A-bike
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The A-bike design of light-weight portable folding bicycle invented by Sir Clive Sinclair in the United Kingdom and released on July 12, 2006. It weighs 5.5kg (12 pounds) and folds to 67x30x16cm (26x12x6"), small enough to fit in a rucksack. The A-bike was designed by a team at Daka, Hong Kong and Sinclair Research Ltd over 5 years, and was originally announced in 2004. Sir Clive envisioned the A-bike and Alexander Joshef Kalogroulis was the main design engineer.
In November 2006, A-bike was featured on UK television programme The Gadget Show, alongside the Strida. The distribution company behind the A-bike was featured on the UK Television programme Badger or Bust broadcast on the 5th June 2007.
In March 2008, the official A-bike website promised a new and improved version of the A-bike for "later this spring".
[edit] Characteristics
- Telescoping structure reduces the apparent volume to about 25% in its collapsed state.
- Twin-chain system enables the rider to move about 3.2m per crank rotation despite the bicycle's tiny (6") wheels.
- Crankcase housing : completely encloses the drive mechanism, so no vulnerable parts are exposed to damage, carpets are not marked and clothes are not soiled.
- Portable in a bag reduces the risk of theft or vandalism.
[edit] Counterfeit A-bike
The popularity of the A-bike has prompted a sizable quantity of counterfeit A-bikes on market. While some of these are virtually indistinguishable from the genuine article, their quality is questionable.
