A group of friends from Tel Aviv got so tired of lugging enormous locks to foil would-be bicycle thieves that they got together to design what may be the world’s only fashionable solution: the Foldylock.
After spending some time lamenting the dearth of suitable bicycle locks in Tel Aviv or really anywhere, the Foldylock friends decided to design one that would be practical, aesthetically pleasing, and so strong that even the most cunning bicycle thief would be stumped.
They worked with a series of prototypes, sourced the best quality materials, including steel, aluminum, plastic and CNC, and consulted with the most experienced manufacturers to plan the project’s next step – the scaled production of a durable, lightweight lock that urban bikers everywhere can use.
In addition to being ridiculously heavy, most bicycle locks on the market are unwieldy, impractical, expensive and ugly! The Foldlylock is anything but. Weighing just over three pounds, these folding locks made of six hardened steel links are rust- and rattle-free, and mount to bicycles with either water screws or built-in straps.
Best of all, since it is covered in plastic reinforced with fiberglass, the lock doesn’t scratch the bicycle to which it is attached. This is particularly a plus for those biking enthusiasts who spend thousands of dollars (or Shekels) for their favorite wheeled steed.
There’s a glitch of course. It takes money to make something as cool and clever as this bicycle lock. The team needs to cover tooling costs and purchase the first round of sexy Foldylocks. So they launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $10,000 and, with 23 days left, they have already brought in nearly triple their asking price.
Not only is the Foldylock marketing campaign totally captivating, but the designers appear genuinely sincere about providing a quality product that won’t fall apart within days. In part this is evidenced by their down-to-earth language, but they have also invited a third party quality control group to evaluate their design.
If you live in Tel Aviv and you like your bike, then you will love this.
:: Foldylock
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
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