Friedrichshafen - The Eurobike Award is one of the most
prestigious design awards in the bicycle industry that a company can
receive for its products.
Yesterday evening, 56 manufacturers celebrated
in style after learning that their new products had been awarded the
illustrious seal of quality at the leading international bicycle
industry trade show.
Eleven of them received a Gold Award and one
company was given a Green Award for a product that represents not only
outstanding design, but also sets a new benchmark for sustainability.
This
year saw 500 hopeful entries for the Eurobike Award. The industry
design award was organised for the first time in association with the
German Designer Club (DDC) and the six-person expert panel selected 56
products to receive a Eurobike Award. During the award ceremony
yesterday, at the end of the first day of the show, it was revealed
which products had won a Gold Award or a Green Award.
"The Eurobike Award denotes products that represent outstanding design,
quality and functionality. However, even within this select group, there
are products that stand out. These exceptional products set new
standards and push the envelope in the industry. They are the winners of
the Eurobike Gold Awards,” explained Stefan Reisinger, Head of
OutDoor/Eurobike, Messe Friedrichshafen.
Winners of the Eurobike Gold Awards 2014:
Commuter - Canyon
Canyon is well known for its racing bikes and mountain bikes. Its new
Commuter model now also shows that it’s equally at home on urban
streets. The Canyon bike designers have devoted a great deal of
attention to giving both the frame and components a coherent look.
What the judges had to say: "In terms of appearance, we’ve rarely seen
an urban bike that reinterprets this theme as radically as the Commuter
from Canyon. The bike’s understated design is very elegant. There was
virtually no other competition entry where we so quickly agreed that it
deserved a design award. As judges, we view the Gold Award for this
product as an incentive to the bike industry to dare to venture into
more design.”
Elite Hybrid HPC SLT 29 - Cube
Cube has gone to great lengths with its Elite Hybrid HPC SLT 29 to open a
new weight class for e-mountain bikes. At its heart is the
high-quality, lightweight carbon frame, which houses the Bosch drive
unit in a shock-resistant and elegant manner.
What the judges had to say: "At last an e-mountain bike that’s also
low in weight. With its consistently light frame Cube is pursuing a
different path to other suppliers and that’s something we applaud. This
manufacturer has listened very closely to consumer wishes.”
ST2 Sport - Stromer
The ST2 Sport from Stromer is a further development of the ST1 model,
which was well received in expert circles due to the successful
integration of its drive components. With the ST2 Sport, the Swiss
manufacturer is going one step further. This applies to the motor, user
interface and battery and in particular, for the first time, digital
connectivity to a proprietary cloud-based platform for interaction with a
smartphone.
What the judges had to say: "The design and functional aspects of
the Stromer are very coherent. Integrated optics, smart online
integration and a drive that works very well. This is the direction that
needs pursuing.”
Schaap Jacket - Triple2
The Schaap Jacket from sustainable bikewear specialist Triple2 is made
from Tecnowool, a fabric that combines the natural look of wool with the
technical advantages of synthetic fibres. It features an integrated
membrane to keep rain out and a lambswool lining for insulation on
colder days.
What the judges had to say: "Initially we would never have guessed
that this was a functional cycling jacket. It’s also ideal for
day-to-day wear. And consists of recycled material.”
Kickr - Wahoo
The Kickr indoor bike trainer from American manufacturer Wahoo has more
than just smartphone integration with bluetooth and ANT+ technology. It
features a new design, where the back wheel of the road or mountain bike
is taken off before it is placed in the trainer. The Kickr also enables
particularly accurate power measurement.
What the judges had to say: "The trick with this trainer is that (in
contrast to other conventional indoor bike trainers) the back wheel is
taken off. The Bluetooth connection that allows a direct hook-up with a
smartphone is also very practical.”
Vial Evo D - AX-Lightness
Carbon specialist AX-Lightness is showing what is technically possible
with its Vial evo D. The bike, which is nearly completely manufactured
in Germany, has exceptional test results for weight and riding
stability. Despite this, the Vial Evo D is a racing bike suitable for
daily use and for riders weighing up to 170 kg.
What the judges had to say: "With this bike AX Lightness sets the
bar higher for carbon-frame bikes. But it’s not just the weight and
rigidity that are unusual in this racing bike, the frame, fork and the
majority of the components are German-made.”
Dealer Center - Winora Staiger
The Winora Staiger Dealer Center is a well-thought-out point of sale
tool for its retail partners. A 23” touchscreen display provides
detailed information about the manufacturer’s product range and
availability of individual models. In addition, various apps enable
rapid access to specialist product information.
What the judges had to say: "This presentation medium for point of
sale use will inspire people for cycling. As judges, the online
applications’ menus and contents look superb and well thought-out. The
application’s design is state of the art.”
Rafael-r-023 Ueberbike - Rafael
Heidelberg-based manufacturer Rafael has completely redesigned the
triathlon bike with its Ueberbike. Combining one-sided hung wheels with
integrated brakes provides not only particularly good aerodynamics, but
also allows quick repair of defect tires in a competition.
What the judges had to say: "This triathlon model fully lives up to
its name of Ueberbike. It looks fantastic. Parts attached to the bike
have been cleverly integrated. You hardly see the merest hint of a cable
anywhere. This really is an innovation. For us judges it was love at
first sight.”
Aeroad CF SLX - Canyon
Canyon’s Aeroad CF SLX incorporates a synthesis of aerodynamics,
stiffness and lightness, without making any sacrifices on comfort. This
is made possible by consistent system integration of frame and
components.
What the judges had to say: "This bike set the pulses of the
designers in the judges’ panel racing in particular. Graphics and
styling score full marks. The design goals which included aerodynamics,
rigidity and comfort have all been applied very consistently.”
ilu - Curana
Belgian bike equipment specialists Curana and German light manufacturers
Busch & Müller worked together to design this attractive bicycle
light, which is integrated into the mudguard.
What the judges had to say: "Elegantly integrating a bike light is a
massive challenge. Busch & Müller have pulled this off especially
well in their ilu. Here the light’s attractively integrated in the
mudguard - a superb design.”
Transformer X - Topeak
Topeak, the Taiwanese bike accessories expert, is offering a portable bike stand and pump combo with its Transformer X.
What the judges had to say: "This new combination of a track pump
and bike stand is really very clever. This is a very practical solution,
particularly for sports bikes that normally don’t have their own
stand.”
Winner of the Eurobike Green Award 2014:
Munich-based Velospring has been awarded the Green Award for its
shock-absorbing Sen Comfort bicycle grips. The Eurobike Award judges
were impressed by the exceptional haptic characteristics of the
high-quality wooden grips and in particular by the company’s consistent
implementation of sustainable measures.
"During testing, the
ergonomic wooden handles impressed us because they immediately felt
pleasant to touch. The extra suspension is also immediately obvious.
This product offers functional added value with material from
sustainably managed, domestic forests. We were convinced that this
combination deserved a Green Award,” said the Eurobike Award expert
panel.
The German Designer Club (DDC) was also full of praise for the bicycle
industry following its first involvement in the Eurobike. "The bar for
good design is set very high in the bicycle market. And the industry has
now reached a level that would have been unthinkable a few years ago.
In this respect, the value of a Gold Award for a company cannot be
overstated. The design award pays tribute to the exceptional achievement
of those companies on the receiving end,” said Michael Eibes, Designer
and Chairman of the Board, DDC.
Visitors to the Eurobike will be able to see all 56 winners of the
Eurobike Awards, including the Gold Awards and the Green Award until
the final day of the show (Saturday, 30.08.2014) in the Foyer West. More
information about the award winners, expert panel members and German
Designer Club (DDC) is available from Eurobike online at:
http://www.eurobike-show.de/eb-de/programm/eurobike-award.php.
Eurobike Award expert panel 2014
Felix Boehlken has been an editor at Motor Presse
Stuttgart since 2001. He was a member of the MountainBIKE magazine team
for five years before moving to help found RoadBIKE magazine. Right from
the start Felix Boehlken was involved at the publishers in introducing
and developing innovative bike and equipment testing methods, some of
which have gone on to become industry standard. He is an enthusiastic
mountain biker and downhill fan - who has crossed the Alps on both MTB
and road bike.
Bernd-Uwe Gutknecht is an ARD Sport reporter who has
worked in journalism for over 25 years. He has interviewed hundreds of
people, heard hundreds of stories and told hundreds of stories himself.
He holds a degree in sports science and his specialist areas are sport,
travel and science. In addition, he is a triathlete who has completed,
among other things, three Ironman triathlons, and is an enthusiastic
cyclist who has competed in the Oetztal Cycle Marathon. Since 2003 he is
regularly involved at the Eurobike as a reporter or moderator.
Claudia Maiwald is General Secretary Verkehrsclub
Deutschland (VCD - the German association for sustainable mobility). As
an industrial designer, she has been actively involved in environmental
and climate protection for over 20 years. Cycling is one of her main
focuses. Maiwald uses a bicycle for nearly 100 percent of her own daily
transport requirements. On a recent longer cycling trip, she rode the
Berlin - Copenhagen Cycle Route to the Danish capital, where she
thoroughly tested the city’s extensive and innovative infrastructure.
"Cycling is fun, keeps you fit and is good for the environment -
promoting cycling is far-sighted and is crucial for the future of our
cities,” she says.
Pete Mijnssen is publisher and editor-in-chief of
Velojournal, Switzerland’s most popular cycling magazine. He’s been
involved in the bicycle industry for 25 years and is still passionate
about what he describes as the superior mode of personal transport. In
his opinion, bicycles are the most important and practical form of urban
transport. He also rides a racing bike for training purposes and enjoys
taking part in fun races. For the mountains, he prefers his touring
bike or his mountain bike.
Nils Holger Moormann is a designer and lives and works
in Aschau am Chiemsee, Germany. Fascinated by design, he broke off his
law studies in the early 1980s and moved as a self-taught expert into
the furniture industry. In 1984, Nils Holger Moormann founded his own
company - which now has an internationally respected and multiple
award-winning furniture collection. He is a passionate cyclist.
Markus Walcher joined the family business, Fahrrad XXL
Walcher, in 2011. He has been joint managing director together with his
father since 2012. Outside of work he is also an active cyclist -
mountain biking in winter and on his road bike in the summer. Apart from
the sporting benefits, he sees cycling as important way of maintaining a
work-life balance and clearing the mind. It also gives him the chance
to test out products himself. Fahrrad XXL Walcher has company premises
of over 10,000 m², up to 11,500 bicycles and 48 employees.
By
Eurobike Friedrichshafen
