The Vello, in the open riding position. Vello
The Vello, in the open riding position.
When the rider dismounts and folds the bike, the rear tire swings underneath the frame. Vello
When the rider dismounts and folds the bike, the rear tire swings underneath the frame.
The Vello Speedster comes with bull-horn or drop handlebars and skinny tires for high-speed riding. Vello
The Vello Speedster comes with bull-horn or drop handlebars and skinny tires for high-speed riding.
The Vello's handlebars and seat drop to tuck down to get the bike into the full folded position. Vello
The Vello's handlebars and seat drop to tuck down to get the bike into the full folded position.
A close up of the magnet that holds the rear wheel in place while riding. Inside that black cylinder is a small shock absorber. Vello
A close up of the magnet that holds the rear wheel in place while riding. Inside that black cylinder is a small shock absorber.
The Vello Rocky has straight handlebars for a lean-forward riding position, designed for uneven terrain. Vello
The Vello Rocky has straight handlebars for a lean-forward riding position, designed for uneven terrain.
The Vello Urbano has an 8-speed transmission and a front rack for carrying cargo. Vello
The Vello Urbano has an 8-speed transmission and a front rack for carrying cargo.
Pre-orders are now being accepted for the bike with first deliveries arriving around March 2015. Prices are $1,138 (for the Urbano) and up. Vello
Pre-orders are now being accepted for the bike with first deliveries arriving around March 2015. Prices are $1,138 (for the Urbano) and up.
Folding bikes are a compromise. They’re a breeze to store in a studio apartment or at an office. They’re easy to take on public transportation, and you don’t have to leave them outside and trust your U-lock will deter thieves. For all that versatility, the ride quality typically suffers—tiny wheels and uneven weight distribution make these bikes exhausting to pedal, and it’s near impossible to look cool riding one. Bending over and releasing hatches to fold the bike up adds back pain to an already undignified routine.
The Vello folding bike doesn’t solve the ride quality and small-wheels problem. Its innovation is in the folding mechanism: Just dismount, lift the bike slightly, and use your foot to pop the rear wheel underneath the frame. It’s an elegant way to go from riding to walking, as you’ll often do with a folding bike.
Bulgarian-born, Vienna-based designer Valentin Vodev made the first Vello prototypes before a trip to Cuba, where he wanted to be able to ride around and fit his bike on public transportation. The trick is that the rear shock absorber is magnetic—when it detaches, the back wheel can swing forward. If you’re riding it, your weight and the magnet keep the frame solidly together.
Vello
The bike has petite 20-inch wheels (standard size for a folding bike), fenders to keep mud and rain off your clothes, and integrated front and rear lights. Each bike is handmade and comes with a unique QR code that links to the owner’s online profile to help recover your bike, should someone swipe it.
The Vello come in three variations: the Urbano ($1,138 with Shimano 8-speed gears, oversized mudguards, a front tray for carrying stuff), the Speedster ($1,919 with a bullhorn or drop handlebar, a Brooks saddle, 10-speed Sram Apex gears, no fenders), and the Rocky ($1,523 with a flat handlebar for a forward riding position, and Shimano Deore XT 10-speed).
If the practicality of a folding bike is worth conceding some dignity, the bikes, funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign, are available for pre-order with deliveries starting in March 2015.
No comments:
Post a Comment