Edited by author 07-13-2004 07:04 AM
I took along a micro-scooter on my daily commute for a while, with similar wheel size. I couldn't do it now because of what RSI did to my wrists. Also, the scooter damaged the knee of the leg I stood on, until I switched to a suspension model and installed a large foam pad on the footplate - I mean a couple of inches thick. And I took a dive once or twice. It was basically unusable on rough road paving, but give me a smoother paved surface and I flew.

This A-Bike, however - well, apparently it is not electric, not yet. It interests me more that it looks very like what you see at http://www.strida.com/ , which has been struggling for years - but has larger wheels.

But Strida has one speed gear, A-Bike - top speed 15mph - probably the same. Not suitable for more than a mile's regular journey - but better than a scooter. But really, if only they could even put in a three-speed hub gear! Still, at that speed, you can dodge or brake for potholes. Singapore probably doesn't even /have/ potholes. There is, in fact, anyway, no bike to which potholes aren't a hazard.

I looked at microbikes, and laughed and laughed and laughed. Then I thought about it. And then I laughed and laughed and laughed harder still. But I tried one once. That was enough.

These days I run an Electra cruiser cycle with derailleur gear; its swept-round handlebar means I don't lean on my arms, which is very good because of the RSI. I looked into recumbent cycles first; they're unusual, expensive, not so good on hills or in stop-go traffic, and what finally made my mind up was that every user of a 'bent that I consulted also owned a more conventional bike. 'Bents are for goofing off on.

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