Folding bicycles are great for getting around town, but some are so small that it hardly seems worthwhile. This bike, called the iF Mode, cleverly folds down to about the size of a unicycle to take on the subway or into the office, but in use, has the dimensions of a full-size ride.

Created by Mark Sanders, the iF Mode is similar to the designer’s former A-frame oddity – the STRiDA MAS, in that the bicycle aims to keep you clean as you move about town – featuring innovations that avoid oily chains and hidden dirt traps. The bike is the first ever folding design to pick up the prestigious iF Product Design Award and is based on a patented 4-bar linkage system – that guides the two wheels side-by-side when folding (video below).

At $2,329, it’s certainly not a bike for the masses and even if you have that kind of dosh, you could almost get a pair of electric cycles for that. Impressive engineering, but you’ve got to put things into perspective.

Sources:
Bicycle Design | Treehugger | RideThisBike