The IF-Mode folding bicycle designed by Mark Sanders is now available for purchase in the USA. Winner of the 2008 Eurobike Award, and the 2009 iF Gold Award (along with the Apple iPhone, the Macbook Air and the VW Golf Mk6), the IF-Mode is a rolling, folding work of art and a bike collector’s dream machine.
Production is limited. Orders received by Friday, May 1st will be delivered in June 2009. Orders placed after May 1st will not be available until summer’s end. Be the first to own the world’s most exciting and technically advanced folding bike.
"Most people prefer large wheeled bikes, in part due to ease of pedaling," says designer Mark Sanders. "When I designed the IF-Mode, I thought about combining the benefits of small folders with full size bicycles, keeping in mind the innovation and value people expect from their personal tools. The IF Mode combines large wheels, ease of near instant folding, compactness, and clean design. Like luggage, it rolls anywhere. Its monoblade wheel mountings, enclosed 2 speed transmission and uncluttered aesthetic offer a radical new image of what a bicycle can be."
By Yokota Fritz
Marteja here works with Robert Logie at Big Fish Bicycles in Slovenia.
I didn't have a chance to visit their Interbike booth, but caught them on the way out as we left Friday evening. They were out of business cards so Robert and Marteja suggested I take a photo of her back as a human business card.
What caught my eye were the unique folding bicycles they were carrying. I'll write more about them over at Commute By Bike sometime this week (promise!), but they also have a really cute blog called The Big Fish Bike blog. Robert speaks with a thick Slavic accent, but his blog writing is perfect and witty. His English is, in any case, much better than my command of Slovene.
The bikes are not available in North America, but Interbike 2008 was Big Fish's first foray into the American market. Robert tells me dealer interest was strong and they're in talks with a distributor.
By Yokota Fritz
Scottish track cyclist Chris Hoy rides a folding bike during the Olympic closing ceremony in Beijing.
With his three gold medals in Beijing 2008, Chris Hoy is Scotland's most successful Olympian, the first Briton to win three medals in a single Olympic games since Henry Taylor in 1908, and the most successful Olympic male cyclist of all time.
Rich Kelly mentions more about the bike commuter theme of London's part of the show. Victoria Pendleton rode dressed like a messenger and rode a fixie, while Jamie Staff rode a city bike.
By Yokota FritzSanta Cruz County residents can receive a discount of up to $250 on folding bikes through the Santa Cruz Area Transportation Management Agency. The Santa Cruz Area TMA started the folding bike program yesterday to encourage area resident to ride the bus.
Although Santa Cruz Metro is equipping buses with 3-bike racks, cyclists often miss the bus because the racks are full and must wait for subsequent buses. Folding bicycles can be brought into the bus.
Santa Cruz County area residents are eligible for this program by attending a 2-hour bicycle safety training class. Call the Santa Cruz Area TMA 423-9569 ext. 127 to sign up for a class. Currently, the discount is available only at three Santa Cruz bike shops: the Spokesman (Dahon), Bicycle Trip (Giant), and Sprockets (Trek, Dahon, Breezer). A representative of the Santa Cruz TMA told me that other local bike shops in the county can contact the TMA for details on how to join the program.
The Santa Cruz TMA also offers instant rebates of up to $375 for electric bicycles. Like the folding bike program, purchasers must first attend a two hour bicycle safety class to become eligible for the rebate.
The circular frame allows for unusual folding. After releasing safety lock nuts, the wheels can be turned into the frame. A belt system mounted on two rollers allows the "chain" to be folded. The rear hub has internal gearing.
The seatpost folds back after pressing the red safety lock. To fold the handlebars, the cyclist turns a safety lock nut on the top of the head set. Bike is equipped with disc brake in the front and the clamshell brake at the back, so the brakes don't block folding of the wheels.
According to the designer, this kind of bike will be welcomed by people in the cities, young people, and students at the campuses. It can be use to good effect in large industrial facilities, airports, and city centers as a rent-bike.
Another use is for multimodal transportation. The commuter can park outside of the city center and then continue riding bike loaded in the trunk. Term "park and ride" will have a new meaning. This also looks perfect to bring on public transportation. The color is a safety feature.
The circular design brings to mind Thomas Owen's One Bike, which is also a folder with wheels that fold into a circular frame.
IF Mode folding bike now for sale in USA
=v= I admit I don't get the "ease of pedaling" argument, which seems to me ought to have more to do with gearing than wheel size, but I do love this design.
Slovenia bicycle blog
Just FYI, I grew up in Slovenia and there is no such name as Marteja. I think you have a typo. My sister's name is actually Marjeta and I am pretty sure that is what you meant.
By the way, Slovenia is an excellent cycling destination. I will be there in about two weeks.This post has been removed by the author.
Haha, this is the aforementioned Robert "Logic". I like the connection, but it's actually Logie :) and I'm from Scotland, not a Slavic country :)
thanks a lot for the great article though!
Just to let you know - you can now buy Bigfish in the USA from http://www.bigfishbike.com
Thanks so much for dropping by here, Robert!
Any plans for Interbike next month? I'd like to take a look at the Big Fish folding bikes.
Chris Hoy tries a new bicycle
They should have made him race on that to even the playing field
Carlton made a similar comment over at QuickRelease :-)
Santa Cruz: $250 discount for folding bicycles
So you'll be buying a folding bike soon?????
Circular folding bicycles
It does look similar, but this Locust bike has a much more straightforward drivetrain and stearing system than the One Bike.
I just took a closer look at the One. I can't figure out the drive system at all -- I don't see a chain, belt, or shaft anywhere.
Steering: Does that thing really pivot in the middle, right in front of the seat post? Yow! What does that kind of caster geometry do to your balance?
Very cute design. Maybe I'm in the wrong frame of mind, but: 1. Would you ride this bike? 2. Do you know anyone who would?
If you're curious about the Locust, read the interview I conducted January 9th with Josef Cadek (the bike's designer). Josef specializes in transportation design.
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