Pacific Cycles have announced that the pricing on the larger wheeled IF mode folding cycle will be released soon. It will feature a Schlumpf 2 speed drive which will enable both a cruising and higher geared option. The latest video released by Pacific on youtube really shows the potential of this folding bike.
What is revolutionary about the IF mode? In my opinion a lot of manufacturers tend to concentrate solely on refinements to existing bikes or small incremental and largely conventional upgrades on their annual models. Pacific has a record of implementing more unusual innovations and taking them to the production stage. There is no better example of this than the Pacific Carryme which is arguably the best sub-16″ wheel folding bike currently in production. The new IF mode not only has a beautifully simple folding process but produces a very ergonomic and neat package that is easy to wheel along. The IF fold also appears to represent a very tight and compact folding mode which is invaluable for stowing or commuting purposes. Mark Sander’s Strida series proved to be a huge niche success and with the backing of Pacific’s manufacturing quality and marketing resources, it is very likely the IF series will have an even larger impact.
Up to now, folding bikes have experienced strong growth but they still represent a minority of global sales in the cycling industry. This is simply because the majority of people prefer larger wheeled bikes and the smaller wheeled folding bikes tend to represent a niche. The IF mode makes larger wheeled folders more practical and accessible to a larger audience and could well revolutionise the way consumers think about folders. Up to now, larger wheeled folding bikes have tended to have a clumsier fold, requiring either an allen key to unlock them such as the Dahon Cadenza or wheel removal in the case of the Montague.
Pacific Cycles has had the Reach on display in IF mode in Taiwan. I would love to see the IF bike featured in the video above adapted for the beautifully smooth Shimano Alfine 8 speed hub. In addition the excellent Reach will eventually be available in a more compact and easy fold that makes it more accessible to the commuting segment of the market.
Visit http://www.newfoldingbikes.com to browse the best price for new and used folding bikes. Click for: Dahon Folding Bikes or Brompton Folding Bikes
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