Mezzo Bikes Take to the Air
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.20.07
It is commonplace for folding bikes to be collapsed origami-like, so they can be carried aboard planes, but this might be the first time they’ve been folded for recreational paragliding.
A thirty year veteran paraglider, Mike Hibbit, thought at age 60 why not teach an old dog new tricks, so he set out to invent ‘parabiking.’ In short he slung the 10 kg nine speed Mezzo bike (plus padded storage bag) under his legs and flew off across the British countryside for about 15 km. Landed, packed up his paraglider, unfolded the bike, and once fortified with an ale from a nearby pub cycled back to his take-off point. Very impressive.
The Mezzo is designed by Jon Whyte, an ex-Formula 1 engineer. It is a small wheeled (16”) folder that uses self locking catches rather than hinges. A reviewer on the Folding Society website said he can get his folded in 30 seconds and unfolded in 15 and more generally liked his Mezzo. The AtoB guys seem less charitable in their assessment, though we understand some improvements have been made since they first appeared a couple of years ago.
There are two models of Mezzo (Italian for 'half'), with the other being a four speed internal hub (no deraillieur version). Both come replete with mudguards (fenders), rear rack, folding pedals, dual pivot brakes and puncture resistant tyres. Sold in the UK and Ireland as Mezzo, and elsewhere under the name Ori, due a licencing agreement with the Taiwan manufacturer. ::Mezzo.
See also our BuyGreen Guide: Small Wheel Folding Bikes
This i actually a lot like what US paratroopers did in WWII.
They parachuted in some part of Italy with foldable motorbikes (like the kind Scooterman (scooterman.co.uk) is using in London). Once landed they were able to cover ground in a quick and timely manner.
Of course a bike has more grren creds ;o)
WWII paratroopers also used bikes like the one at the top of this page:
http://tinyurl.com/2jso9j
I worked at a bike shop that had one in the basement (Toga, in New York City). It was amazingly light for what looked like an old cantilevered-frame clunker.