We are happy to say that Bicycle Times, the magazine for regular folks who love to ride bikes has reviewed the melon slice folding bike in their latest issue (#5), March 1, 2010. Check out the great photos on their web-site.  The slice looks good. We know that personal style in choosing a bike is just as important as the way it rides. The magazine review covers the specs, the folding time, the riding experience, and best of all-why a folding bike. We are hoping that this review will give our still company and our folding bikes some incredible attention. Please give us your thoughts and suggestions or just give us a call to talk bikes.

We are happy to let everyone know that we have completed the Passport Folding Bike prototypes. We will be making some minor changes to the bikes, but we wanted to give you a preview. Here is a picture of the Passport Inner Speed 8 Folding Bike. It is powered by the Shimano Nexus internal gear hub. We think that this hub shifts smoother than most rear derailleurs, another step towards making a bike as easy to ride as possible. 

It has an integrated headset and a new folding stem design. Ergonomic grips are included as an added benefit. Instead of the seat stay only design of the Slice Folding Bike, the Passport has seat stays and chain stays to form a rear triangle. The cost of this bike will be higher than the Slice, but we are diligently working to make it as low as possible. We are targeting July or August of 2010 for production of this model. Please feel free to contact us at www.melonbicycles.com, if you have any questions about the Passport. We will show the single speed Passport in an upcoming post.

Check out a review for the melon slice folding bike on a great web-site: bike commuters.com.

A couple excerpts: "If you recall riding a BMX bike when you were a kid, just think of the same type of agility and handling, but in a grown up way."

"The ride experience of this folding bike was pleasant. It's a smooth riding bike and if needed, it could mash."

"I like how fast this thing goes and the gearing was just right for hills and flats."

See all that RL Policar has to say about the melon slice folding bicycle at:

http://www.bikecommuters.com/2009/12/02/melon-bicycles-slice-review/

Our Commitment to Superior Bike Design and Customer Service

At melon bicycles, we are coming up with designs to take folding bikes to the next level, but at a reasonable cost. We want our customers to have every confidence in the stability and durability of melon bikes that they have in conventional sized solid frame bikes. Coming up in the next month, we will have the prototypes of our passport series folding bikes completed. Photos will be posted in coming models.

Passport Series Folding Bikes

The passport's frame will have a different design than our slice folding bike, but will be based on the same geometry. It will ride with the same comfortable upright riding position, but will be able to be pushed as hard or as easy as the rider chooses. One passport folding bike will come equipped with Shimano's Nexus internal gear hub (8 speed) and the second passport model will come as a single speed. If you have not ridden a bike with the Nexus hub, you are in for a real treat. It shifts smoother than a rear derailleur with none of the added maintenance. There is a slight weight penalty with the Nexus hub, but we think that it is well worth it. The single speed will be perfect for flat areas and to be a boating or rving bike-all the fun with the added benefit of total simplicity.

We Want to Hear From You About Folding Bike Design

We are interested to hear what ideas our potential customers have for a folding bike design. Please respond with your ideas and who knows, if we like it we may use it. We will definitely contact you first if we think that you are onto something. We would like nothing more than to push the folding bike envelope forward with the help of our customers and potential customers.

Melon Bicyles is excited to present our new blog. We plan to provide weekly updates to the blog with new info about our products, and the greater cycling world. Be sure to check back soon for updates and subscribe to our RSS Feed if you haven't already done so. Be sure to check out our main site at www.melonbicycles.com as well!