

This doesn’t always matter in the real world, though, since individual rims and spokes vary in strength, as does wheel build/adjustment quality.Īll the above applies to folding bikes, too. After all, less diameter means less side-to-side leverage. Incidentally, smaller wheels are theoretically a bit stiffer and stronger than ones with a wider diameter. It’s not a game-changing difference, but it’s a pleasant surprise in stop-and-go urban riding. There’s less mass to get rotating from a dead stop, so the same pedal power gets you moving just a little bit more quickly. That may not sound like a big deal, but it’s surprisingly helpful when you’re keeping a bike near furniture (such as your desk).Īnother oft-overlooked advantage is that smaller wheels give snappier acceleration. Their smaller wheels also require less vertical clearance to store. Many are even shorter yet, since mini velos usually have a shorter wheelbase (front-to-rear axle distance) than their full-size counterparts. That makes its end-to-end length about 9″ shorter than that of a standard road/city bike with 700c (29″) wheels. The small wheels of a mini velo make it easier to store in tight quarters and to carry through cramped spaces like stairwells, elevators, and transit facilities.Ī typical mini velo has 20″ wheels. But they probably first gained popularity with the success of Moulton Bicycle, founded in 1962. It’s hard to say when mini velos were invented, since small-time inventors no doubt experimented with small-wheeled designs for decades. They’re popular in dense cities where full-size bikes may be hard to store or carry, but an ultra-compact folding bike isn’t necessary. Mini velos do not fold at all, since they have rigid frames with no hinges or other movement. Mini velo FAQ Here’s what a mini velo isĪ mini velo is an adult bicycle with smaller wheels, typically 20″ or less in diameter, but otherwise standard bicycle parts.What mini velo brands should I consider?.What kinds of mini velo bikes are there?.Take it on tour, or home after work.įor more information from Velo Orange click here. Drops or flats, knobby or smooth, road or gravel, they’ve seen the Neutrino shine in so many configurations – even some ebike conversions! The Neutrino is unique but wildly versatile, making it a great all-arounder. This gives it the benefit of being easy to manoeuvre in smaller spaces, carry up stairs, store in smaller spots, and travel with, while making it a familiar and comfortable ride. It’s smaller and lighter than a more traditionally sized bike, but is designed to have the feel and handling of a full-sized frame.

They’ve seen a surprising amount of people use the Neutrino for full-fledged touring, though I suppose that isn’t truly surprising, as its design inspiration is having a manageable size for traveling and navigating urban environments. No need to fish around for the cable and housing. Like many of their other offerings, a small tube is brazed into the downtube allowing for easy housing installation.

If you choose to forgo the dropper post, the internal routing can easily be utilized for your rear brake set-up for a clean look. A necessity to up the rad-factor, it also helps the frame fit in Rinko bags, or if you just want the advantage of quick transitions from in and out of the saddle. In addition to the colour change, this iteration of the Neutrino minivelo is dropper post compatible. The Neutrino still has all the goodies you know and love – beautiful wishbone seatstays, braze-ons out the wazoo, and let’s not forget the kickstand plate that lets you park your steed (or pony?) with ease. The silver downtube decal similarly adds both class and understated flash. Without being too loud, Pistachio is definitely a fun color youu can play-up with your component and accessory choices. Just like its ice cream counterpart, this new flavour is delicious. So Velo Orange have a small announcement – Neutrinos are back in stock! And this go-around they have a cool new colour, a green we’re calling Pistachio.
