Well, it’s certainly been a lazy, post Christmas stroll back to the blogging world for us Muses! Nevertheless, we’re all back and accounted for and ready to serve up some more juicy, environmentally conscious tidbits for 2009.

With the holiday season over I’m sure I’m not the only one with a few too many inches to pinch these days (except for the woman in the picture below who clearly hasn’t been gorging on Christmas pud). So, what could be better than a bike to get you up and going? But, not just any old bike. This one has been designed to fit into the back of your car so you can take it anywhere and whip it out whenever the mood takes you.

Apart from being avid, lunchtime MuseGreen readers, the guys over at Montague Bikes spend the rest of the time dreaming up ideas on how to get more people out of cars and onto bikes, creating the most state of the art and practical bikes on the market. But what makes these bikes different is that they are designed with the the commuter in mind.

With global warming and wild swings in gas prices on the news every day,  many people are searching for an easy way to save energy while also saving money.  So, with that said, the good old fashioned bicycle is enjoying a comeback and, with congestion continuing to become a major issue in metropolitan areas around the world, many authorities are introducing vehicle congestion charges and countering with more bike friendly options. So, it makes sense to try and bike around as much as possible – it’s good for the planet and it’s good for you. However, not all of us live around the corner from work and while the idea of donning your bicycle clips and  jumping on your bike may sound appealing, the reality is that sometimes it’s just not possible.

So, this is where The SwissBike TX comes in. It’s a full size bike (it boasts a 26 inch wheel, if size is your thing) but it’s clever enough to completely fold down and fit into the back of a Mini Cooper.  “What If I don’t have a Mini Cooper?” I hear you ask – well no worries, I’m sure it will fit into your ride just as neatly.

The whole philosophy behind this bike is that it offers the full-size stability and ride quality that is needed for a good commuter, while still having all the benefits of a small wheel folder. In short, it can go anywhere. Terrain is not an issue. It’s also a carbon footprint reducer to boot.

With the concept of Drive and Cycle, if your commute is a long one or through an area that is not conducive to riding, leave a SwissBike in the trunk for part of the drive and when you hit traffic, ride the rest of the way in. The ability to commute how you want at any given moment on any given day, goes a long way to removing some of the obstacles that keep people from commuting by bike.

So, whilst on the face of it you may not find it cheap (the SwissBike TX retails for approximately $699) it does offer 21-speeds, slick tires, front suspension, disc brakes, and for the bike aficionados amongst you, the CLIX™ Wheel Release System. We feel the price could easily be recuperated in gas savings and health benefits – plus look how many eco-friendly brownie points you’d rack up!

Oh, and for a limited time, if you use the code ‘muse’ at checkout then you’ll receive a free carrying case with your bike purchase. It’s an easy way to get on a cool bike, save a good chunk of change, and reduce your carbon footprint, so what’s stopping you??