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Royal award for fold-up bike man
bbc ^
| 16 October 2009
Posted on 10/16/2009 7:15:14 AM PDT by JoeProBono
The man who invented the foldaway Brompton bicycle has been honoured by the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace for his lifelong obsession. Andrew Ritchie invented the diminutive bike in 1979 and has been tweaking the design ever since. After collecting the Prince Philip Designers Prize, Mr Ritchie said he was not finished yet and was still thinking about how to make the bike lighter.
The portable bike folds down to barely bigger than its 16 inch (35cm) wheels. In a brief speech Mr Ritchie thanked some of his early financial backers, who had each invested £100 in the scheme.
His obsession started in 1975 when he came across a different model and thought he could do better. Speaking after receiving the award, Mr Ritchie described himself as a "crazy guy" who had spent his time trying to create the most human-friendly product he could.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Hobbies; Travel; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: bike
Prince Philip admires the winning design
To: JoeProBono
I want the lock concession.
2
posted on
10/16/2009 7:27:13 AM PDT
by
Daffynition
(What's all this about hellfire and Dalmatians?)
To: Cagey; JoeProBono
Cagey
Folding bikes!
3
posted on
10/16/2009 7:28:19 AM PDT
by
Daffynition
(What's all this about hellfire and Dalmatians?)
To: Daffynition
4
posted on
10/16/2009 7:41:27 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: JoeProBono
5
posted on
10/16/2009 7:43:03 AM PDT
by
Daffynition
(What's all this about hellfire and Dalmatians?)
To: JoeProBono
To: Daffynition
7
posted on
10/16/2009 7:47:01 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: Catholic Canadian
8
posted on
10/16/2009 7:50:09 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: JoeProBono
Velocipede me! TTYL
9
posted on
10/16/2009 7:52:13 AM PDT
by
Daffynition
(What's all this about hellfire and Dalmatians?)
To: JoeProBono
Most foldies look girlish. All except this one.
10
posted on
10/16/2009 8:01:21 AM PDT
by
TypeZoNegative
(Pro life & Vegan because I respect all life, Republican because our enemies don't respect ours.)
To: Daffynition
Raise Your Kentucky Spirits...on a Bike
11
posted on
10/16/2009 8:03:16 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: TypeZoNegative
SWEET!
12
posted on
10/16/2009 8:08:40 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: JoeProBono
13
posted on
10/16/2009 1:22:49 PM PDT
by
Daffynition
(What's all this about hellfire and Dalmatians?)
To: JoeProBono
What about an award for "Bicycle Repair Man"?
14
posted on
10/16/2009 1:28:44 PM PDT
by
dfwgator
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