The EUROBIKE AWARD continues to grow

A jury of experts honoured the innovative entries and presented the EUROBIKE AWARD 65 times. The ten best received a GOLD AWARD. The new special EUROBIKE GREEN AWARD was presented for the first time this year. And this was also the first time that students’ concepts were invited to participate, with seven of them also earning an award.

The EUROBIKE AWARD 2008, hosted by Messe Friedrichshafen during the EUROBIKE Show (September 4 to 7, 2008) for the fourth time, reported a strong growth of 35 percent. The international bicycle industry took part in the competition with a total of 361 entries from 27 nations (previous year: 269 entries from 22 nations). In the competition organized by iF International Forum Design GmbH, Hannover, a jury of experts first chose 65 products from among all the submissions as recipients of the EUROBIKE AWARD 2008. The ten best of these received a GOLD Award for outstanding design performance. Of the 57 entries submitted by students, there were seven prize-winners who will be taking home the EUROBIKE AWARD STUDENTS CATEGORY.

Wolfgang Köhle, spokesperson for EUROBIKE, was pleased at the great popularity of this year’s competition: “Entries were received from all the leading brand manufacturers, which shows us that we are definitely moving in the right direction with the EUROBIKE AWARD. The bicycle industry has clearly displayed its innovative strength. And that looks good at a premiere show like EUROBIKE.”

Jury – Categories – Criteria

Excellence in design is an important endorsement that provides customers with orientation on a large market. The EUROBIKE AWARD 2008, which is already in its fourth round, shows consumers what is innovative and functional as well as environmentally friendly and sustainable on the bicycle market. All the award-winning products will be presented in a special display during the tradeshow on the ground floor of the Foyer West EG from September 4 to 7, 2008.

The international jury for the EUROBIKE AWARD 2008 included Nils Holger Moormann (Designer/D), Peter Barzel (velopress editiorial office/D), Virginia Berasategui (Triathletin/ES), Tom Kavanagh (TriMedia/IE), Felix Matthäi (German Sports University Cologne/D), Laurenz Schaffer (BMW Group, Designworks Studio Munich/D) and Marcus Wallmeyer (Supernova Design/D). The members of the jury rated the participating products and concepts on the basis of the following evaluation criteria: Aerodynamics, Efficiency, Ergonomics, Functionality, Utility value, Design quality, Weight, Degree of innovation, Comfort, Loading, Brand value/branding, Choice of materials, Service, Safety, Stability, Environmental friendliness, Workmanship and WDM (wet, dark & muddy).

Products were submitted in the following categories: All-terrain bike/Traveller bike/Trekking bike (2 entries), BMX bike/Dirt bike (3), City bike (10), Cross/fitness/speed bike (4), Cruiser/design bike (6), E-bike (11), Family transportation/Kid’s bike (4), Folding bike (6), Mountain bike Downhill/Enduro/Freerider (4), Hardtail mountain bike (4), Full-suspension mountain bike (5), Racing bike (13), Special-purpose bike (15), Clothing (21), Electronic components (5), Components (42), Frames (7), Bike equipment (50) and Accessories (92). Seven of the 57 entries submitted in the new “Concepts” category also received awards. This special category, in which students were invited to enter experimental concepts for products and studies that had not yet been manufactured, was part of the competition for the first time this year.

Jury’s Comments on the Competition

All in all, the jury said, there were many innovative, functional solutions, but there was one thing that often seemed to get left behind – and that was good design. Design was often interpreted as decoration, colour or covering – not as an element to visualize innovation and function, two particularly important aspects for the bicycle industry.

A stronger focus should be placed on the number of traditional everyday bikes in the future, since the topic of “everyday mobility” now plays an increasingly important role in our lives. Where are all the lightweight, comfortable folding bikes that are easy to take along on busses, trams and trains?

The topic of safety is also far from exhausted. Key word: “helmets”. Where are the high-quality, attractive, elegant bicycle helmets that adults would also be happy to wear? What’s missing is the good-looking, understated lifestyle product.

The Prize-winners in the EUROBIKE AWARD 2008

Of the 361 entries, the jury selected a total of 65 prize-winners. The ten best of those received the GOLD Award. In the new Concepts category, seven of the 57 entries submitted by students were honoured with the EUROBIKE AWARD STUDENTS CATEGORY. The EUROBIKE GREEN AWARD was presented for the first time this year.

The Ten Winners of the EUROBIKE AWARD GOLD

Category: Bike equipment
Product: Custom-made Tria Saddle
Company: Gesellschaft für Biomechanik Münster mbH, Münster/D
Design: Michael Fuhrmeister, Daniel Schade, Dr. Jörg Natrup
Wolfgang Domenghino
Gesellschaft für Biomechanik Münster mbH, Münster/D

Jury’s comments “Something really new: a custom-made saddle adapted to special anatomical features and the individual’s sitting position. That translates as greater comfort on the triathlon saddle – and that will put a smile on any professional triathlete’s face.”

Category: Cruiser/Design bike
Product: Five Star, Singlespeed Bike with a Belt Drive
Company: FIXIE Inc., Karlsruhe/D
Design: Holger Patzelt, Recep Yesil
FIXIE Inc., Karlsruhe/D

Jury’s comments “A very cleanly designed bicycle, reduced to the minimum. A bicycle without gears with a belt drive. In the design, a focus was placed on the “retro” look, without slipping into sentimental nostalgia – the handlebars, for example, are made of wood. A winning solution.”

Category: Clothing
Product: T3000 ULT Vista Jacket
Company: Jeantex Sportswear GmbH & Co. KG, Rellingen/D
Design: Miriam Machaczek, Antoinette Fumey
Jeantex Sportswear GmbH & Co. KG, Rellingen/D

Jury’s comments “The transparent bike jacket is super-light and can be folded up to almost nothing – without limiting its functionalities. It feels good and is a prime example of good design – pure and simple.”

Category: Bike equipment
Product: LockN’Roll, Keyless Theft Protection
Company: ZEFAL, Jargeau/F
Design: Matthieu Brunet
ZEFAL, Jargeau/F

Jury’s comments “A very small, smart invention that solves the problem of theft in an amazing easy way. The mechanism cannot be opened unless the bicycle is turned around 180 degrees – which would be virtually impossible for a bicycle locked to a stationary object.”

Category: City bike
Product: City Speed
Company: Giant, Taichung Hsien/TW
Design: Michael Young, Joe Chou
Giant, Taichung Hsien/TW

Jury’s comments “The bike is very well designed from start to finish. All the components have been specially coordinated to work together perfectly. The front light, the stem and the handlebars, for example, form a single unit. Great.”

Category: Bike equipment
Product: TP1, Pedal Cleat Tool
Company: Ergon, Urmitz/D
Design: Ergonomidesign Stockholm, Ergon Werksdesign

Jury’s comments “A very simple tool that adjusts the foot position on the click pedal quickly and exactly to the millimetre. An unconventional, completely new idea.”

Category: Bike equipment
Product: SL120 Power Backup, Bicycle Light
Company: Reelight ApS, Viby/DK
Design: Steffen Hansen, Troels Pedersen
Reelight ApS, Viby/DK

Jury’s comments “An interesting lighting solution for bicycles that uses induction to be completely free of wear and tear and provides a reliable source of light. The topics of safety and environmental protection both play an important role here. Very clever.”

Category: City bike
Product: Bad Boy White Edition
Company: Cannondale, Allschwil/CH
Design: Torgny Fjeldskaar, Chris Dodman
Cannondale, Allschwil/CH

Jury’s comments “A bike reduced to the minimum that is very clear in its design. Simply a bike that’s a delight to look at.”

Category: Components
Product: Marta SL Magnesium, Disc Brakes
Company: MAGURA, Gustav Magenwirth GmbH & Co. KG, Bad Urach/D
Design: Stefan Ruckh
MAGURA, Gustav Magenwirth GmbH & Co. KG, Bad Urach/D

Jury’s comments “Many small innovations come together to form a new type of disc brakes. The brake pads adjust automatically. The elegantly designed brake lever feels good and is easy to operate.”

Category: Components
Product: NuVinci CVP, Infinitely Variable Smooth Hub
Company: Fallbrook Technologies, Inc., Cedar Park, Texas/USA
Design: Jon Nichols, Dan Dawe, Matthew Simister, Brad Pohl,
Fernand Thommasy, Charles Lohr, Robert Smithson,
Don Miller
Fallbrook Technologies, Inc., Cedar Park, Texas/USA

Jury’s comments “A new type of gear whose technology is borrowed from the automobile industry. Gear changing is infinitely variable – while standing and both forward as well as back. A very simple, convincing system that provides real convenience.”

EUROBIKE GREEN AWARD

The award presented to a product with a particularly high value in terms of environmental protection and sustainability for the first time this year goes to the “Jetstream hybrid” e-bike made by riese und müller GmbH, Darmstadt:

Category: E-Bike
Product: Jetstream hybrid, Pedelec
Company: riese und müller GmbH, Darmstadt/D
Design: Stijn Deferm, Markus Riese

Jury’s comments “The e-bike does consume energy – but compared to a car, it offers a real alternative. The idea is to create an everyday object that will find broad acceptance. It is so interesting that it will get people onto bikes who normally wouldn’t use a bike. It can be used to cover impressive distances stress-free as well as for shorter trips and provides comfortable mobility that makes life easier. In addition, it can make a significant contribution towards alleviating traffic problems in inner-city areas.”

>> All the prize-winners will be presented in the iF on-line exhibition on the iF website at www.ifdesign.de.


Biographies of the Members of the Jury for the EUROBIKE AWARD 2008

Peter Barzel (*1957) completed a degree in mechanical engineering and has been working as a technical editor since 1986, first in industry, then freelance. He has put a special focus specifically on bicycles and bicycle technology since 1996. Barzel writes for such daily newspapers as the Cologne “Stadt-Anzeiger”, the “Mitteldeutsche Zeitung” and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung as well as for magazines and is the co-author of a new reference book entitled “Die neue Fahrradtechnik” (New Bicycle Technology). He also works as a bicycle expert in WDR radio and gives talks and lectures on bicycle technology.

Virginia Berasategui (*1975) is among the world’s best women on the original triathlon distance. The Spanish professional triathlete already began to participate in triathlons in the 1990s and won her first IRONMAN on Lanzarote in 2004. She was also first across the finish line in the IRONMAN 70.3 Germany in Wiesbaden in 2007 as well as in 2008.

Tom Kavanagh (*1964) first worked in the video and television industry before he made the move to publishing. As an editor for Cycle Press (1992 to 1996) in the USA and Japan, he has seen and experienced the bicycle industry around the world. In 1996, Kavanagh returned to his homeland, Ireland, and did consulting work for the market introduction of Bike Europe. Kavanagh now works as a journalist, editor and translator for many companies in the bicycle industry as well as for financial magazines. At the same time, he also continues to pursue his career as a video producer.

Felix Matthäi (*1976) has worked as a research assistant at the Health Centre of the German Sports University in Cologne since March 2006. His day-to-day work on the topic of “healthy movement” focuses primarily on the ergonomic aspects of the “man&machine/sports equipment” interface. Matthäi is also responsible for a number of different projects in the field of “comfort and movement in living spaces”.

Nils Holger Moormann (*1953) encountered design quite by accident in 1980. First, he sold furniture to retailers before he presented the first products from his own collection at the Cologne Furniture Fair in the mid 1980s. Since that time, he has been counted among the most successful furniture publishers in Germany and employs a staff of 20 today. The Moormann Company, founded in 1992, has 98 % of its furniture manufactured in Chiemgau in Bavaria, including furniture designed by such famous designers as Axel Kufus or Konstantin Grcic. The furniture collection has already received many international design awards.

Laurenz Schaffer (* 1967) has been responsible for Design Management and Business Operations as the Director of Design in the Munich-based studio of the BMW Group Designworks USA since 2000. From 2003 to 2006, he was also head of the Lifestyle Design division at the BMW Group. All in all, Schaffer looks back on more than 13 years of experience in different positions and industrial sectors: as the head of Industrial Design at Frogdesign in Altensteig, where he was in charge of design projects for such customers as Siemens, Sony and Lufthansa.

Marcus Wallmeyer (*1976) studied Transportation Design in Pforzheim and Entertainment Design at the Art Center in Pasadena, California. Among other things, he has worked on projects for Audi, BMW and for the film industry in Hollywood. In 1989, Wallmeyer got into mountain-bike racing and, together with his own racing team, he won the 24h MTB European and World Championships. 11 years ago, he founded his company, Supernova Design, with a special focus on “bicycle lighting” and “bicycle design”. His products were already among the winners of the EUROBIKE AWARD 2005.

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