www.sailnet.com/store/item.cfm?pid=29646

Tim

--
Remove the *obvious* to reply by mail

 

[Jose Marques]

On Thu, 8 Jul 2004, Julesh wrote:

> Not the "One Per Desk" - as in it was (allegedly) cheap enough that a
> whole office didn't have to share a single computer.

Having ten computers (two on my desk, four underneath, four behind me) in
my office at the moment I do wonder if it wasn't all some ghastly mistake.

--
Jose Marques

 

[Julesh]

Jose Marques wrote:
> On Thu, 8 Jul 2004, Julesh wrote:
>
>
>>Not the "One Per Desk" - as in it was (allegedly) cheap enough that a
>>whole office didn't have to share a single computer.
>
>
> Having ten computers (two on my desk, four underneath, four behind me) in
> my office at the moment I do wonder if it wasn't all some ghastly mistake.
>

Yes. Are you sure it's an office? I often used to hide in the server
room when I ran a network. It was lovely on hot days and a good place to
hide from anybody wanting anything explained. ;-)


Jules

 

[James Thomson]

"Peter Clinch" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Alex Moulton set out to prove that small wheels were not
> intrinsically poor, yet despite not worrying himself with
> things like low cost mass production, [snip]

Historical note: the first series of Moulton bicycles were designed
explicitly with low cost mass production in mind. Through his motor
industry contacts, Moulton had a production agreement with the BMC plant at
Kirkby. About a quarter of a million Series 1 and 2 Moultons were produced
between 1962 and 1970, and Moulton's sales were second only to Raleigh.

James Thomson

 

[Jose Marques]

On Fri, 9 Jul 2004, Julesh wrote:

> Yes. Are you sure it's an office? I often used to hide in the server
> room when I ran a network. It was lovely on hot days and a good place to
> hide from anybody wanting anything explained. ;-)

Yes, it's an office. The machine room is nearly full and the aircon is on
the blink. My previous office had even more machines, which was good
because the windows wouldn't shut properly and the computers kept it nice
and warm in winter. The old Suns made a hell of a racket though. My boss
tells me I can move some of the machines next week, but I'll be getting a
new PowerMac G5 DP to make up for the loss. Woe is me.

NB. To get back on topic. My Brompton (which alas only gets me from the
car park) fits very nicely under the desk behind me next to an old G4.

--
Jose Marques

 

[Peter Clinch]

James Thomson wrote:

> Historical note: the first series of Moulton bicycles were designed
> explicitly with low cost mass production in mind. Through his motor
> industry contacts, Moulton had a production agreement with the BMC plant at
> Kirkby. About a quarter of a million Series 1 and 2 Moultons were produced
> between 1962 and 1970, and Moulton's sales were second only to Raleigh.

Thanks for that: I (obviously) hadn't realised he'd made anything like
that number (I thought it was in the 5 figures range, though that would
hardly have been something to sneeze at as it is).

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email protected] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

 

[paul]

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> "Peter Clinch" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Alex Moulton set out to prove that small wheels were not
> > intrinsically poor, yet despite not worrying himself with
> > things like low cost mass production, [snip]
>
> Historical note: the first series of Moulton bicycles were designed
> explicitly with low cost mass production in mind. Through his motor
> industry contacts, Moulton had a production agreement with the BMC plant at
> Kirkby. About a quarter of a million Series 1 and 2 Moultons were produced
> between 1962 and 1970, and Moulton's sales were second only to Raleigh.
>
> James Thomson
>
>
>
I had a Moulton Midi in the 70s, and my sister had a moulton mini at the
same time. We got these bikes because my folks wouldn't pay for
'proper' racing bikes. I went miles on that thing.
--
..paul

If at first you don't succeed...
Skydiving is probably not the sport for you.

 

[Danny Colyer]

I found a couple of small pictures here:
<URL:http://www.waff.com/global/story.asp?s=1992870&ClientType=Printable>

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

 

[Julesh]

Danny Colyer wrote:

> I found a couple of small pictures here:
> <URL:http://www.waff.com/global/story.asp?s=1992870&ClientType=Printable>
>
They certainly show the sort of surface it's intended for. It's not
really going to manage potholes is it?


Jules

 

[Simon Brooke]

in message <[email protected]>, Andy Leighton
('[email protected]') wrote:

> On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 14:17:00 +0100,
> [Not Responding] <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 12:56:39 GMT, Julesh
>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>Gawnsoft wrote:
>>>
>>>> I was never a Spectrum person. I wanted a 6502 too much. So I had
>>>> an Oric (or two).
>>>>
>>>I recall, white with two blue stripes and tiny keys wasn't it?

Silver grey rather than white, but yes. There was a later model called
the Atmos which I think was black and red (my Oric is the early model).

>> Was it the Oric that had a tiny built-in LCD screen allowing you to
>> programme the thing?
>
> No I don't think so. Are you thinking about the Grundy Newbrain which
> had a 1x16 display (but I don't think it was LCD)?

Only the Newbrain AD model; I've got one of those as well.

> I don't know
> whether you could actually use the machine without a TV/monitor hooked
> up either.

Yes, you can.

As you can tell, you _really_ wouldn't want to be sat next to me at a
dinner party!

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; MS Windows: A thirty-two bit extension ... to a sixteen bit
;; patch to an eight bit operating system originally coded for a
;; four bit microprocessor and sold by a two-bit company that
;; can't stand one bit of competition -- anonymous

 

[MartinM]

Helen Deborah Vecht <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Jon Senior <jon@restlesslemon_DOT_co_DOT_uk.remove>typed
>
>
> > Despite this I've got a soft spot for Mr Sinclair. He's a true British
> > institution. Despite having the inverse Midas Touch [1] he plods onward
> > undaunted.
>
> > Jon
>
> > [1] Everything he touches turns to sh..
>
> Shouldn't that be the Sadim touch??

I heard an urban myth once that a chap walked into Sir Clive's office
(about 15 years ago) unrolled a flat screen colour tv like a
certificate, and promptly left never to be seen again.

 

[Gawnsoft]

On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 14:17:00 +0100, "[Not Responding]"
<[email protected]> wrote (more or less):

>On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 12:56:39 GMT, Julesh
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Gawnsoft wrote:
>>
>>> I was never a Spectrum person. I wanted a 6502 too much. So I had an
>>> Oric (or two).
>>>
>>I recall, white with two blue stripes and tiny keys wasn't it?
>>

The Oric-1 was that. It was later revamped to become the Oric Atmos,
with a red and black colour scheme and a proper keyboard.

>Was it the Oric that had a tiny built-in LCD screen allowing you to
>programme the thing?

Alas, no.

There was a micro called the Newbury or somesuch that had a wee
single-line LED display built-into the case to alow use as a portable.

>I started with a ZX81. To an 11 year old science fiction buff, having
>my own computer was like the future had arrived. I progressed through
>Spectrums and even started my career as a software engineer.
>
>Looking back, I find it quite remarkable that the nations youth (well,
>the male ones) were so gripped with programming as a hobby. Maybe it
>was just my school but if you mastered interrupts, you were The Man.

I fondly remember the crisp £5 notes (wel, cheques really) I could get
from reverse-engineering what interrupt the OS used for what, and
sending off the info to the handy hint sections of the PC mags.


--
Cheers,
Euan
Gawnsoft: http://www.gawnsoft.co.sr
Symbian/Epoc wiki: http://html.dnsalias.net:1122
Smalltalk links (harvested from comp.lang.smalltalk) http://html.dnsalias.net/gawnsoft/smalltalk

 

[Gawnsoft]

On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 03:25:27 +0100, anonymous coward
<[email protected]> wrote (more or less):

>On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 23:22:18 +0000, Gawnsoft wrote:
....
>> I cycle lots of places where there are potholes. I've yet to cycle
>> /into/ a pothole. I find cycling around the potholes to be a far
>> superior technique. However, you may feel your kung fu is superior to
>> my kung fu...
>
>Quite the opposite, if you manage to avoid _all_ of them!
>
>Riding a recumbent with 406 size wheels, quite small bumps can become a
>big issue. For example if there are roadworks and there's 2cm bump where
>the surface changes, I have to slow right down to avoid getting a pinch
>flat. I used to have a bike with a 451 size wheel (not much bigger) and it
>seems to cope much better.
>
>On the other hand, kiddie-scooters seem to cope OK, so maybe it can be
>made to work.


I think it's probably the view of the exact placement of the front
wheel varies from 'bent to mtb.

I find my gaze is pretty much on the ground just a yard or two in
fromt of the front contact patch unless I make an effort to look
somewhere else when I'm on my mtb.

I suspect your 'bent has you gazing ahaead at number-plate height...


--
Cheers,
Euan
Gawnsoft: http://www.gawnsoft.co.sr
Symbian/Epoc wiki: http://html.dnsalias.net:1122
Smalltalk links (harvested from comp.lang.smalltalk) http://html.dnsalias.net/gawnsoft/smalltalk

 

[Gawnsoft]

On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 13:58:55 +0100, anonymous coward
<[email protected]> wrote (more or less):
....
>What cycle computer should I fit to warn me when I'm going dangerously
>fast?!

One which will accept wheel-circumference measurements down to about
360mm, I'd guess.

(Which lets out my £7 Equus Judo, I'm pretty sure)


--
Cheers,
Euan
Gawnsoft: http://www.gawnsoft.co.sr
Symbian/Epoc wiki: http://html.dnsalias.net:1122
Smalltalk links (harvested from comp.lang.smalltalk) http://html.dnsalias.net/gawnsoft/smalltalk

 

[Just zis Guy, you know?]

On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 23:44:58 GMT, Gawnsoft
<[email protected]> wrote in message
<[email protected]>:

>I certainly swapped from civil engineering to electronics and comp sci
>off the back of the summer twixt school and uni being spent on a
>ZX81...

And then switched to mechanical after spending the next summer on a
CBR600 ;-)

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

 

[Just zis Guy, you know?]

On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 16:28:09 GMT, Julesh
<[email protected]> wrote in message
<[email protected]>:

>Yes. Are you sure it's an office? I often used to hide in the server
>room when I ran a network. It was lovely on hot days and a good place to
>hide from anybody wanting anything explained. ;-)

I've just had an "MIS Workroom" built (offices are political, y'see).
Lockable door with no window in it and an air conditioner :-D

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

 

[Just zis Guy, you know?]

On Fri, 9 Jul 2004 19:20:49 +0100, Jose Marques
<[email protected]> wrote in message
<[email protected]>:

>The old Suns made a hell of a racket though.

And the heat. The HEAT!

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

 

[Tony Raven]

MartinM wrote:
>
>
> I heard an urban myth once that a chap walked into Sir Clive's office
> (about 15 years ago) unrolled a flat screen colour tv like a
> certificate, and promptly left never to be seen again.

Just another example of young, wealthy and bored aliens get their kicks
from 'buzzing' pre-star travel planets and making contact only with
people whom no-one will ever believe.

Tony