IKEA now sells bikes – that’s right, bikes! The SLADDA is a city bike aimed at commuters who – like their typical customer – wants something simple and functional while not breaking the bank. If you are already an “IKEA Family” member, all the better for your wallet: the price drops from the regular $999 to $599.
The highlights:
- Aluminum Frame
- Disc from brake + Backpedal rear brake
- Maintenance-free Rubber Chain
- SRAM “Automatix” Internal Gear
- Available in 26″ and 700c
The SRAM 2-speed rear hub is notable in that it is cable-less like the Sachs Torpedo rear hubs — except that it shifts without requiring any back-pedaling. This can be both good and bad; it does shift relatively early, but is smooth-shifting.
In any case, I welcome more inexpensive and decent bicycles to the market; it dilutes the number of garbage bikes in service from the likes of SuperCycle, et al!