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Ant
It’s small and, at under 10 kilos, it’s light, but like its namesake the Ant Bike can carry many times its own weight. Those 12" wheels don’t sacrifice strength; all things being equal, small wheels are structurally stronger than large wheels. And the Ant Bike’s rigid frame gives it a ride quality comparable to large-wheeled bikes. The folding mechanism is among the most user-friendly on any folding bike. There is no cycling origami to wrestle with: with one push of a button the bike collapses in on itself. The manoeuvre is no more complex than folding an umbrella: even the least mechanically-inclined cyclist is comfortable with the Ant Bike. Compacted, the prototype shown here measures 82x72x19cm: the production model will be a little smaller. Unfolding is as simple as folding: the self-locating push-button release mechanism just clicks into place when it reaches the fully open position. Handlebars and stem swivel through 180 degrees and also self-locate. The Ant Bike is designed as a short- to medium-range commuter and city bike, especially for mixed mode travel - it will go in cars, trains, or boats without problems. When folded, it’s easy to trundle along if you don’t want to carry it. On the road, the geometry of the bike allows children as well as adults to ride the bike comfortably. The fat slick tyres insulate the rider from lumps and bumps, and if you want even more comfort, a rear-suspension model is available. The Ant Bike is built from 7000 series double-butted aluminium. The single-speed version has a reasonable gear of 52", and there’s also a Shimano 4-speed Auto-D hub gear version, with a gear range from 50 to 92" or 57 to 104", depending on the sprocket size chosen.

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The price of the Ant Bike was still to be arranged at the time of going to press.


Manufacturer
One Dot P/L are an Australian company dedicated to developing and marketing new product ideas. The original Ant Bike was invented 10 years ago by Perth inventor Jamie Herder. Just over a year ago, One Dot gained the rights to the invention, and since then Aldo Contarino and David Officer of One Dot have been working with Jamie Herder to bring the bike to its present form. Prototypes went on display at the Interbike trade show in 1999. It was thought that consumers might object to the small 12" wheels, yet many people were attracted to the bike for just that reason. With the recent craze for small scooters, small wheels are in vogue.

One Dot P/L
113 Anzac Hwy
Ashford
South Australia
5035
Australia

phone: +61 8 8371 4439
fax: : +61 8 8371 1686
email: info@one-dot.com
web: www.one-dot.com


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