Ikea launching its first bicycle
YOU CAN eat, get lost, get found and buy a gazillion things at Ikea. And in August this year you’ll be able to buy a flat-pack bike. Yep.
IT seems there’s very little you can’t get at Ikea these days. You can get a belly-full of meatballs, stuffed toys, claustrophobia, gift wrap, slippers and an umbrella. And it seems that as of September this year you’ll also be able to get a bike.
The new Ikea bicycle is called the SLADDA (which means ‘to skid sideways’ in Swedish). It’s being marketed as a “low-maintenance unisex bike” that boasts a sleek minimalist design and was designed in partnership with Oskar Juhlin, Jan Puranen and Kristian Eke from the Veryday design studio.
The SLADDA has already won the team the prestigious Red Dot Design Award and features a unique chainless design.
As per a report on inhabitat:
The bicycle relies on a corrosion-resistant drive belt, rather than a traditional bike chain. Ikea claims the drive belt will last up to 9,320 miles (15,000 kilometres), which is two to three times longer than the average chain drive.
The bike comes with a 25 year warranty on the frame (10 years on the belt drive). SLADDA has adjustable handlebars, which means, according to Ikea, anyone over the age of 12 can use it (the aluminium frame will come in a 26- and 28-inch model). The aim was to make a bike light enough that it could be easily carried up and down stairs, so it’s perfect for those living in apartments.
The bike also boasts a ‘click system’ which means you can add a bunch of accessories to it.
So far accessories include a basket, a rack for panniers, the towing trailer (pictured above) and a bike bag that doubles as a backpack.
The SLADDA will be available in IKEA stores around Australia in September 2016 for $799 or $649 for IKEA Family members (price includes lights).