chainstrainer

The term "folder aficionados" is somewhat disturbing to me because it reeks of the elitism exhibited by some other groups of cyclists - say spandex-clad road warriors - who set themselves apart as being superior. Folders are practical bikes designed to be used by a broad spectrum of riders. Does being an "aficionado" preclude embracing new developments because it does not appeal to the established elite enthusiast? Elitism is so contrary to the universal nature of folding bikes - their appealing utility should be celebrated in a diversity of designs and we "aficionados" should nurture an egalitarian, not sectarian, outlook. Why is the IF MODE so lambasted?

mrteeth

There are two hinges. The head tube goes from being perpendicular to the top tube to being parallel. No other folder does that and the head tube and fork are always problematic because they necessarily are perpendicular to the frame on a rideable bike.

It's a brilliant design. I'm just feel it's wasted on the large wheels.

mlau

Look at the IF Reach.

It looks handier than a Strida IMO.

feijai

Further examination of the videos convinces me that you're right. The top tube folds in half but somehow the headtube rotates 90 degrees with respect to the top tube in order to line the wheels up. Definitely new and unique.

chainstrainer

Give it some time. This new brilliant design targets the wheel size best suited to maximize the benefit it offers - the large-wheeled folder. I'm sure it will also include its smaller wheeled siblings in the future. Just where is the waste in that?

Carlos71

Well, I can fold the Strida in less than 3 seconds (without handlebars and pedals) and everyday I unfold it without having to stop walking, while I'm leaving the train station (and BTW, everyone stares at me). To me, today, there's only one competitor: a Tikit.

Rushtrack

righton!

I've got a montague that I've customized down to under 20lbs without trying...granted it's a single speed...but it's better than this tank.

noteon 

The first folding bike I bought was a 26"-wheel Dahon Matrix. I made the decision based on my lack of experience with small-wheeled bikes; I just wanted something like what I was used to that also happened to fold.

Once I got it, I grew to realize that my lack of experience with small-wheeled bikes was exactly why I'd bought it, and that it offered no advantages and several drawbacks.

Is your target market people who will never use it enough to realize they would have been better served by existing small-wheeled folding bikes? If so, and that market is big enough, then I think you've got a viable product. I don't think it's got much chance if you try to sell it to people who ride a lot and know what they're doing on a bike. It might be their first folder, but it probably won't be their second.

puppypilgrim

I think Mark Sander's target market with the iF series is for people who, up to the present, have never considered folding bikes or have discounted folding bikes due to their appearance or prejudices over the riding dynamics of smaller wheels.

The iF Mode is not intended to compete in the niche market of *existing* folders which range from Moultons to Flying Pigeons to Bromptons and Dahons.

pibach

I fold / unfold my Dahon Mu ~ 5 times a day. At least when I go into subway. I use a "quickfold" leaving pedals, seatpost, and handlepost unfolded, but just fold the main hinge while swiveling the front 180°. This takes <1 sec. Seatpost and handlepost become a unit. It can be easily rolled. It stands on wheels plus one pedal as a tripod. I think it is in many ways near optimum. I don't see a reason to over-engineer a bike with swivel construction etc. which makes it overly heavy. Only the Dahon wheels could connect tighter. This does not need a single sided fork or rear, just a little bit different rear triangle construction (some curvy s-bend would do it).

noteon 

I think regardless of what market it's intended to compete in, those are the bikes it will be competing with.

pibach

Here's a pic.

Chop!

'IF' you look at the fold of the Mode it is more compact than that of your Dahon in 'quick mode' ( in your pic it seems almost as tall as the folded Strida) then their are the 20" wheeled Reach versions which share the Mode's folding mechanisms and over-centre tautness when tightened but in a smaller, lighter version with more gear options.

IF Mode :- 26" wheels, 2-speed (Speed-drive in bottom bracket), 14.7kg

IF Reach (LX) :- 20" wheels, 9-speed Shimano, 11.9kg

IF Reach (MS) :- 20" wheels, 18-speed Microshift/Sun, 12.0kg

IF Urban (26) :- 26" wheels, 9-speed Sram, 12.1kg

IF Urban (700C) :- 28" wheels, 8-speed Sturmey Archer Hub, 13.5kg

Safe riding!

cyclistjohn

My brother in law is today in Barcelona buying a Dahon Cadenza. He's 6' 2", & I suppose just doesn't like the idea of himself on a small wheeler. I've ridden a Cadenza for several miles, & after a short adjustment period it was fine. But it was no better than small wheelers I've tried, & considerably less practical.

The lady I borrowed it from pointed out that she & her husband wanted a relatively inconspicuous bike for touring India, & one that could easily have robust & commonly available tyres, both good points I thought, for those circumstances.

John

itsajustme

+1

I think having a quick sloppy fold that's good enough for most situations and a longer more compact fold for the occasions that really need it is the best compromise. Like you said, it doesn't get any quicker than folding a Dahon in half and that's a perfectly good fold for many situations. Same with the Carryme: although the full fold takes longer than the Strida, leaving the seat and handlebar height alone is just as quick and is still a little more compact.

If you only use your folder for a commute which is exactly the same day in day out then I could see how you'd only care about the full fold of a bike, but that's not the way my life is.