Really Serious Toys
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The Origin
THE PROJECT
Admittedly, bikes are such cool things so we had to ask the question... how can we make a bicycle more fun and still keep it really serious? Borrowing a lesson or two from the electronics industry, the obvious path to take is miniaturization!
Background of the Featured Product
Ever since some guy had this brilliant idea of mounting a lawnmower engine onto a push cart, the miniaturization of recreational vehicles has never been more popular. The development of these early fun contraptions into sophisticated racing machines over time was of course inevitable.
Then came the motorcycles! Pocket bikes (or minimotos) are raced around GoKart tracks having a strong following in Japan & Europe and is gaining popularity in other parts of the world. A typical minimoto is one-fourth the size of a regular motorcycle and is powered by a small two-stroke internal combustion engine. It enjoys an unusually wide scope of participants from children all the way to grownups. It was only a matter of time before the miniaturization craze eventually found its way into motocross, where the "downsized" vehicle is affectionally referred to as the Mini-Dirt bike.
Pocket bike and Mini-Dirt bike racing clubs have formed quickly for good reason. Miniaturized motorcycles are less expensive and less dangerous than their full scale counterparts, allowing a taste of popular sporting thrills at toned-down recreational levels where expert skill levels isn't a requirement or even necessary. The simplified machinery also allows budding young mechanics/racers the opportunity to tinker with identical technology without breaking the bank book.
So What's Missing?
Mini Velo is a classification of small wheeled bicycles well established in Japan and Europe. However, Mini Velo bicycles are predominantly commuter types in both folding and non-folding frame categories. It's amazing that "performance" mountain bikes have not been assimilated into the miniaturization trend. Admittedly the BMX (bicycle-moto-cross) bike has been around since the 70's and is now a highly developed sport in its own right. But this mini-bike offshoot began with kids mimicking their motocross heroes on small bicycles during an era where suspension technology was simply not available, and has not been developed enough to be practical or affordable. Since then, there has been over 20 years of evolution for suspension technology in mountain biking. Light-weight, robust and relatively inexpensive suspension parts are now readily available... so a mini mountain bike should now be plausible.
Geometrical Dilemma
Immediate design difficulties emerge when creating a mini mountain bike configuration that would be ergonomically efficient not only for young riders but also for teens and adults.
Furthermore, Pocket bikes and Mini-Dirt bikes are driven by engines and so therefore the size and scale of the machinery is not dependent on ergonomics. Bicycles on the other hand have to be pedaled via cranks which presents physical restrictions on how small bicycles can be miniturized before they are rendered "awkward" if not pointless.
Ideal crank length is also derived in direct relationship to the rider's limbs. Long crank arms suitable for adults would cause the pedals to slam onto the ground if installed on a really small bicycle. Conversely, with short crank arms suitably installed on a small bike, effective acceleration would hardly be achievable for an adult.
Next: The Formula
So What's Missing?
Mini Velo is a classification of small wheeled bicycles well established in Japan and Europe. However, Mini Velo bicycles are predominantly commuter types in both folding and non-folding frame categories. It's amazing that "performance" mountain bikes have not been assimilated into the miniaturization trend. Admittedly the BMX (bicycle-moto-cross) bike has been around since the 70's and is now a highly developed sport in its own right. But this mini-bike offshoot began with kids mimicking their motocross heroes on small bicycles during an era where suspension technology was simply not available, and has not been developed enough to be practical or affordable. Since then, there has been over 20 years of evolution for suspension technology in mountain biking. Light-weight, robust and relatively inexpensive suspension parts are now readily available... so a mini mountain bike should now be plausible.
Geometrical Dilemma
Immediate design difficulties emerge when creating a mini mountain bike configuration that would be ergonomically efficient not only for young riders but also for teens and adults.
Furthermore, Pocket bikes and Mini-Dirt bikes are driven by engines and so therefore the size and scale of the machinery is not dependent on ergonomics. Bicycles on the other hand have to be pedaled via cranks which presents physical restrictions on how small bicycles can be miniturized before they are rendered "awkward" if not pointless.
Ideal crank length is also derived in direct relationship to the rider's limbs. Long crank arms suitable for adults would cause the pedals to slam onto the ground if installed on a really small bicycle. Conversely, with short crank arms suitably installed on a small bike, effective acceleration would hardly be achievable for an adult.
Next: The Formula
