Minivelo refers to all bicycles with small-diameter wheels. While minivelos have long been popular, especially in Japan due to narrow roads, they have gained consistent support from a wide range of people.

Here, we will focus on sports-type minivelos. As many of you may already know, minivelos are an interesting choice as a hobby. Let's start by discussing that aspect.

The Appeal of Minivelos

① Easy to ride in the city

The benefits of small tires are fully realized in urban environments. Their short overall length makes them extremely easy to handle. Replacing the handlebars with narrower ones further enhances their compactness. Also, when forced to stop and go at traffic lights, the light initial pedal stroke means it's not much of a chore. Furthermore, a significant advantage is that they require relatively little space for indoor storage at home.

②　Wide variety of designs

There are so many different types of minivelos that you could say anything goes.

• Each frame shape has its own individuality
• Can choose between foldable and non-foldable
• Numerous wheel sizes from 8 inches to 20 inches
• Handlebar shapes vary widely from upright to drop
• Various types available, including city-oriented, gravel-oriented, road-oriented, portable, and BMX

③　Customization freedom

Unlike road bikes, there are no strict rules. Therefore, once you get a minivelo, you often want to customize it. Whether you try to make it lighter, improve riding performance by replacing wheels or gears, focus on colors or parts, or prioritize style, you are free to do whatever you want.

ICAN Minivelo Wheels - Learn More

Therefore, it's common to see road bike riders using minivelos as their everyday transportation or as a hobby. Incorporating hand-me-down road bike parts into a minivelo is arguably one of the true pleasures of cycling as a hobby.

Disadvantages of Minivelos

Let's also discuss the shortcomings of minivelos.

• Rough Sizing: Riders of road bikes might want a minivelo that's a perfect fit, but most minivelos come in a free size that suits relatively petite body types. However, for 20-inch (451) tire minivelos, larger frame options are often available.
• Poor at Bumps: When riding in the city, you often encounter bumps, and the small tires of minivelos struggle with them. You have no choice but to slow down and go over them. However, bikes with narrow tires generally struggle with bumps.
• Not Fast: That being said, a 20-inch sports model can keep up with a road bike in the city. There are probably many riders reading this article who enjoy the racing feel of a minivelo.
• Unstable Straight-Line Stability: This tendency is stronger with smaller wheels, but with a 20-inch (451) minivelo, it's barely noticeable.
• Not Suitable for Long Distances: Larger tires like 700C are still better for long journeys. However, a sports model can handle medium distances.

ICAN Minivelo Wheels - Learn More

How to Improve Minivelo Performance

Now, to the main topic of this article. If a minivelo lacks speed, you can compensate for its slowness by increasing the number of teeth on the front gear. However, if you truly want to improve your minivelo's performance, the first step is to reduce its weight.

①　Lighten the tires

The easiest way to lighten a bicycle is to first replace the tires with slightly lighter ones. Replacing inner tubes with lighter ones is also effective, but it increases the likelihood of punctures, so it's not highly recommended for minivelos where practicality is a priority.

②　Replace with lighter wheels

Next up is weight reduction by replacing the wheels. You might think that minivelo wheels are already light enough since they are about half the size of regular wheels, but in reality, their structure and necessary parts are no different from larger wheels, making them not as light as one might expect.

Wheel materials include aluminum and carbon. For classic bikes with silver parts, aluminum wheels are a good match. In contrast, for the majority of modern bikes with contemporary profiles, choosing the aggressive design of carbon wheels would also be a great fit.

The problem is the limited variety of commercially available wheels. To address this issue, ICAN is expanding its minivelo wheel lineup.

ICAN Minivelo Wheels - Learn More

ICAN Carbon Wheels for Minivelos

ICAN offers a variety of minivelo wheels, primarily focusing on the models listed below. The design features a sporty batton wheel shape, which also offers an excellent dress-up effect. All prices are for a set of two and include tax.

• 16 inch (349) ¥46,904
• 20 inch (406) ¥52,100
• 20 inch (451)
• 24 inch (520) ¥53,384

All of the above models come with ICAN's stylish logo, but models without the logo are also available. Additionally, individual rims are available in various sizes for custom-built wheels. Regarding sizes, please note that there are two types of 20-inch wheels, 406 and 451, due to differences in standards. All ICAN products come with a two-year warranty. This service is possible because we are confident in our reliability.

ICAN Minivelo Wheels - Learn More

Conclusion

When you change the wheels, your minivelo will run surprisingly lighter. Many riders will be so impressed by the difference that they'll delve deeper, next changing the saddle, then the handlebars, and so on. We at ICAN will continue to create products that make you smile. Please enjoy it to the fullest. We'll support you with all our might.

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