By Yokota Fritz
I saw this Cannondale Minivelo bike (or is it a BMX hybrid?) in a Taiwan bike magazine.
The Cannondale Hooligan has a beefy Al frame, a Lefty style fork, 20" wheels. Available with a SRAM 3 speed hub or Sunrace 8 speed derailleur. The short wheelbase means twitchy handling, which is not so great for speedy mountain descents but is perfect for the urban environment Cannondale is targeting for this bike.
By Yokota Fritz
Cannondale introduced the Special Edition "RAW" bicycle last March as a special edition collaboration with fashion label G-Star RAW. The bike features what Cannondale calls a "no-scratch" finish, which is perfect for stacking your bike on the train. 8 speed Alfine 8-speed internal hub gearing, integrated lights, internal cable routing, disc brakes, HeadShok front suspension, fenders and chainguard complete the urban utility of the Cannondale RAW.
Bicycle Design's James T talked with Cannondale designer chief Torgny Fjeldskaar about this bike last January -- Click here for more. More details about the Cannondale RAW here. Orangutan Studio blogged about it and reminded me of this bike.
By Yokota Fritz
Last summer Cyclelicious reported on the Cannondale Jackknife folding bicycle. Cannondale announced that because of overwhelming interest from customers and the media, they decided to move forward from concept to reality with the production of the Cannondale ON bicycle.
Cyclelicious talked with Cannondale product manager Yngwie Malmsteen, who claimed the ON will fold to "fit a small carry on suitcase." We were skeptical until Yngwie showed us this amazing video.
In other news, James reports that sales of "hybrid bikes" were up a healthy 6% in 2007 over the previous year. According to the research service he cites, "Consumers are taking to bikes like never before, and they've got good reason. The expense of maintaining, fueling and parking a car is making them think twice about all those short trips to the grocery store, and even the commute to work." In spite of recession (or perhaps because of it?), "one sector of the economy that did surprisingly well in 2007 was bicycle sales." Something that may take some wind out of that trend, though, is the news that prices are expected to increase this year on everything throughout the bike industry -- from semi-finished product suppliers; component makers up to bike manufacturers. The prices are expected to be raised by at least 10 to 15%!
Dorel acquires Cannondale - Two distinct bicycle divisions to be created
Possible move to Asian manufacturing?
Dorel Industries Inc announced the acquisition of Cannondale Bicycle Corporation of Bethel, CT. Dorel -- which owns the U.S. based Pacific Cycles which in turn markets Schwinn, GT Bicycle, Mongoose, Pacific, Dyno, Murray, RoadMaster, PowerLite and InSTEP brands of bicycle products -- also announced the creation of an Independent Bicycle Dealers division to differentiate the Cannondale and GT bikes from the mass merchant retail products that the other brands primarily focus on, with Cannondale the "crown jewel" of this new division. Sugoi Performance Apparel (which is already Canadian, but who's paying attention) is also included in the purchase from the investment group that currently owns Cannondale and Sugoi. Pacific Cycles will be a stand alone division focusing on the mass merchant channel. The purchase price will be somewhere around US$200 million.
Dorel stated they are seeking acquisitions of of similar high quality, performance bicycle companies to join this new IBD group.
“Dorel recognizes that doing business with the IBD and mass merchant categories is two very different things and requires distinct strategies and specialized people selling the best products for those channels. We clearly realize this and are making the necessary adjustments to best meet the needs of our customers,” said Dorel President and CEO Martin Schwartz.
Cannondale's insane foray into motorcycles bankrupted the company in 2003. After the sale of company assets in a bankruptcy auction, the company sold off its motorcycles operations and was able to turn itself around with a renewed focus on bicycle design and production.
Margins are signficantly higher than mass market bicycles, but Dorel also recognizes that dealing with the IBD channel is "vastly different" from the mass market. "We need to focus much more on quality and innovation," said Schwartz. "Relationships and personal contact are much more important for the independent bike dealers."
Cannondale's manufacturing and assembly currently is done in the United States and Europe; Dorel's management said they'll look at how much to move to Asia. With Cannondale's acquisition and the current business from GT, Dorel hopes to be the number three player in the IBD channel behind Trek and Giant.
Cannondale's Jack Knifeconcept is now a ridable, working reality! This prototype Cannondale folding bicycle -- designed in Switzerland by Cannondale engineers Torgny Fjeldskaar and Chris Dodman -- was seen at Eurobike.
Cannondale designer Chris Dodman shows off the prototype folding bicycle at Eurobike 2007. This is a full size bike with 26" inche wheels that folds back so the front wheel overlaps the rear wheel. That beefy chainguard you see is also an integrated chainstay and rear wheel rocker, providing all of the support for the rear wheel. The non-drive side is completely empty.
This bicycle has SRAM's iMotion 9 speed hub which has been modified for the unique characteristics of this folder.
Like the rear wheel, the front wheel is supported on one side with a one-sided "fork," kind of like the Lefty fork, except this one is a "Righty." This enables more compact folding of the bike.
According to the German cycling magazine Aktiv Radfahren, production of this bike is dependent on dealer response to this prototype.
Read more also at Bike Radar, where they talk about urban bike offerings from Cannondale (including the new Hooligan) and Bianchi.
By Yokota Fritz Cannondale announced a recall of the cranksets for several of their bicycle models (listed below). According to Cannondale, FSA incorrectly heat treated the aluminum bottom bracket spindles on some of these bikes. This manufacturing error caused cracks that can lead to a complete crankset failure, with risk of serious injury or death. Cannondale asks affected customers to bring their bikes in to the dealer for inspection, where the dealer will remove the crankset, clean and inspect the bottom bracket spindle for cracks. If cracks are present the customer will receive a new crankset at no cost.
Affected 2007 bicycle models include the Synapse Carbon SL1, Ironman 1, System 6 Team 1, System 6 Team 3, Cyclocross SL 1, Taurine 1 SL, and Rush Carbon 2. The 2008 System 6 Liquigas 3 is also affected. Visit Cannondale's recall information page for more details.
Cannondale Hooligan
That's so cool. Want one. *sigh* Like I really need another bike.
To be honest, that looks like my el-cheapo ntry level folding bike (which also has an SRAM 3-speed hub) - without the folding capability, of course. I guess I have no clue why anyone would by a BMX bike for any purpose other than dirt-riding. But hey - if it means more people choosing to bike, I am OK with it...
I just posted a review on the PoleRiders blog. I think you need to see this bike in person and ride it. The pictures and descriptions dont do it justice...
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=146088275355&ref=mf
you got to ride the hooligan to understand it , the hooligan in europe with the 8 speed shimano alfine is the beast to have for hilly areas
Collab: G-Star RAW + Cannondale
That Brooks saddle looks WAY out of place on that bike!
Interesting concept though...I would like some of that "Scratch Proof" paint or whatever!
Exclusive video: Cannondale ON urban folding bike
Teo to one it will NOT be available in the US just like their other commuter bikes.
John
I think you linked the wrong video - all I get is a "Star Wars Bagpipes" clip ;)
cheers
I'm getting the Star Wars clip too, but I guess it's kind of appropriate considering Darth Vader would love to ride this mean looking bike.
So after the video, you were less skeptical? Haha.
It's the right video, all right :-) Google for the product manager's name if you don't know who he is.
With all this news, the scuttlebutt about the attention-to-cycling ad could just fade away! Seems the creators *did* notice the rip-off. Bikebiz notes it and oh, my, the advertising blogging scuttlebutt is most amusing. And There I thought it was just a little video about cycling...
But it's not even April yet, but we're getting fooled? I am SO confused!
I did know who Yngwie Malmsteen was, though...I figured some leg-pulling was going on!
Hurray for Ghost! Another old metalhead like me.
A trailer hooked to the seat post could be the bike's carrying case, ala Bike Friday.
Canada buys Cannondale, Sugoi
"Schwinn, GT Bicycle, Mongoose, Pacific, Dyno, Murray, RoadMaster, PowerLite and InSTEP brands of bicycle produts "
Funny how they refer to these as "bicycle products," not bicycles. Like "Pasteurized process cheese food" is to cheese.
Cannondale folding bicycle
If my credit card wasn't still smoking form other bike's and bits, I'd be sticking my hand up for one of these. Interesting to see the change is thinking from two triangles and two hoops. I like it Fritz.
Anne, I'm shocked! I thought you were all about "Low cost" :-)
Really, though, I know what you mean. So many cool bikes, so little time and money.
I wonder how long it takes to fold them and un-fold them. Also, would the bike feel unbalanced?
I would really like to see it folded. I cannot see how it can go that small, more dismountable than truly foldable.
If it does not go Brompton small I am not interested :)
I'm interested also in seeing how small this folds. If I see this bike at Interbike I'll post a followup.
WOW! BIG TIME!
Wired is getting their information from Cyclicious!
amazing
if it came in a 20in wheel version and somehow rear fox shock it would be perfect. i like it so far, but the 26in wheels might make it a bit large. good thinkin tho
Cannondale crankset recall
Cannondale Urban dot com
Torgny sent me a link to the European market C'dale urban bikes. check them out here:
Permalink: Cannondale Hooligan
Cannondale announced a recall of the cranksets for several of their bicycle models (listed below). According to Cannondale, FSA incorrectly heat treated the aluminum bottom bracket spindles on some of these bikes. This manufacturing error caused cracks that can lead to a complete crankset failure, with risk of serious injury or death. Cannondale asks affected customers to bring their bikes in to the dealer for inspection, where the dealer will remove the crankset, clean and inspect the bottom bracket spindle for cracks. If cracks are present the customer will receive a new crankset at no cost.
