This prototype frameset from Velo Orange is a quirky and versatile urban utility cargo machine, which has won the hearts of BikeRadar and will fill your day-to-day riding with joy.
Designed to make everything from stairway schlepping to transcontinental travel easier, Velo Orange has set out to make an impressive small wheeler with the same handling and utility of its larger-wheeled brethren.
Inspired by a 1960s Jack Taylor Small Wheeler, the frame is built from 4130 double butted tubing and takes a full complement of mudguards and racks.
The unicrown fork is fitted with several fixings to fit a rack, bottle cages and more. The frame features two bottle mounts inside the main triangle and a further third underneath the down tube.
Considering the diminutive size of this little bike, it’s surprising just how many mounts are available.
The bike will be equipped with disc brakes and is built up around 20in BMX wheels, with clearances for up to 2.3in tyres with mudguards fitted. There are more options in this wheel size than you might imagine, so you should have a wide choice of tyres and rims to choose from.
The sliding dropouts take a standard 135mm quick release hub and allow you to run the bike with standard gears, hub gears or even singlespeed if you so desire.
Velo Orange claims that disassembled the bike will fit within standard checked luggage dimensions when flying. A padded travel case to complement the bike is in development too.
Physically small but with all the features of a more ‘usual’ bike, the prototype bike could be the ultimate ‘Rinko’ bike — a utility tour de force that can do anything you set it to, and go anywhere you want.
We’re excited to see this bike make it to production and would love to have a go on one. Check out the gallery at the top for more images of the prototype that Velo Orange has built.
While pricing is still to be decided, Velo Orange anticipates a frameset price of around $725.