How did the original Mini automobile get to be so mini? Historians generally credit the clever engineering and design concepts of Sir Alec Issigonis of the British Motor Corporation.
But Sir Alec had help.
It was Alex Moulton, an inventor, an engineer with the Bristol Aeroplane Company and Sir Alec’s friend, who designed the car’s innovative suspension system — a combination of conical rubber springs and small wheels — that contributed to its highly efficient packaging and lively handling.
Fifty years ago, Mr. Moulton (who died last year) transferred his expertise to bicycles, and the Moulton Bicycle Company still sells handbuilt bikes internationally. Moulton bikes are distinctive because of their automotive-based technology: front and rear suspension systems, small wheels and high-pressure tires that Mr. Moulton developed with Dunlop. A compact, proprietary frame made it easier for bicyclists to get on and off, compared with the traditional diamond design, and to transport.
Moulton bikes were ubiquitous in Britain in the 1960s, but they are rare on American roads. The company maintains a dealer network in the United States, however, and I took a spin on one at Harris Cyclery in West Newton, Mass. The bike was comfortable, thanks to its bump-absorbing rubber-cone suspension, and handled curves very well.
Prices range from just under $2,000 to nearly $14,000 with a stainless steel frame.
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