If you live in an apartment without a bicycle parking lot, folding bikes are a strong ally. However, it is troublesome if the size when folded is large or if there are many protruding parts. If you're going to hang your clothes on a folding bike at the front door to make a rift, you might want to throw your bike out.
"HELIX" is a product that may be perfect for such people. It is a bicycle designed to be stored in a room.
"HELIX" is a bicycle equipped with 24-inch size tires. Although it is foldable, it is designed to take a riding position close to that of a general bicycle.
However, the biggest feature of "HELIX" is its folding mechanism. When you fold a general folding bike in half, the joint part becomes thin and the tire part becomes a thick triangular shape. Because of that, folding bikes tend to block the space even if the volume itself is small. However, "HELIX" is almost rectangular even when folded. Therefore, it can be stored neatly in the room.
The size when folded is 66 width x 58.46 height x 24.1 cm depth. The developer, Helix Folding Bike, claims that the "HELIX" can be stored in a large 110-liter suitcase and checked in for free as checked baggage on an airplane.
Titanium is used for the frame. The single speed version weighs only 9.07 kg. The 10-speed version weighs 9.57 kg, and the 11-speed version weighs 10.75 kg. If this is the case, it will be easy to bring it indoors in a folded state. It is also convenient for "carrying a bicycle up and down the stairs", which tends to be a bicycle commute.
Helix Folding Bike, which developed "HELIX", is conducting a campaign to recruit investors on the crowdfunding site kickstarter. We have already succeeded in raising funds that exceed the target amount and have decided to commercialize it. A single speed "HELIX" is available with a $ 1,575 investment. The type with a 10-speed transmission requires an investment of $ 1,700, and the type with a Shimano 11-speed transmission requires an investment of $ 2,110. A separate shipping fee of $ 198 is required for shipping to Japan. Shipment is scheduled around March 2016.