Tag Archives: Alex Moulton

Meet Mr. John Macnaughtan from Moulton Bicycles Co.

We are especially privileged to have Mr. John Macnaughtan, Director of Moulton Bicycles Co., to grace this special Moulton event (in collaboration with Onesport Pte Ltd, exclusive distributor for Moulton bicycles)

He will be sharing about the heritage of Moulton, some background of the Moulton company and he is looking forward to meet and to hear your stories about your Moulton Bicycle.

Do not MISS this great opportunity to have a Q&A session with Mr. John Macnaughtan and sharing your views and thoughts about Moulton Bicycles! RSVP now to checkmybikeshop@gmail.com!

Date: 29th April 2013 (Monday)
Time: 8pm-930pm
Venue: My Bike Shop Too! at Midview City

Kindly RSVP to checkmybikeshop@gmail.com. Closing date for RSVP 27th April 2013.

Mini-Velos are the latest craze

Mini Velos are bikes are defined as a standard adult road bicycle design except using relatively small diameter wheels. They do not fold but are typically equipped with top end components to give the rider superb performance but lower drag and lower torque to achieve maximum speeds.

Alex Moultons were the first to start this trend and they have achieved many incredible records and were subsequently banned as the organisers felt the lower riding height gave the riders unfair competition. Coventry CC pursuit team were unstoppable on the track, their Moultons allowing them to keep in a tight group to reduce aerodynamic drag; road riders benefited from the reduced aerodynamic drag of the small wheels and, with reputation established, the Moulton became acceptable to the most discerning club cyclists.

Following the introduction of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) rule 1.3.018, Moultons are not permitted in road-racing events – this is why you never see them in events like the Tour de France – but they are still used in time-trials and for ultra-distance events. Makes one wonder why no one raised the issue of their smaller wheels?

Alex Moulton continues to offer these fantastic bikes and have moderated the highly priced (but also highly sought after) NS series with the TSR series to offer cyclists an option to own a Dr Alex Moulton inspired lattice construction “air frame”

Anyway it has only been the recent year that the MiniVelos came back to the scene with the first credible offer from Tyrell in Japan and they offered a Scandium/Titanium frame to match the 20 inch rim wheels.

MBS brought them in and as a result we have the widest range of MiniVelos too.

You may have seen some of there on the roads and they are incredibly fast. In Japan , they are already Number 1 and its also because of this that many leading folding bike manufacturers like Dahon challenge the status quo.

Dahon entered into the Minibikes segment with the Mako (discontinued), PAQ Hammerhead and Smoothhound and made a strong impression in Japan.

With the introduction of the lock jaw hinge system, the Dahon Mid Town bikes (as Dahon calls) it are gaining just so MANY fans: Smoothhound (featuredon WSJ Asia), Hammerhead and Silvertip.

The bikes are truly superb to ride and beautiful to own.

Do you own a MiniVelo yet? Time to get one now, just come to MBS! We will show you which one will cause heads to turn and yet offer you the perforamnce you need.WSJ Asia on Foldable bikes

How does one choose a folding bike?

With such a wide range of folding bikes to choose from, it can be daunting when you walk through our doors. At MBS we stock the leading brands (there is at least 7 of them and more to be added) and a wide range of wheel sizes, folding mechanisms and folding systems. At our last count, we have >50 models of folding bikes to choose from between 7 brands.

Choosing a folding bike is actually easy, it REALLY starts with you and what you want to do with your bike. Take away all the paid advertorial hype and marketing hearsay. Don’t let that fast-to-fold video or easier-to-push notion distract you. Afterall a bicycle is for riding and using the Pareto 80/20 rule, you put emphasis on the things that matter most and less on features that you do not use alot of or is typically a small requirement at the end of your journey. Ride safety is paramount and make sure that the latches are well designed and have safety in mind. Focus on comfort while you are riding and leave specific goals of completing century rides and to bike models that riders have used before. Here are a few tips:

Try to meet 80% of your needs. Everyone wants a bike that does everything (Commuting, Recreational, Performance, Century rides, Touring, Running errands, Household bike, bike for the maid etc ) but a one size fits all does not exist so it is necessary to narrow down to what is more important. This then allows you to narrow down into various folding systems, rideability, budget and personal preferences which will help you choose your ideal folding bike. As cycling is typically 95% of the time peddling, your saddle choice, ride comfort and sitting posture is important and make sure you get fitted for the bike at the end of the selection (Even for a folding bike). A well fitted bike will cause less stress on your joints, perineum and will ensure a long enjoyable ride. Numbness and discomfort is your body telling you that something is amiss so don’t dismiss it when it happens.

Some bike designs limit ride position adjustments so before you get excited about the brand and which specs, finding a reputable dealer that will give you comprehensive advice and ongoing support will help secure a good foundation of your bike ownership.

STEP 1: FIND A GOOD DEALER

Do they stock a wide range of brands and models in a showroom that allows you to compare models and brands? Or are they just stocking models they import? Dealers have to be knowledgeable about the various brands, have full time trained mechanic(s) as it is very important because bikes typically require tuning and some adjustments throughout the life of the bike. Do they have the necessary tools , lubes and workshop area? A properly maintained bike can be that difference that ensures minimal accidents and mishaps on your rides. Local in-country support and warranty, how does your dealer treat this? Do they open on days and operating hours that you need them to be around?

Do research on their brands and dealer coverage. Ask all the questions about the bikes and how they perform under different circumstances. Avoid being misled by headline claims and paid advertorials. Get the low down on reviews and make sure that they are truly done by experts and neutral panels of reviewers. Check with friends on how a model or brand has any things to watch out for.

Make sure you get to try the bikes. This is not a Lexus or Merc showroom but do not buy based on specs (or emotives) and with the exception of the top end premium models that cost >S$2.5k, you should have a decent choice of bikes to try so that you can get a feel of how various bike brands and models perform on the road. Do not part your hard earned dollars based on hearsay or salesy talk!

Make sure you can get essential spares like brake components, cables, tires, inner tubes and service like component upgrades, wheel truing and bike servicing. Are they available at the dealer? Are they correctly priced? how fast is the turnaround?

Once you have found a good dealer, you can now focus on the selection of the folding bike according to your needs, Dahon has a good checklist – simple as 1-2-3!

STEP 2: DECIDE HOW YOU RIDE

The first step in choosing your folding bicycle is to decide what type of riding you’ll be doing. Recreation? Century Rides? Commuting? Neighborhood errands?

STEP 3: CHOOSE YOUR WHEEL SIZE

Dahon makes bikes with five different wheel diameters: 16″, 20″, 24″, 26″, and 700c. Wheel
size will affect the ride characteristics and portability of your bike.

16″ WHEEL SIZE
16″ wheel folding bikes are designed to be light and ultra compact when folded. That makes them ideal for commuters who use public transport because they need to fold and carry their bikes several times a day. However a trade off is that to achieve a very compact folded size, Dahon’s 16″ bikes won’t be quite as comfortable to ride for longer distances or for taller riders. Choose a 16″ model if compact folded size is your primary concern.

20″ WHEEL SIZE
Most of our customers feel that our 20″ models deliver the optimal balance of performance and folding convenience.
20″ wheel folding bikes are slightly larger when folded than the 16″ models but they deliver a more comfortable and efficient ride. With the right components, 20″ wheel bikes are good for distances up to a century. Choose a 20″ model if you want performance and portability.

24″ and 26″ and 700C WHEEL SIZE
24″ and 26″ amd 700C wheel folding bikes are essentially “regular” bikes that offer portable convenience and Dahon quality. Our full size bikes feature standard frame geometries for an excellent ride. Virtually all of the components, except for the frame, are off-the-shelf components that can be repaired or replaced in any bike shop. Choose a full size bike if you want the performance and looks of a “regular” bike but still want folding convenience.

STEP 4: CHOOSE YOUR COMPONENTS

To make your final decision, consider what level of performance you’ll need from your components. The better the components, the better your bike will ride. And better components also mean improved durability and lighter weight. This is the part where the budget versus desirable traits start to diverge.

Okay now that you got your folding bike, it is just the beginning. After you get bike setup, we have to decide on helmets, essential accessories like front and rear blinkers, bottle cage, bells, saddle bags, rack, iPhone bike mount? …OMG this begs for another blog on desirable accessories to go with your folding bike. Not to worry, if we do not post the next blog up, just come to MBS, we would be happy to assist you! and we got the range of accessories too.

Everything about Dr Alex Moulton & the Moulton Bikes

Cyclists throughout the world owe Dr Alex Moulton CBE a debt for his inventive genius in originating and developing a bicycle design that was not only sprung but also rigid. It was introduced at the London cycle show in 1962.
Moulton had worked at the Bristol Aeroplane Company before the Second World War, later joining the family firm of Spencer, Moulton and Company at Bradford-on-Avon, where he became technical director.
In 1956 the family business was sold and Moulton founded Moulton Developments Ltd to concentrate on the design and development of suspension systems for vehicles. From his work on the suspension of four-wheel road vehicles he turned to the advancement of cycle suspension employing small wheels and narrow tyres, together with sprung frames and forks. Moulton converted a former stable block at his home, The Hall, into a modern factory for the production of bicycles.
The original Moulton Bicycle Company was sold to the then Raleigh company, with Moulton retained as a consultant but sales of the sprung bicycle were not fully exploited. Later, Moulton resumed production of sprung machines at his Bradford-on-Avon factory to feed the world-wide demand that still persisted. (Moulton 50 – right)

Some 30 years after the introduction of the first Moulton commercial model, the design continued to maintain its influence and popularity enhanced by further developments in 1991.

Watch his lecture in Coventry University. This man is really something !! We are humbled and honored to be selling his bikes (art) of engineering. Wtach his lecture at the end of blog.

Records from 1980s…but there are more even prior to that!

1985-1986 – In the Autumn of 1985, at the International Human Powered Speed Championships, a fully-faired Moulton ridden by Jim Glover broke the 200 metres flying start speed record, at 50.21mph (80.79kph). Then on August 29th 1986, at the same event, he broke his own record at a speed of 51.29mph (82.54kph) which still stands today for the conventional riding position. The Moulton ridden was an AM SPEED with the fairing designed by Doug Milliken of Buffalo, NY.

1987-88 – Dave Bogdan rode the ultra-endurance Race Across America (RAAM) in 1987 on a pre-production AM-Jubilee, and in 1988 on a prototype AM SPEED. His 1987 time was 11 days, 8 hours and 2 minutes. In 1988 he improved on this by completing the 3,073m (4,944km) route in 10 days and 15 hours and 1 minute, averaging 289 miles (465 km) per day. He finished 8th out of 35 starters in what is not only the toughest, longest ‘single stage’ race in the world, but also the ultimate test of man and machine.

1989- Richard Grisgby of the Bath Cycling Club, riding an AM SPEED, came first out of 180 in the 1990 Fowey Triathlon in Cornwall. He also came third in the cycling split of the Kingswood Triathlon out of some 400 competitors and was only 9 seconds behind a 1st category roadman.

1991 – Gerry Tatrai wins the 24 hour HPV race around the Milwaukee Mile Track, Wisconsin USA.

2001 – Dan Farrell (on NS SPEED) completes the world’s longest randonnee, the 1400km London-Edinburgh-London in 100 hours.

2003 – Chloe Williams (on NS SPEED) completes Paris-Brest-Paris, a 1200km randonnee, as youngest female finisher and wins the Audax UK Merit Trophy for most outstanding cycling performance of the year. Dan Farrell rides PBP on prototype TSR.