In a world where we are constantly being reminded of the effects of global warming along with the horrors of the economic recession, its no wonder cycling to work has become an increasingly popular trend for commuters looking for ways to beat the congestion charge and to do their bit for the planet.
Despite the rising numbers of cyclists however, many railway services into London have banned cumbersome bikes on their trains during peak travel times - which according to Boris Johnson MP "is completely bike-o-phobic and utterly bonkers" (well, he should know!), so in order to get around this and to fit with societies ever changing needs, bike manufacturers have at last revolutionised the 1970’s fold up bike taking it from the hard to ride, slow to fold kitsch gimmick of yesteryear to a sophisticated piece of engineering which rivals conventional bicycles on all levels making it a serious mode of transport for urban city dwellers.
It is no longer a rare sighting to see a suit clad businessman with a copy of the FT under one arm and his folding bike under the other as he dashes to the Boardroom, nor is it uncommon to see a skinny jean wearing Indie kid peddling along Shoreditch High Street on a fold up bike (or "Folder" as they are affectionately nicknamed) in fact, in 2008 over 4,000 fold up bikes were sold in the UK alone.
As societies thirst for technology and design has expanded so quickly in recent years so has the need to expect more from everyday objects; mobile phones now offer an array of different applications, game consoles have multi-media capabilities etc. Therefore it seems a natural progression to redevelop the bicycle to fold portably to fit our modern lifestyles with total ease; being light to carry, small enough to fit in the boot of your car and virtually theft proof as they can be taken anywhere and everywhere with you, the fold up is a cultural and practical revelation fulfilling all aspects of our cycling needs today. As the Folder movement continues to grow, so does the range of models available.
Brompton
Operating since the early 1980’s from a small west London factory in Kew, Brompton Cycles has become the dominant name in the UK folding bike market producing 22,000 foldable bikes a year with 70% being exported across the globe. Not only are these bikes claimed to be the easiest to fold but they also to fold up to the smallest size, due in part to their 16 inch wheels. The entry level model is basic with three gears, folding pedals and a neat pump priced at a reasonable £400 with the more technical and pricier versions rising into the thousands. Each Brompton fold up uses over 1,200 individual pieces to make up the design classic.
Birdy
Designed by ‘Riese und Müller’ the German Birdy bike released in 1995 was the world’s first fully suspended fold up bike. Lighter and often regarded as far sportier than the Brompton Cycle due to its stiff single-piece aluminum frame, beefy V-brakes and road biker geometry this bike is quickly gaining a large following as devotees say the ride is very similar to that of a rigid conventional bike, even with the same rapid acceleration. Weighing only 1.5kg the basic C2W (named after the Governments ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme) is an ingenious synthesis of touring bike and compact folder, blurring the boundaries of what you can do with a portable bike.
Dahon
Responsible for two-thirds of the folding bike market, the Los Angeles based firm is the world’s largest manufacturer of fold up bikes with assembly factories in Taiwan, Macau, China and the Czech Republic. Components by Brooks (who make the leather saddle) and Sugino (who make crank set) will bring smiles to the faces of many bicycle connoisseurs as Dahon have created an image as being the bench marker for design however with most models averaging a 20 inch wheel they lack the compactability of the Brompton and speed of the Birdy.
Responsible for two-thirds of the folding bike market, the Los Angeles based firm is the world’s largest manufacturer of fold up bikes with assembly factories in Taiwan, Macau, China and the Czech Republic. Components by Brooks (who make the leather saddle) and Sugino (who make crank set) will bring smiles to the faces of many bicycle connoisseurs as Dahon have created an image as being the bench marker for design however with most models averaging a 20 inch wheel they lack the compactability of the Brompton and speed of the Birdy.And The Future...........
Cube
Over the past 15 years German bike manufacturer Cube has pushed the boundaries of innovative design to create the ground breaking ‘Urban Street’ fold up which looks like its come straight out of the future with its sleek and sexy frame entwined with progressive technology. Comparable in size to road bikes of today this concept Folder will even fit into a ruck sack as it swiftly tucks itself away like the blades of a Swiss Army knife. Integrating front lights into the brake levers and a dynamo in the front wheel hub the lights are turned on automatically in darkness providing a unique safety feature generated solely from pedal power. Cube’s inspiration for this unique bike comes from the companies passion for cycling and lends itself to building the brand to the level it is today with inspirational and unique designs.
IF Mode
Created by British industrial designer Mark Sanders for Pacific Cycles in 2008, the IF MODE folder incorporates all the benefits of your traditional folding bike but with sleeker aesthetics based on clean design and a strong focus on the ease of collapse. The IF (integrated folding) features an enclosed transmission and mono-blade wheel mounting which allows this bike to fold up in under five seconds with one simple twist action. The 26 inch wheels neatly lock either side of the dual hinged crossbar allowing what was the handlebar to now become a handle for the user carry the disassembled bike. This concept bike has already won many awards for its inventive design including the 2008 Eurobike Award and the Taiwan Excellence Silver Award.
Canondale Jackknife
Based on a college brief in 2006 to “explore what an urban bike could look like in 8 – 10 years” students Philippe Holthuizen and Rodrigo Clavel of the Elisava Design School in Barcelona co-created the unique Jackknife which was quickly snapped up by industrial design house, Cannondale. The Jackknife name originated from the way that the bike folds based around the axis – the seat tube itself rotates 180 degrees so that the front wheel flips to the back, making the bike small enough to fit in a rucksack. What is more unique, however is the absence of any chains, instead, it is powered by a hydraulic drive system which stays clean and requires little maintenance, again making it the perfect choice for city commuters. The design has been developed further to incorporate additional features that characterize the Cannondale brand such as oversized tubing, HeadShok front suspension, and a “lefty” monoblade fork. The Jackknife is “The Contortionist” of fold up bikes.
Words: Sanyika Odieté