Comments on: Cinco by ORTRE: a bike for everyday cycling

By: Todd Edelman

Todd Edelman — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:35:49 +0000

Male designer: Not low-stepover/step-through. Dress and skirt catcher. Agree with Colostomy about geometry, hub gears, etc.

By: Mr Colostomy

Mr Colostomy — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:05:59 +0000

I like the idea, but the geometry doesn’t really suit the idea of it being an “everyday bike.” Give it a North Road handlebar and take the seat-tube angle down to about 68-69 degrees and it’d be better. Also, hub hears, drum or roller brakes, mudguards and a dynamo lighting option would make the bike infinitely more viable for everyday transportation.

By: smalghan

smalghan — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:40:23 +0000

Congratulations on getting a design all the way to production, that’s a great achievement! The smaller wheels make it much easier to get on or off and the tires look big enough not to get stuck in drainage grates. My only reservation is the inclined package surface, it makes getting pizza/takeout/anything with liquid in it less likely to arrive in the same shape it started in.

By: Lorena Bee

Lorena Bee — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:24:25 +0000

This is excellent – any idea if it would work with a Gator bar? I’d like to ride with my kids more but one is a little young to be soloing the distance to school …

By: Fenriq

Fenriq — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:17:01 +0000

I like it quite a bit. I’ve been coming around to the minivelo concept and this takes it one big step further into the practical realm. Any idea of what sort of price this bike will have?

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:58:59 +0000

Thanks Adam,

Strength wise its actually great. It passes European Standards which are pretty stringent. But more importantly is how it feels – and when I rode the first test frame I was surprised how stiff the frame felt. The lowered seat stays, and the integrated rack do a lot to stiffen the frame, whilst the relatively long seat tube, and larger volume tires do a lot to add smoothness to the ride.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:52:00 +0000

Lowering the load really makes a difference. When I ride the Cinco with a child on the back, it is easy to forget someone’s there. If I ride a mountain bike with a child on the back – I really feel the affect on the handling.

With this bike I had in mind that it would be for short trips up to 5km, but it rides pretty nicely and I have no problem with 40km.

If all goes well I plan to make different sizes, actually I have a unique idea for this – stay tuned.

I will try a set of moustache bars and see how it feels.

Thanks for the feedback

By: Mr,

Mr, — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 02:45:42 +0000

This bike reflects a thought I have had: isn’t the simplest way to lower the load on a bike to use smaller wheels?

There are performance disadvantages, which do not matter in rides under 5km, which is the majority of what people ride. Basket bikes or other ‘Rube Goldberg’ rides have their place, but are too specific for the needs of most riders.

There are a few things I would change:
- more fork rake and a basket on the front, too
- more than one size, though not more than three
- moustache bars, or anything but straight bars

By: Steve A

Steve A — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:32:42 +0000

Hmm. I ride my cyclocross bike every day except when I ride my wife’s 40-year old bike. Should I be concerned and should I not be carrying “regular bags” on these bikes? Inquiring minds want to know what problem this solves that wasn’t solved long ago. And even in folding versions which this one does not appear to do.

By: Jos Sluijsmans

Jos Sluijsmans — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:51:36 +0000

Lovely bike! I think it would even look better with a shaft drive.