Dealing with a rusty bicycle chain can be a messy affair, but an innovative new bike from Ikea solves that pesky problem. The furniture retail giant recently introduced its new “Sladda” bike, which uses an oil-free and corrosion-resistant drive belt rather than a metal chain.

The drive belt is designed to last about 9,320 miles, which is about two to three times longer than a typical steel chain, according to Ikea. Moreover, the unisex Sladda bike has a “click system” that lets the rider snap on accessories, such as a basket, a bike bag rack and a towing trailer, the company said.

Sladda 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 three designers from the Veryday design studio.

The bike has already won the team the prestigious Red Dot Design Award.

Sladda is like tablet apps: You can add endless accessories to enhance ease of use.

The new drive belt may be a boon to riders who take to their bikes even during inclement weather. Over time, steel bike chains tend to rust, particularly when they’re covered with corrosive salt that’s left on the roadways.

Accumulated rust can be difficult to remove, and it can also affect the chain’s flexibility. But Ikea’s new bike won’t have those problems.

Moreover, the bike has automatic gears that are hidden in a sealed hub placed in the rear wheel.

Sladda’s frame is made from aluminum, meaning it will be easy to lift and carry up and down stairs. The bike, which comes with either 26- or 28-inch wheels, also has two layers of lacquer that will protect the frame from mud, salt and scratches.

But it’s not for little kids — Ikea recommends that only people age 12 or older use it.

The bike is expected to be available beginning in August for US$797.

自行车链生锈是件麻烦事儿，家具零售巨头宜家最新推出的创意自行车解决了这个问题。该自行车名为“斯拉达”，与人们熟知的金属车链不同，宜家自行车取而代之的是驱动带，无需润滑油且耐腐蚀。

这种驱动带设计行驶路程约9320英里，是普通钢链使用寿命的两到三倍。而且公司称，该款男女通用自行车还配有一键设置系统，骑行者可以自己添加各种配件，比如前车筐、后车篓，甚至能加挂拖车。

斯拉达在瑞典语中是“左右摇摆”的意思。市场宣传说这是一款男女通用不需打理的自行车，极简设计，源自和Veryday设计工作室的三名设计师合作。这个团队因此获了著名的红点奖。

斯拉达就像可添加应用的平板电脑，你可以随意配置海量应用，提高它的易用度。

对于那些即使在恶劣天气也要骑车的人来说，这种新款驱动带可能再合适不过了。随着长时间的使用，钢制自行车链易锈蚀，尤其当路面上的腐蚀性盐类附着在自行车上以后。

斑斑锈迹不易清理，也影响车链的灵活性。宜家自行车就不会有这些问题。

而且这款自行车还安装了自动变速系统，隐藏在后轮内的一个封闭盒中。

斯拉达的车架是铝制的，拿起来很轻，上下楼梯携带也很方便。轮子大小分26英寸和28英寸两种。车架表面有两层喷漆，防泥、盐蚀和剐蹭。但车子不适于儿童使用 — 宜家建议12岁以上人群使用。

该自行车有望今年8月上市，售价797美元。

    Words to Learn 相关词汇

    【烦人的】 fánrén de pesky troublesome, annoying

    【福利】fúlì boon A timely blessing or benefit