The judges’ decision is now in on the EUROBIKE AWARD 2011: 59 of the 430 entries from 27 countries from around the world convinced the jury of their special innovation and design quality. Ten of those entries will be honored with a GOLD award on 31 August 2011, the first day of the EUROBIKE show in Friedrichshafen. The special EUROBIKE GREEN AWARD will also be presented for the fourth time.
There were 430 entries made in the competition for the EUROBIKE AWARD, which goes into its seventh round this year, by exhibitors and non-exhibitors at the world’s leading tradeshow for the international bicycle industry, EUROBIKE (31 August to 3 September 2011 in Friedrichshafen). This is a new record since the start of the competition in 2005 (2010: 417 product entries).
A panel of experts, who met in Hannover on 16 and 17 August 2011, chose a total of 59 entries as the winners of the EUROBIKE AWARD 2011. Of these prize winners, ten entries will be honored with a GOLD award for their outstanding design in the Awards Ceremony on 31 August 2011 during the EUROBIKE show in Friedrichshafen. The special EUROBIKE GREEN AWARD will also be presented then, for the fourth time, to a product exhibiting particularly impressive ecological, sustainable value.
All the award-winning products will be presented in a special EUROBIKE display in Foyer West during the show from 31 August to 3 September 2011.
Dirk Heidrich, project assistant for EUROBIKE at Messe Friedrichshafen is impressed: “The awards competition on the 20th anniversary of the EUROBIKE show couldn’t have been better. 430 entries in the EUROBIKE AWARD – a number that breaks all the previous records! The high rate of participation, which included virtually all the world market leaders, is a clear indication of what a solid reputation and what good standing this award has achieved in the industry.”
The EUROBIKE AWARD is hosted by Messe Friedrichshafen and conceived and organized by iF International Forum Design GmbH in Hannover.
The Jurors
Nils Holger Moormann (designer, Aschau am Chiemsee/D), Hans-Heinrich Pardey (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Frankfurt/D), Jack Oortwijn (Bike Europe and Tweewieler, Amsterdam/NL), Ulrike Saade (Velokonzept Saade GmbH, Berlin/D), Peter Feld (Fahrrad XXL Feld GmbH, Sankt Augustin/D) and Dirk Zedler (Zedler
– Institut für Fahrradtechnik und -Sicherheit GmbH, Ludwigsburg/D)
The judged the entries on the basis of the following criteria:
Aerodynamics, efficiency, ergonomics, functionality, utility, design quality, weight, degree of innovation, comfort, loading, brand value / branding, choice of materials, service, safety, stability, environmental compatibility and workmanship.
Entries were accepted in the following 17 categories:
“The bicycle world has never been as colorful before as it is today. The
award reflects the great diversity of this industry. Traditional
bicycles have reached an extremely high level; there are only small
changes in the detail, in the coordination of the components, for
example. I see enormous potential in the field of electro-mobility –
it’s the market of the future without a doubt. Another important topic
was Transport and Mobility: there were some good approaches – for
transporting children as well as luggage by bicycle. All of the future
technologies were reflected in the EUROBIKE AWARD.”
Dirk Zedler, Zedler – Institut für Fahrradtechnik und -Sicherheit GmbH, Ludwigsburg/D
“The
wide range of solution approaches for e-bikes is remarkable, in terms
of design as well as for the operating elements and the technical
solutions. This segment holds great potential. Many different types of
bicycles are now designed as e-bikes right from the get-go – electronic
components just used to be an add-on. This creates a consistent
implementation and integration of design into technology. Design is also
playing an increasingly important role for folding bikes and sports
bikes. The Award reflects a good bandwidth of the bicycle market.”
Hans-Heinrich Pardey, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Frankfurt/D
“It
was great to see how all the judges dealt with each individual entry.
What I liked about it was the high proportion of e-bikes. But I did see a
lot of products that have not yet been developed to their full
potential in terms of quality. Innovative elements, but no consistent
design concept. Automatic gear switching will prove indispensable in the
future. E-bike manufacturers will have to better integrate the battery
into the frame. The weight of e-bikes will also have to be reduced to
make e-mobility, for sports bikes, for example, make sense.”
Peter Feld, Fahrrad XXL Feld GmbH, Sankt Augustin/D
“I
saw exciting product innovations in the field of family transportation
that are perfectly suited to the urban environment. Alternative mobility
concepts for the whole family are very popular. I also saw very
interesting products in bicycle apparel and accessories. It’s important
that functional products reflect the spirit of the times and prove
salable in terms of aesthetics. The number of e-bikes entered was
overwhelming with many innovations – it confirms that E-Mobility is a
topic of the future for the bike industry without a doubt. The Bike
Tower that was presented is an ingenious invention and would ensure that
the infrastructure for bicycles and E-Mobility will improve
significantly.”
Ulrike Saade, Velokonzept Saade GmbH, Berlin/D
“It
was interesting to note that design has become an important issue and
that it’s no longer just all about cosmetics. The quality of the
materials is increasing and the dedicated workmanship as well. It’s also
great to see that cycling is no longer seen just as a sport but is now
also being accepted as a kind of enhancing life accessory to an
ever-greater extent.”
Nils Holger Moormann, Designer, Aschau am Chiemsee/D
“The
general trend towards pedelecs and e-bikes was obvious, with special
attention being paid to the new types of drives and options for
automatic gear-shifting. Automatic gear-shifting saves a lot of energy –
that’s a great new development in e-bikes. The 29-inch mountain bikes
are also very trendy. You can see how simple products are easily
improved upon again and again.”
Jack Oortwijn, Bike Europe and Tweewieler, Amsterdam/NL
Nils Holger Moormann (designer, Aschau am Chiemsee/D), Hans-Heinrich Pardey (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Frankfurt/D), Jack Oortwijn (Bike Europe and Tweewieler, Amsterdam/NL), Ulrike Saade (Velokonzept Saade GmbH, Berlin/D), Peter Feld (Fahrrad XXL Feld GmbH, Sankt Augustin/D) and Dirk Zedler (Zedler
– Institut für Fahrradtechnik und -Sicherheit GmbH, Ludwigsburg/D)
The judged the entries on the basis of the following criteria:
Aerodynamics, efficiency, ergonomics, functionality, utility, design quality, weight, degree of innovation, comfort, loading, brand value / branding, choice of materials, service, safety, stability, environmental compatibility and workmanship.
Entries were accepted in the following 17 categories:
“The bicycle world has never been as colorful before as it is today. The
award reflects the great diversity of this industry. Traditional
bicycles have reached an extremely high level; there are only small
changes in the detail, in the coordination of the components, for
example. I see enormous potential in the field of electro-mobility –
it’s the market of the future without a doubt. Another important topic
was Transport and Mobility: there were some good approaches – for
transporting children as well as luggage by bicycle. All of the future
technologies were reflected in the EUROBIKE AWARD.”
Dirk Zedler, Zedler – Institut für Fahrradtechnik und -Sicherheit GmbH, Ludwigsburg/D
“The
wide range of solution approaches for e-bikes is remarkable, in terms
of design as well as for the operating elements and the technical
solutions. This segment holds great potential. Many different types of
bicycles are now designed as e-bikes right from the get-go – electronic
components just used to be an add-on. This creates a consistent
implementation and integration of design into technology. Design is also
playing an increasingly important role for folding bikes and sports
bikes. The Award reflects a good bandwidth of the bicycle market.”
Hans-Heinrich Pardey, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Frankfurt/D
“It
was great to see how all the judges dealt with each individual entry.
What I liked about it was the high proportion of e-bikes. But I did see a
lot of products that have not yet been developed to their full
potential in terms of quality. Innovative elements, but no consistent
design concept. Automatic gear switching will prove indispensable in the
future. E-bike manufacturers will have to better integrate the battery
into the frame. The weight of e-bikes will also have to be reduced to
make e-mobility, for sports bikes, for example, make sense.”
Peter Feld, Fahrrad XXL Feld GmbH, Sankt Augustin/D
“I
saw exciting product innovations in the field of family transportation
that are perfectly suited to the urban environment. Alternative mobility
concepts for the whole family are very popular. I also saw very
interesting products in bicycle apparel and accessories. It’s important
that functional products reflect the spirit of the times and prove
salable in terms of aesthetics. The number of e-bikes entered was
overwhelming with many innovations – it confirms that E-Mobility is a
topic of the future for the bike industry without a doubt. The Bike
Tower that was presented is an ingenious invention and would ensure that
the infrastructure for bicycles and E-Mobility will improve
significantly.”
Ulrike Saade, Velokonzept Saade GmbH, Berlin/D
“It
was interesting to note that design has become an important issue and
that it’s no longer just all about cosmetics. The quality of the
materials is increasing and the dedicated workmanship as well. It’s also
great to see that cycling is no longer seen just as a sport but is now
also being accepted as a kind of enhancing life accessory to an
ever-greater extent.”
Nils Holger Moormann, Designer, Aschau am Chiemsee/D
“The
general trend towards pedelecs and e-bikes was obvious, with special
attention being paid to the new types of drives and options for
automatic gear-shifting. Automatic gear-shifting saves a lot of energy –
that’s a great new development in e-bikes. The 29-inch mountain bikes
are also very trendy. You can see how simple products are easily
improved upon again and again.”
Jack Oortwijn, Bike Europe and Tweewieler, Amsterdam/NL
