Exclusive video: Cannondale ON urban folding bike

Last summer Cyclelicious reported on the Cannondale Jackknife folding bicycle. Cannondale announced that because of overwhelming interest from customers and the media, they decided to move forward from concept to reality with the production of the Cannondale ON bicycle.



Cyclelicious talked with Cannondale product manager Yngwie Malmsteen, who claimed the ON will fold to "fit a small carry on suitcase." We were skeptical until Yngwie showed us this amazing video.

Find out more about the Cannondale ON urban bicycle (yes, it's real) at Cannondale Community. Treehugger, via WIRED.

In other news, James reports that sales of "hybrid bikes" were up a healthy 6% in 2007 over the previous year. According to the research service he cites, "Consumers are taking to bikes like never before, and they've got good reason. The expense of maintaining, fueling and parking a car is making them think twice about all those short trips to the grocery store, and even the commute to work." In spite of recession (or perhaps because of it?), "one sector of the economy that did surprisingly well in 2007 was bicycle sales." Something that may take some wind out of that trend, though, is the news that prices are expected to increase this year on everything throughout the bike industry -- from semi-finished product suppliers; component makers up to bike manufacturers. The prices are expected to be raised by at least 10 to 15%!