Dahon have released details of their new IOS folding bike a machine they are calling "a complete urban commuting solution, with a bike pump, lighting, and even a phone/GPS/device charger integrated directly into the design of the bike".
Aside from making all those urban necessities a part of the bike Dahon also say that the IOS range will deliver the ride and handling of a full-sized bike combined with a fold that is only slightly larger than that of a compact 20in wheeled folder. For those that want the convenience of a folder combined with the ride qualities of a conventional bike.
The IOS is itself a 24in wheeled bike, Dahon have given it an extended wheelbase and that extra length should give the IOS XL a more stable, comfortable ride – the IOS also features an in-line hinge which Dahon reckon should further add to its big bike handling characteristics by stiffening up the ride.
As with other folding bikes the IOS is a one-size fits all proposition, but Dahon's Andros tool-less adjustable stem should help tune the position for riders of different heights and riding styles depending on whether you want a low aggressive racy position or something more upright. .
No word yet on weight, but we will see it in the flesh at Eurobike and we will have our scales handy. Suggested retail price is €999 and we would expect it to come in at around the same amount in pounds – not least because that will get it under the limit for the government's cycle to work scheme.
The new IOS wasn't the only thing Dahon were unveiling today – they also announced a new UK Distributory. From January 1, 2010 Zyro will handle Dahon in the UK replacing Fisher Outdoor Leisure as the firm's distributor.
Plucked from the obscurity of his London commute back in the mid-Nineties to live in Bath and edit bike mags our man made the jump to the interweb back in 2006 as launch editor of a large cycling website somewhat confusingly named after a piece of navigational equipment. He came up with the idea for road.cc mainly to avoid being told what to do… Oh dear, issues there then. Tony tries to ride his bike every day and if he doesn't he gets grumpy, he likes carbon, but owns steel, and wants titanium. When not on his bike or eating cake Tony spends his time looking for new ways to annoy the road.cc team. He's remarkably good at it.