Abio Bikes Blog

Greetings Bicycle Enthusiasts,

With an introduction of new products into any market there may be some resistance to acceptance in the form of skepticism or cynicism. At Abio, we thought we would create a Cole’s notes to highlight some of the features of our chainless folding bikes.

Quick Release Levers

The point of our quick release levers is exactly as the name describes. The function of the levers is to create a quick firm seal around the folding hinge to prevent wobble in the main body and handle bar stem during riding. As an ancillary to the quick release levers, the folding joints from the main body and handle bar stem have locking mechanisms that prevent the bikes from unraveling during transport in fold position.

Internal Gear Hub
We have to thank the evolution of the internal geared hub for helping to blossom both the shaft and belt drive mechanisms. The relatively maintenance free system uses a set of planetary gears that rotates about a stationary sun gear. The bottom line – the internal hub provides a range of gearing options that is fully enclosed and compact. More on the system can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hub_gear

Shaft Drive
If you can believe it shaft drives have been introduced over a century ago. The shaft drive system uses a combination of precision beveled gears to translate rotational motion to linear motion on the rod or shaft. The spinning shaft then transfers motion back to another set of beveled gears to propel the rear wheels. The result is that you have a drive system that is entirely enclosed. The shaft drive is safe for all pants from getting caught on moving parts or grease. Let’s not forget to mention you look pretty chic too.

Belt Drive
The belt drive is much simpler to conceptualize. It looks like your conventional chain assembly but instead uses a belt made of synthetic materials developed by Gates. The Gates belt is highly durable and is used in many industrial applications with much more demanding requirements than a leisure bike ride. Since our belt drives are mated with internal gearing system you get a truly greasless system.

Nexus 3sp and 4sp
When people hear that Abio Bike’s are equipped with 3, 4sp gears, they may be reluctant that it will meet their riding needs. We want to point out that yes it is a 3,4sp set up but the gears are spaced wider apart. In other words, the gearing jumps are greater when going from gear 1 to 2. This allows Abio’s 3,4sp gears to cover a similar gearing range as say a 7 or 8sp bike.

For more info visit www.abiobikes.com

So it must have been at least a couple of years since I’ve taken a bike ride around Vancouver’s beloved Stanley Park. Also known as “The Crown Jewel of Vancouver” the park hosts a variety of attractions such as the Vancouver Aquarium, unique flora and fauna but most importantly an amazing bike trail that tantalizes your senses.

There were literally hundreds of cyclists and roller bladders on the trail. On the path you cross totem poles, architechural lined horizons, sandy beach fronts – simply gorgeous landscapes. To navigate throughout the entire park you’ll be riding approximately 10km starting from Coal Harbour and entering into English Bay. There are plenty of interesting pit stops along the way so don’t feel obligated to train like Lance Armstrong before making the trek. Just remember stay on the right side, the left side is for passing!
Here are some photos of the amazing day I had!

http://vancouver.ca/parks/parks/stanley/

www.abiobikes.com

Those of us who want commute to work by bike and public transit are restricted during peak congestion hours. Sure we can understand that conventional bikes take up quite a bit of space in subways and buses….but what if you had a FOLDING BIKE?!
Abio Bikes decided to take on this question with an investigative expose. This hard fact finding expose entails an interview with a Coast Mountain Bus Company (Metro Vancouver Transit Body) representative and discussions with residents from SF, NYC and Toronto. Dateline, 20/20 watch out!

Q and A with Coast Mountain Bus Company
Q: Currently, during what time periods are conventional bikes allowed on transit (buses and skytrains)?
Buses – All times as long as there is room on the bike rack at the front of the bus. Conventional bikes are not allowed inside the cabin of the bus in most circumstances.
Canada Line – All times, all directions
SkyTrain:
All hours except the following:
7:00 – 9:00 a.m.Westbound
Travelling from Columbia Station to Commercial Station; and from Columbia and King George Stations towards Waterfront Station.
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.Eastbound
Travelling from Commercial Station to Columbia Station; and from Waterfront Station towards Columbia and King George Station.
Q: Do these restrictions apply to folding bikes since they are much more compact compared to conventional bikes?
There is no concrete policy on “folding” bikes as there has yet to be a big enough ridership with them to warrant one. However, I would argue that folded bikes would essentially become “carry-on packages” or equipment once folded. And like any other package or equipment traveling on transit, it should be allowed as long as it does not pose a safety and/or security risk to passengers or the driver. Ultimately the driver or any other transit authority figure would have final discrepancy on the matter, on a case by case basis.

Q: What type of initiatives are CMBC implementing to promote multi-modal transportation ie biking, walking combined with public transportation?
However, Translink does have a program that promotes multi-modal transportation. This application link is one example of how TL is trying to help people consider different types of transportation or any combination thereof:
http://mytravel.mypassionforaction.net/mytravel/TransLink%20Travel%20Calculator.html

The Conclusion
The conclusion is that Vancouver’s Metro Transit Body is inconclusive about folding bikes during peak traffic hours. I found out that in the Toronto Metro area there are no peak hour restrictions for folders. In SF folders are allowed on their BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) at ALL times but conventional bikes are excluded during peak hours. Similarly, in NYC folders are allowed on subways at ALL times. That’s great news for commuters and Abio Folding Bikes which folds up nicely and does not have any exposed grease.

Sources:
Bay Area Rapid Transit
http://www.bart.gov/guide/bikes/index.aspx

NYC Metro Transit Authority
http://www.mta.info/lirr/pubs/Bicycles/#FoldingBikePolicy

I realize this is a blog but I’m going to rant so call it a “Blant” if you will. Just recently the city of Vancouver implemented a new parking meter schedule downtown. Not only have the effective times increased from 9am – 8pm to 9am – 10pm, the rates have increased from $5 to 6$/hr.
Although this is bad news for Vancouver downtown drivers, this provides another incentive to bring out the old bike or simply get a new one! At this new rate, an investment on a sleek chainless bike (think: Abio Bike) will pay itself off in just 16 days! Not to mention it’s cleaner & healthier too!
The parking meters seem to be in effect everywhere at all times. As a comparison, in much busier metropolis such as Toronto parking is effective from 9am to 9pm, Seattle 9am – 6pm, New York 7am – 7pm.
Anyways, you can be sure I’ll be taking my Penza and Verdion out around town much more often and leaving my Mini Cooper at home.
Mike,
Abio Team