Howdy all
This is for all of you who are well aware of the impact of living on an already strained environment and just don’t feel ‘comfortable’ being ferried around by a gluttonous chemical guzzling machine. A not so new invention, the folding bicycle, has finally hit the senses of the public with a metaphorical bicycle pump and is expected to do rather well to say the least. The sole focus of this California based company Dahon has been on creating innovative but reasonably-priced folding bicycles for those who are a little more ‘environmentally’ inclined.
The founder of Dahon , Dr David Hon was originally a physicist at the Hughes Aircraft Corporation where he was another cog in the arms manufacturing machine. Despite his success, Dr Hon was unfulfilled at Hughes and with the fuel shortages in the mid 70’s decided to embark on a different journey, one of global philanthropy that wouldn’t be the easiest of proverbial paths. Despite many awards for design and initiative no bicycle manufacturers were willing to license or build his bike for him. Deciding to take a massive risk Dr Hon managed to find funding and relocated to Taiwan to set up a factory and by the end of 1983 the first bikes were rolling off the production line.
All the bikes are very easy to use and fold up with the average time being about five minutes and the shortest time just fifteen seconds. Reminds me of those superman moments where Clark manages to change in two seconds flat. Another quirky concept that I found interesting was that most of the bikes weigh less than ten kilos this is because of the type of Steel that is used, a drawn (work hardened), 4130 chromoly steel, which is 60% stronger than high tensile steel. FYI Chromoly steel refers to the alloy used in the production, in this case Chromium.
With over twenty different models of bikes now in different terrain categories as well, it’s safe to say there is a fold-up bike that will call to you whether it’s economic pressures, environmental pressures, life pressures or just the need of having to have. Here’s a few of the ones I thought would be awesome to have a go on.
Here’s the Dahon site, check out some of the other models. Some of them are pretty crazy and surprising they actually work.
Alex
Wow these are some super cool folding bikes. I’m all for taking these smokey death cars off our roads and enjoying a healthier environment with pedal power. NIce one Mr. Hon
I dig it too. THe only problem with these is that we’re going to have to get used to the crazy distances.
Right now you can drive 25km in 25min…what’s the speed of a bicycle?
Not used to rndeiag what the new generation thinks of as language, it took 10 or 12 entries for me to figure out what ‘ffs’ meant. (Is my face red.) I’m glad I trudged through, because Josh has an innate sense of story. It’s nothing complex or subtle, just this natural way of keeping you interested. I have read his blog faithfully now and find myself rooting for him as he continues on his quest to, well let’s face it, to get laid. Start from the beginning and follow it, and it reads like a novel written by a very authentic voice. You’ll get the lingo eventually.
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