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Introducing engineering

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Figure 20 comprises two photographs of the Bickerton bicycle, one in normal configuration and one in the folded state. It is clear from the side view of the normal configuration that the structure is based on an almost horizontal beam which is made from a relatively large box-section rather than the normal smaller diameter tube and it is this beam that is folded. The front forks and handle bar assembly are attached at the front of the beam. Each handle has its own strut connected at the front forks at the beam forming a U-configuration rather than the more normal T-configuration. The seat assembly is attached towards the rear of the beam. The chain-wheel is supported just in front of the seat assembly and the hinge is in front of the chain wheel. The wheels are much smaller than those used on normal adult bicycles and most of the structure of the bicycle is on a level with these small wheels and the chain-wheel assembly. As a consequence the handle bars and seat support stick up above the box beam by quite a distance to get to the height required by an adult rider. In the folded state it looks as if the whole bicycle has been folded part-way between the front and rear wheels. Looking at it from the side, the front cycle wheel is foremost. The rear cycle wheel is now behind the front cycle wheel. The chain-wheel is to the right of the two cycle wheels. The chain wheel and its pedals are exposed to whoever is attempting to carry the bicycle. The handle bars are somehow folded down between the two cycle wheels. They are now upside down.

 2.2 Folding bicycles