Mark Sanders On The New IF Folding Bikes

An interview by Larry Lagarde

Recently, I had the opportunity to ask Mark Sanders some questions about the IF (Integrated Folding) bikes, a brand new series of folding bicycles being produced by Pacific Cycles. The center piece of the IF brand is the IF Mode, a radical yet incredibly clean looking bike that folds. Mark invented the IF Mode as well as the unique means by which it folds.

Here's a slideshow I created of Mark's personal, copyrighted photos and sketches regarding the IF project. The Q & A session I did with Mark is below the slideshow.

Q: How long have you been working on the Instant Folding or IF idea?

M: It has been 'an itch that needs to be scratched', ever since designing the Strida 1 (masters project) and X-Bike (consultancy project). After a break from bike design, I was invited by Steedman Bass, the new owner of the Strida IP (intellectual property) to re-design Strida 2. The new design aimed to make improvements and make the bike more suitable for far eastern manufacture. This work is what is now the current Strida 3 and 5 series. Compared to other products we design (medical, industrial, kitchen etc.) ... I found I really enjoyed designing folding bikes, because they are a such an interesting challenge, right on the cusp of engineering/structural design and user focused design ie they have to work well, be easy to use and be cool/appealing ! As a plus, I love using bikes myself.

Anyway, I did not start the new project properly until my company, MAS Design Products Ltd, had capacity between regular fee paying work, and could afford the time/money to 'indulge' (my wife’s term :-) ) in creating a new folding bike. This was 5 yrs ago in 2003. It took initially about 2 years of hard work to develop; Concept sketches, sketch models, models, CAD, FEA, prototypes, testing, repeat, repeat, etc.!; Patenting (supported by the British government); then some travelling for discussions with bike companies; more development, based on reducing costs and fitting in better with their process, and markets.

Q: What is the Swivel Head all about & did the IF concept flow out of the Swivel Head design or precede it?

M: The history was..
Having come up with the design, prototypes and patents for, what are now called the IF-Mode and IF-Cross, I courted some of the biggest players in the game. Most wanted to see the new technology (obviously), but getting commitment for the next, harder stage of manufacturing and marketing, was not easy. A few offers were made but without much real enthusiasm. Ming-Cycle knew me and were enthusiastic about adding a 2nd own brand, after Strida, their 1st own brand, and an early MAS Design. Ming are otherwise 100% OEM, and are in the top 10 global bike makers .... a large proportion of bikes sold in the US are made by Ming, under various brand names. However, Ming are not used to developing their own products, and later gave up the project to concentrate on their expanding OEM business. So the whole project was returned it to me.

Fortunately, in the meantime I had met George and Michael Lin, President and CEO of Pacific-Cycles. I was very impressed by their business; some of THE best mechanical engineering I've ever seen in the bicycle industry. Apart from extensive engineering and design skills, Pacific have, CAD, CAM, prototyping, testing, assembly heat treatment etc. all in one place. I learned they developed so many innovative folding bikes, many sold as other brands (eg Birdy, Airnimal). They also make mountain bikes, recumbents, special bikes, etc. for many other bike companies. Their own brands include the excellent 8” wheeled Carry-Me, and full suspension Reach ranges. Soon after Ming returned the IP to me, Pacific-Cycles, bought the whole project. Since then Michael and George, and their Chief Engineer, Ryan Carroll, have added their own bicycle engineering experience and excellence to re-design, improve and finalise the IF bikes for production.

'Swivel-Head' was simply the internal name Ming & I, first gave to the technology, when they had the patent. Now this is history, and IF for 'Integrated Folding' is both the name of the technology and the name of the brand. Both trade name and IP are 100% owned by Pacific-Cycles.

Q: Why design the IF Mode as a full size bike that folds?

M: Because although there are many excellent small wheeled folding bikes available, any straw pole, or even just observing cycle use anywhere will show 95% population choose and use full sized bikes. I am with you, other folding bike makers and enthusiasts in promoting small wheel folding bikes, but, I also feel that trying to re-educate the other 95% of the population is a bit like trying to swim upstream, hence this project.

Q: Wouldn't a folding bike with smaller wheels be better in terms of being compact and easy to store/transport.

M: Smaller IS easier to store, but not necessarily easier to transport, even 20lbs is very heavy to lug inside a shop, along a corridor or inside a train. Observing how luggage is now almost universally 'wheeled along' - I am convinced this is THE best way to transport a folded bike. Strida does just this, and it is now joined by the excellent Carry-me and Tikit folding bikes.

Also some small wheeled bikes just do not fold that small. The Brompton is THE best compromise, with a great folding ratio. But still, most importantly, even in Brompton’s back yard, London, 95% people prefer full sized bikes.

Some full sized folding bikes already exist, but these either; don’t fold without tools or unscrewing things like stems or wheels; are too large to easily take onto trains or into the office; or they are designed to be dismantled for packing, not really for multimodal travel.

Q: How long have IF Bikes been in field testing?

M: The Production IF Modes since March 08, early Pre-IF Mode prototypes since 2004, and IF Cross prototypes since 2005. and IF Reach Prototypes since 2007.

The IF-Mode was developed 1st, and the IF-Cross, 2nd to use a similar folding system in conventional frames, and in the IF Reach.

Q: Did any interesting surprises pop up while testing the IF Mode?

M: Yes, it fitted into bags and cases made for 20" folders.

Q: What reactions has the IF Mode gotten from people on the street?

M: Not much reaction in conservative UK, in fact it gets slightly less reaction than riding the triangle - Strida, until it folds, and then jaws hit the deck ... but by then, I'm gone ... onto the train ! In other countries, at bike shows in Far East, Europe and USA Interbike, people stop when they see the bike and crowds form when they see it fold .... Ryan can do the best demo, well under 2 seconds !

Q: The IF Mode's mono fork looks pretty slim from the front; can the bike survive daily use in a harsh urban environment?

M: Pedal axles have always been mounted on one side and take similar loads to wheel axles. So mounting a wheel on one side, with a similar tapered axle is absolutely no problem.

I really like the simplicity of one-sided wheel mounting, just like on cars. On a bike as well as the clean appearance, it also gives easy tyre changing and puncture repair. For folding bikes one-sided wheel mountings, allow the wheels to come closely together. So when folded they effectively form 'one wheel on a handle' - this feature is shared by both Strida and IF Mode.

Q: Do you envision any off-road versions of IF Bikes?

M: Watch THIS space !
Seriously, as Ryan has several suspension patents and Pacific-Cycles have developed a huge number of mountain bike and road bike systems - it is a real possibility. The IF Reach, already has full suspension - initially tuned for the road. IF-Cross will probably be the 1st to offer full off-road capability, it is already light and takes standard wheels, gears, brakes etc. which lend themselves to upgrades and off-road versions.

Early road going, non-suspension pre-IF Cross prototypes were tested extensively, on and off road and even on many downhill runs - I felt this was a good test for the technology ... (and very enjoyable).

Q: Is the IF series really targeted at non-cyclists?

M: Within the range of IF Bikes there is a bike to suit most tastes, from non-cyclists to cycling enthusiasts. The IF Mode is deliberately targeted at non-cyclists who like design, technology and do not necessarily want to change from their normal work clothes, or join a bicycle clan. Any cyclist who appreciates the design and folding benefits will also enjoy the IF Mode. The IF-Cross for is for existing or new riders, who want a bike that looks like and performs as any good full sized bike, it can be spec’d to be a perfect urban warrior! This bike is unique in it takes up to 700c wheels and can also fold, almost as fast as the IF Mode, without tools. It is also as compact as most 20" folders, and can be rolled into the office, shops and home. IF Reach adds the same folding, and rolling ability to the 20”, triathlete winning, full suspension, Reach. This means that this fast 20” bike can be also used for multimodal travel.

Q: Why would non-cyclists buy an IF type bicycle?

To get all the benefits of a modern folding bike. That is ‘take with me’ multimodal travel, small folded size, fast, ‘no tool’ folding, plus ‘rolls’ when folded (for easy portability), and the IF Mode and IF Cross are full sized bikes.

Q: Any chance of a 17 lb (8 kg) IF type folding bike in the near future?

M: Again - watch THIS space !
The IF-Cross in particular, can leverage 100 years of weight saving technologies, now applied to modern full sized road bikes.

Q: Any chance of a multi speed internal hub version IF model soon (such as with a Shimano Nexus 8 speed hub)?

M: Again - watch THIS space !
Pacific have the pick of all transmission suppliers, many of which are within a few miles of their factory.

Q: When do you expect that Batman style, remote controlled, servo assisted automatic folding bike to go into production (the one we discussed at InterBike)?

M: I am not sure about production, but I have some fascinating sketches and soon my CAD system will be buzzing with linkages, joints and lightweight actuators ! ... Don't believe me ? … They said the same about the fully automatic robotic Jar Opener which now sells in millions worldwide (but still not as interesting as a bicycle !).

Mark Sanders is the pricipal of MAS Design, a product engineering firm located in the UK. To learn more, visit mas-design.com.

Labels: IF-folding-bike, IF-Mode-full-size-folding-bike, Mark-Sanders