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Rolling around town on 20″ wheels of the Castro M1

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Castro-Bikes_M1s_urban-city-bike_brick-driveside

Living in the city, it can be tough to always find a place for a bike to beat around town. But the Barcelona team behind Castro bikes don’t want space constraints to stand in the way of you riding a nice bike. So they have put together a simple looking stainless steel mini bike, based around 20″ wheels, to make sure you never have an excuse to not have a bike around. The Castro M1 offers a bit of versatility and is easy to stash out-of-the-way. Take a closer look after the fold…

Castro-Bikes_M1s_urban-city-bike_wall-mounted

The M1 is all about paring down and keeping it simple. The 10.5kg (23.1lb) bike is built around a simple straight chainline, no-derailleur aesthetic, but actually offers two different internally geared hub options for more real world usability.

Castro-Bikes_M1s_2-speed-internal_urban-city-bike_driveside Castro-Bikes_M1c_3-speed-internal_urban-city-bike_driveside

The M1s opts for a semi-automatic 2-speed coaster-brake hub, and is most appropriate for flatter cities. Just a light kick back to shift and a harder one to stop.

A bit more complex but just 50€ more, the M1c offers a larger gearing range with a 3-speed internal drum-brake hub and adds a front brake. Still keeping its clean frame lines, the M1c routes cables internally to control the hub.

Castro-Bikes_M1s_urban-city-bike_folding-stem Castro-Bikes_M1s_urban-city-bike_MKS-detatchable-pedal Castro-Bikes_M1s_urban-city-bike_wall-mount

Both bikes use a one-size-fits-most polished stainless steel frame with enough standover to fit most adults. The components are pretty run of the mill but are generally high quality black anodized aluminum bits. A large diameter 33.9mm seatpost gives stiffness and a lot of height adjustment and gets topped by a leather saddle with 70mm of adjustment at the rails to dial in fit. The 110mm stem is proprietary, so cockpit length is mostly locked in. But the bike does include a quick release at the stem/steerer tube that makes it easy to fold the bar, and with removable MKS pedals it knocks down to just 23cm/9″ wide. That thin it can slide behind a couch out-of-the-way, or hang on the included wall hook.

The M1s retails in Europe for 825€ or in the states for $990, while the M1c will set you back 875€/$1090. EU buyers will order directly from Castro in Barcelona, while US customers can get ahold of one from style retailer Gessato.com.

CastroBikes.com

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James Davison
8 years ago

So a Brompton you can’t fold then.

DK
DK
8 years ago

I like the frame, but the parts and price don’t hit the sweet spot. Great idea, but needs better parts for the price, or go all out and create a high end bike

Andy
Andy
8 years ago

Form over function. As an “everyday” urban bike, it fails. Quick-release pedals? What are the chances they’ll still be on the bike after you’ve left it locked outside for a few hours? Reverse-leather seat? What happens to the leather after the first rainstorm? The “minimalist” accessory fenders over treaded tires? Anyone who’s actually ridden in the rain knows that water from a treaded tire gets thrown from all points of rotation, including the top arc of the tire, from where the water flies forward but then the bike catches up to that thrown water, and you get wet in the process.

holmes
holmes
8 years ago

Ugly se quadangle look alike!

greg
greg
8 years ago

It’s like a Cannondale Hooligan, but with a realistic handlebar height. I like it. Not that I’d buy one, but…

Johnny
Johnny
8 years ago

greg, have you tried Hooligan? I did and I think the ride is dialed (I’m 5.5 feet tall).
Also I second the notion on parts/price ratio. While stainless steel, suede seat and qr pedals undoubtedly add the bling factor and I can see people go after it in a bike, Hooligan (of which this bike is eerily reminiscent, at least in the “double triangle’ main frame segment) offers real separate brakes and hubs and is cheaper at the same time. And maybe lighter. Not sure about colorways though…

Velociraptor
Velociraptor
8 years ago

I love mini velos, but this looks pretty lame. 23.1lbs with no gear or brakes?

greg
greg
8 years ago

@Johnny,
Yes, I have. You’re 5’5″. Enough said. No offense…

mudrock
mudrock
8 years ago

The bracket would be more useful if the pedals didn’t have to be removed. Anything quick release will be stolen – better to have a removable lever with a proprietary interface. If they can sell these in Shinola stores they might have a shot.

dustytires
8 years ago

I thought the owner is supposed to use the QRs to remove pedals and walk away with them making theft more difficult? Not knowing much about this mini velo market segment, I gotta say I really like the clean simple lines, I keep clicking on this thread every time I return to BR.

Tomi
Tomi
8 years ago

Hey guys, why locking a mini-bike ? You just take it with you upstairs in your office or live it at the back of your shop. These things don’t fold but can go in nearly every elevator even the most tiny ones.

That thing would lack need some provisionning to add optionnal fenders but I’m pretty sure the product is aimed at people leaving in sunny Barcelona and who would just leave the bike at home when it is raining.

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