Foldable Cycle – TICI

Foldable Cycle Concept - TICI

Overview

This project was an internship project, done at Tube Investments Cycles India – TICI, Chennai (brand owners of Hercules, BSA, Montra) along with Chaitanya Dev, a batch-mate from MSRIT during the summer holidays of my third year engineering. It provided a wonderful opportunity for us to develop and prototype a full-fledged working prototype of a fold-able cycle concept.

The design intent was to “design a user friendly, robust, affordable and practical fold-able bicycle that offers easy mobility, comfort and good aesthetic appeal”. And to achieve this, the volume – the cycle occupies after folding should be as small as possible, while retaining all the ergonomics needed for an adult person to ride it (by making use of a large frame and standard 26″ tyres). Added to this, it should include all the inherent features of a fold-able cycle over a normal cycle, making them be more easily stored and highly portable.

Developed Design Concept

base model chosen : Hercules Turner VX – a 26” MTB

We concentrated on folding the bicycle at two places, instead of just one (like in conventional fold-able cycles) so that the size of the bicycle is considerably reduced – in the folded position. The two folds would involve placing both the wheels parallel (one wheel on either side) to the bicycle frame after folding. And for this, a hinge joint was used in the fork to fold the front wheel, and a swiveling mechanism in the existing seat tube to rotate the rear assembly.