- Title: SINGAPORE: SIR CLIVE SINCLAIR UNVEILS WORLD'S SMALLEST BICYCLE.
- Date: 2nd July 2004
- Summary: (L!3) SINGAPORE (JULY 2, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF SIR CLIVE SINCLAIR POSING WITH THE A-BIKE 2. CLOSE-UP OF SINCLAIR 3. SINCLAIR HOLDING UP FOLDED A-BIKE 4. WIDE OF PRESSER 5. VARIOUS OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR A-BIKE 6. SOUNDBITE (English) SINCLAIR SAYING: " Well my original thought was that if you could have a bicycle that was dramatically lighter and more compact then ones that exist today, you would change the way in which bicycles could be used. Instead of having to lock your bicycle by the shop, you could take it in with you. Instead of being banned from buses and trains as people with ordinary bikes are very often, you could take it on readily. So you could have a mixed-mode transport, you could have the bicycle at part of the journey and the bus for the other part and so forth" 7. CLOSE-UP OF A-BIKE LOGO 8. VARIOUS OF ALEX DRIVING AROUND IN THE A-BIKE 9. FOLDING THE A-BIKE 10. CLOSE-UP OF SADDLE 11. CLOSE-UP OF A- BIKE 12. SET UP OF ALEX KALOGROULIS, DESIGNER OF A-BIKE AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF DAKA RESEARCH UK PTE LTD 13. SOUNDBITE (English) KALOGROULIS SAYING: "We think the primary market for this product is likely to be Japan. Japan is currently the largest user of folding bikes. The US market is something that remains to be cultivated. Europe is ready. Many are used in the UK but just recently we've had congestion charging in the city so people cant afford to use their cars anymore so they looking for alternatives. I think the success of congestion charging will move to other cities" 13. MORE OF SADDLE AND PADDLES 14. SOUNDBITE (English) KALOGROULIS SAYING: "The next immediate step for the A-Bike is to put the electric motor into the A-Bike. We have a tie-up with a UK company. We have a very special motor being developed by Sinclair Research and Daka Research and this motor company to revolutionize the electric bike industry" 14. MORE OF THE A-BIKE Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 17th July 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SINGAPORE
- Country: Singapore
- Reuters ID: LVA50WMT1OC90I8W9XONNCKQX8RN
- Story Text: Iconic British inventor Sir Clive Sinclair unveils
the world's smallest bicycle to meet demanding needs of
urban commuters.
British inventor Sir Clive Sinclair wheeled in
the world's smallest, lightest foldable bicycle, the A-Bike
on Friday (July 2) to Singapore for its global launch.
The A-Bike is targeted at the urban consumer who
requires multi-mode transportation-- the two-wheel wonder
weighs a mere 5.5 kg (12 lbs) and folds into a compact
package of less than 0.03 cubic metres. (1.1 cubic feet).
" Well my original thought was that if you could have a
bicycle that was dramatically lighter and more compact then
ones that exist today, you would change the way in which
bicycles could be used. Instead of having to lock your
bicycle by the shop, you could take it in with you. Instead
of being banned from buses and trains as people with
ordinary bikes are very often, you could take it on
readily. So you could have a mixed-mode transport, you
could have the bicycle at part of the journey and the bus
for the other part and so forth," said Sinclair.
Sinclair says he is sticking to pioneering alternative
transportation creations to meet the demands of the likes
of yachtsmen, urban city executives, campers and anyone who needs to
do
a quick short trip.
At first sight, it looks like a bicycle for children
but the mini-bike can carry a weight of up to 112 kilograms
and has adjustable height levels. It is as heavy as most
laptops and takes barely twenty-seconds to fold and unfold.
Even though the wheels are a quarter the size of regular
bicycles, Sinclair promises it to be a sturdy and smooth
drive. He assures that no extra energy is required to ride
the A-bike which can ride for up to 15 miles per hour.
Constructed of especially engineered plastic materials
and high pressure tyres, the A-bike aims to feel and ride
like a normal bicycle with added features. The research and
development for the product started five years ago and
Sinclair Research Ltd collaborated with Hong Kong based
Innovation technology company Daka to produce the A-Bike.
The designer of A-Bike, Alex Kalogroulis says they are
looking keenly towards Japan to market this product.
"We think the primary market for this product is likely to
be Japan. Japan is currently the largest user of folding
bikes. The US market is something that remains to be
cultivated. Europe is ready. Many are used in the UK but
just recently we've had congestion charging in the city so
people cant afford to use their cars anymore so they
looking for alternatives. I think the success of congestion
charging will move to other cities," said Kalogroulis.
A-Bike is expected to simultaneously hit stores in the
US, UK and Japan in the second quarter of 2005 and has a
recommended price of US$299.
The saddle is uniquely shaped and developers say this is
to make the ride more comfortable. Other existing foldable
bicycles in the market are the Handy Bike which ways 8
kilograms and the JD Bike which weighs 8.5 kilograms.
Sir Clive Sinclair has been an iconic and often
controversial figure in the British innovation industry for
more than quarter of a century. His most notable creations
are the first pocket calculator, the first pocket
television and the C-5 electric car.
He was awarded a knighthood by Margaret Thatcher's
government for leading what was seen as a renaissance in
the British industrial industry, but was criticized by
others for creating only skin-deep solutions to Britain's
industrial malaise.
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