 Handsome machine will win admirers |
 Neat clamp design uses seat post for seat and down tube clamps |
 Looks flimsy, works a treat |
One of the more intriguing bicycles to be seen at last month’s Eurobike show was a neat, well-equipped touring cycle from Dahon.
No prizes for guessing that it offered a degree of foldability, but top marks to Dahon for adopting one of the most effective solutions on the market to the problem of breaking a big-wheel bike down to a manageable size.
Designed by Tom Ritchey of mountain biking and Ritchey components fame, the BreakAway frame concept is well-proven in machines bearing the inventor’s name. The frame ‘break’ is achieved by separating the top and down tubes at the seat post cluster, each tube having its own clamp on the post.
At the bottom bracket end of the down tube, the tube is cut in two and each free end fitted with a conical flange. When pushed together, they are locked using a ring with internal chamfers that grips and presses together the two flanges, locking them solidly in a way that belies the appearance of the assembly.
Cable inner wire connectors allow the control cables to be parted for easy handling. The whiole machine fits in a small suitcase which, if the example of the original is to be followed, will be part of the purchase deal.
The concept works exceptionally well, offering a ride feel pretty much indistinguishable from that of a non-BreakAway frame. Watch out for more on RCUK.
