You really should hear about my super recommended mini velo (lol)

How many bicycles have you owned so far?

Have you perhaps bought more bicycles than cars?

■ The author's cycling history and recommendations

I've always ridden bicycles since high school, college, and as a working adult.

Of course, there are times when I take a break, but I always come back to them.

Given that, I think I've owned more than 10 bikes.

If you commute 10km one way, a cheap bicycle will be unusable in about a year.

You can repair a flat tire.

You can replace a broken chain.

You can manage to replace a broken spoke.

However, if the axle breaks, it requires extensive repairs.

Back then, I rode cheap bicycles, so I would usually wear out one bicycle every year and buy a new one.

That's because the repair cost would be higher than the cost of the bicycle itself.

After trying out various bicycles, my favorite is the "mini velo."

I've ridden road bikes.

I've ridden MTBs.

I've ridden all kinds of city bikes (mamachari), from cheap to expensive.

I love bicycles so much that I even maintain them to the extent of completely disassembling them, replacing deteriorated parts, and reassembling them.

The "mini velo" I choose is this.

The appeal of the ICAN F1 Mini Velo

The mini velo I recommend is this.

The first reason for my recommendation is that the 20-inch tires are just right.

Generally, a mini velo refers to a small bicycle with tires 20 inches or smaller.

From experience, I can tell you that bicycles with tires that are too small are difficult to ride.

12 inches is fine, but 6 inches doesn't get you very far even when pedaling.

It can be dangerous when riding over steps or bumps.

As I mentioned before, I once fell forward face-first.

A 20-inch bike can fit in a condominium elevator.

Its compact size is also a major attraction.

A recommended feature is its lightness, about 10kg.

And when considering bringing it into an elevator, weight is an important factor.

The "F1" I mentioned weighs about 10kg, to be precise, 10.18kg.

To give you an idea of how much that is, it's the weight of one bag of rice.

Go to the supermarket and try lifting a bag of rice.

It's really not much more than that.

It's light enough for even a woman to lift easily with one hand, and lightness is a huge advantage for a bicycle.

While it might be tough to carry it for long distances, a mini velo is a bicycle.

If the distance is that far, you can just ride it, so it's not a hassle at all.

You'd only lift a mini velo when there's a step at the entrance of a condominium, for example.

Otherwise, since it's short, you can push it in elevators and hallways, so it's not heavy at all.

Faster and more recommended than a mamachari

Despite that, it can achieve considerable speed on the road.

At least, it will ride faster than a mamachari.

Most regular mini velos weigh between 15kg and 20kg.

Most mamachari weigh over 20kg.

And the reason for this abnormal lightness is the "material."

It uses TORAY's T700 and T800 carbon fiber.

Toray is now a global company, but it started in Japan.

Hearing that it's made with Japanese materials gives you a sense of security, doesn't it?

Recommended: The welcome folding feature

Personally, I think there are very few occasions when a folding bike needs to be folded.

It's mostly an unnecessary feature in daily life.

However, if you want to put it in a car, you absolutely want to fold it.

Having this feature makes a huge difference in unexpected situations.

Even if you don't fold it regularly, it's a convenient feature to have.

Disc brakes are recommended

Disc brakes are cool!

Of course, while disc brakes on a bicycle sound cool, they also offer clear advantages.

Most bicycles use "rim brakes," which slow down the bike by clamping the rim from both sides with rubber pads.

"Disc brakes" involve attaching a disc near the axle and clamping it to reduce speed.

Therefore, they don't damage the rim.

The benefits are endless: braking with light effort, effective braking even in rain, reliability on long downhill slopes, lightness, and so on.

You can immediately recognize disc brakes by their appearance, so their advantages are instantly conveyed to cycling enthusiasts.

You're sure to be noticed when stopped at an intersection.

At least I would stare intently if I saw such a bicycle stopped.

Many Japanese parts are also recommended

As I mentioned slightly in the frame material section, Japanese materials are used.

In addition, parts like the levers and sprockets are made by Shimano, and the chain by KMC, all reliable components.

Summary

ICAN's mini velo is a fantastic bike, simple yet built with reliable materials and trustworthy parts.

With a body weighing only 10kg, you might be amazed by its lightness when you lift it with one hand.

It can be used for commuting to work or school, and it's also perfect for small trips where you can easily put it in your car and enjoy cycling around your destination.

For the color, black is recommended if you want to highlight that the material is carbon, but personally, I recommend blue.

Related articles recommended: The Serious Folding Mini Velo ICAN F1

　　　　　　　　　The Appeal of the Mini Velo