Only 20 Winners Among 331 Entries at 2015 Int'l Bicycle Design Competition Held in Taipei

Event recognized as key platform to promote young designers

Compiled by QUINCY LIANG

The International Bicycle Design Competition (IBDC) is recognized as the launching pad that uses motivation-breeding competition to promote young talent in the international bicycle industry, with its prominence enhanced by its being staged in Taiwan, home to Giant and Merida and many subcontractors who supply parts to renowned brands.

This competition, hosted by the Cycling & Health Tech Industry R&D Center (CHC) and sponsored by the Department of Industrial Technology, Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Taiwan External Trade Development Council, is taking place for the 19th time this year.

The jury for IBDC 2015 chose 20 winners from among the 331 entries. In their judging session in late 2014, a panel of international experts selected 20 innovations as the prize-winners, one of whom for some reason relinquished the award to leave only 19 entries for the final selection. The award-winning designs were also displayed at the Taipei CYCLE 2015 on view to an international audience of trade professionals.

The IBDC is also known as an important stage for established and up-and-coming cycle designers to present concepts and hopefully come away better informed with horizon broadened. The competition also enables the CHC a chance to tap worldwide design resources for perspectives on global lifestyles, consumer behavior and trends. Such event also breeds an atmosphere of interaction to update the cycle design community on the latest trends, as well as help to tweak impractical concepts and ideas into more marketable products to meet perhaps localized demand.

The international jury chose the winners based on degree of innovation, quality of design, practical aspects, functionality, application, material, sustainability, social responsibility, universal design and safety. The competitors entered designs in categories including bicycles, components, clothing and accessories, and services/facilities (parking systems, bike route designs, and rental systems, etc.)

Winners of IBDC 2015Prize: Gold Award

Title of Entry: BuddyCategory: Bicycles

Country: Germany

Designer(s): Philipp Schaake

The Buddy was inspired by an innovative concept  to combine an electrical bike and a self-chargeable trailer. The trailer, housing two rechargeable modules, is functionally innovative in that it provides the electricity to propel the bicycle as well as make the bicycle a carriage for refrigerated objects.

Prize: Silver Award

Title of Entry: WCF (Wing Corkscrew Folding)Category: Bicycles

Country: Taiwan

Designer(s): Hung Ju, Lee

The "WCF" is an electric, foldable bike designed based on the concept of a "wing corkscrew,"  featuring ease of use by simplifying the folding mechanism into one capable of being quickly  folded and deployed. The design targets users typically riding short urban commutes that call for no-fuss carrying, storage of bicycle even onto public transport as mass rapid transits.

Prize: Special Award

Title of Entry: Handle BarsketCategory: Components

Country: Germany

Designer(s): Cornelius Comanns

The "Handle Barsket" is a new design in urban bike accessory that combines the bike and the basket. With the brakes and the gear shift mounted on the handle as usual, the design concept of the bike basket is like a handbag for small items where a cyclist can put his/her personal belongings that can be kept within sight.

Prize: Excellent Award

Title of Entry: Bicycle :DCategory: Bicycles

Country: Korea

Designer(s): Kyung chan, Hwang / Song kyou, Jin / Min hyun, Han

The "Bicycle: D" is designed specifically as cargo bicycle to be used in developing countries (such as Congo, Tanzania, and Rwanda). The designers have taken into account not only price of product but also the possibility of structural adaptation of the frame to adapt to cargo carrying that suits individual terrain.

Prize: Excellent Award

Title of Entry: EonCategory: Bicycles

Country: Australia

Designer(s): Hamish Buttle

The "Eon" bicycle is designed to be very functional and fit seamlessly into the emerging modern context. With a frame manufactured with increased functionality by using pressed aluminum that is seam welded, the Eon also has enhanced rider functionality with an added rear camera that links to one's cellular device. The handle bar provides a live link to oncoming traffic. Twin rear lights are also integrated into the frame to increase safety, which imitates that of a car. "Eon" also integrates the pedal-assist motor system to follow the trend of electric bike into the future.

Prize: Excellent Award

Title of Entry: SPACEKETCategory: Bicycles

Country: Taiwan

Designer(s): Yi-Sin Huang

The "SPACEKET" is a bicycle designed specifically for commuters and those needing short-distance travel. Short commute riders would find no other bicycle than SPACEKET, which is designed to maximize functionality within minimum volume or footprint, achieved by “folded storage” that meets demand for both lean storage and ease of use for cyclists.

Prize: Excellent Award

Title of Entry: URBAN JUMPERCategory: Bicycles

Country: Taiwan

Designer(s): Larry Chen

The "URBAN JUMPER" is a folding e-bike designed mainly to cross the so-called "last mile" or the gap between final bus stop and home. Its modular design enables three modes of usage: Bicycle, E-scooter and hybrid. With detachable power-booster and crank set, riders can easily switch to the needed mode at will.

Prize: Excellent Award

Title of Entry: Wing CycleCategory: Bicycles

Country: Taiwan

Designer(s): Lin Jian-ming

A bicycle that may be breaking new ground in structural design, the Wing Cycle, unlike  conventional tubular frame, is inspired by the concept of bio-mimicry with the frame sort of taking after the micro-component of a flying bird. The frame is mainly comprised of “steel wires” and the tubular frame owes its unique streamline design to the auxiliary steel wires.

Prize: Merit Award

Title of Entry: BantenCategory: Bicycles

Country: Australia

Designer(s): Ailie Hansen

The "Banten" features a moustache handlebar, one headlight with powerful beam aimed forward, with two small, yet bright rear lights aimed downward to warn oncoming traffic during commutes at night. A storage space with buckles comes with the super formed frame, with a U-lock also incorporated in the frame to spare riders having to carry one.

Prize: Merit Award

Title of Entry: Citcom BicycleCategory: Bicycles

Country: Australia

Designer(s): Jordan Runciman

The "Citcom" features design from a cost-cutting perspective, with its manufacture facilitated to reduce production and material costs. It reenvisages the traditional bicycle frame by combining an alloy twin-tube frame with a plastic lug system. The design is modest so as to remain indifferent to more striking styles and preferences, to serve a larger buyer market without as a blank canvas. Citcom's handlebars can be chosen with a variety of bends to suit different riding styles, and the belt drive is removed by first removing the rearmost lug. Citcom aims to show the obvious influence on modern design by industrial design.

Prize: Merit Award

Title of Entry: CRUISER (Police Patrol Bike)Category: Bicycles

Country: Taiwan

Designer(s): Chen-Wei, Hsu

The "CRUISER" is an electric patrol bicycle designed specifically for tourist areas. It is integrated with a combination of navigation and camcorder. In addition to easy battery change, the front and rear lamps are designed with symmetry to be easily recognizable, also being detachable to double as flashlights to provide mobility and convenience, increasing both safety and image of patrolmen in tourist areas.

Prize: Merit Award

Title of Entry: LOKCategory: Bicycles

Country: Slovakia

Designer(s): Barbora Tobolova

The "LOK" is small folding bicycle with 16 inch wheels. The folding system and saddle repositioning or reconfiguration enables locking the whole bicycle anywhere. While conventional bicycles take up a lot of space while parked to be inefficient space user, this bicycle overcomes such issue by designing the saddle to be also a lock while parked. Plus the bike is foldable into a compact form to facilitate transport and storage. This bicycle, equipped with electric motor, could be a new option for bike sharing systems in city.

Prize: Merit Award

Title of Entry: REDBACKCategory: Bicycles

Country: Australia

Designer(s): Patrick Tran

The "REDBACK" is a lightweight aluminum commuter bicycle. Its saddle is designed with a concealed compartment to securely store personal items like keys, wallet, and cell phone. Integrated in the frame tube is a rechargeable set of batteries which power the built-in lamps and enables charging other electronic devices through USB ports. A unique, built-in lock enables easy locking the bicycle to any public bike rack to meet demand for hassle-free anti-theft function.

Prize: Merit Award

Title of Entry: X-COLECategory: Bicycles

Country: Australia

Designer(s): Sam Pringle

The "X-COLE" facilitates the trip from city to those cross-country tracks in a small car. The smart collapsible frame enables a rider to halve the size of the bike without removing too many components. With a quick release front tire for added convenience, this bike is less awkward to lift and will securely fit in a small car. The X-COLE has a quick knockdown and set-up system with only a few steps (achieved with some smart, quick clamps and spring loaded components), so there's no wasting time getting out a car and onto the tracks.

Prize: Merit Award

Title of Entry: Lattice PedalsCategory: Components

Country: Germany

Designer(s): Cornelius Comanns

The "Lattice Pedals" are constructed from only four pieces of bent chromoly steel wire, a bearing housing and a standard thread connector. The bent wires form a three dimensional lattice that uses geometric structure to achieve incredible rigidity and strength with exceptional lightweight (under 200 grams). The unique axis-free design replaces the two tiny internal bearings normally used on pedals, with one oversized, much more wear- resistant outter bearing. The Lattice Pedals are specifically designed for urban cycling markets where stylish accessories and overall aesthetics are often priority.

Prize: Merit Award

Title of Entry: BICASECategory: Clothing + Accessories

Country: Taiwan

Designer(s): Wu Meng-ru etc.

The "Bicase" is designed for cycling commuters and even office workers. When the bike is unfolded, the mid-section will be the storage space for briefcases, paraphernalia and other accompanying items. After the bike is folded, it is easily carried simply by pulling down the storage bag that was on top to convert it into an appliance holding the bag. Such design not only enables a rider to easily get on and off public transport but also carry the bike directly into office as a briefcase.

Prize: Merit Award

Title of Entry: FLAT TIRE WARNING LIGHTCategory: Clothing + Accessories

Country: Taiwan

Designer(s): Hsu Hsiang-han etc.

The "FLAT TIRE WARNING LIGHT" is designed to combine tire pressure sensing chips, LED technology and vibration generating chips to display light in three different colors according to level of tire pressure (flat tire/under-pressure/normal) to inform a rider of:

1.  Need to stop immediately for safety upon seeing flashing red light that warns of flat tire;

2.  The extent to which a tire is being inflated through changes of light, and the valve location clearly at night by a light source;

3.  Making visible the bicycle at night with green circles of LEDs that achieve rider safety during low ambient lighting.

The bicycle also uses forward motion to convert, with vibration generating chips, such vibratory energy into electricity.

Prize: Merit Award

Title of Entry: Pleasure InfancyCategory: Clothing + Accessories

Country: Taiwan

Designer(s): Aston Wu etc.

"Pleasure Infancy" is a sidecar for bicycles designed specifically for strollers, enabling moms to bring along babies easily without care while riding for recreation, to shop, picnic or visit friends and relatives. Pleasure Infancy does not interfere with a rider's dismount when he or she stops to walk so as not to disturb a baby.

Prize: Merit Award

Title of Entry: Standcycle Power MeterCategory: Clothing + Accessories

Country: Taiwan

Designer(s): Alston Hsiao

Standcycle Power Meter is designed to measure and display the riding status in real-time. Using the instant data on the power meter, both coach and cyclist can better understand monitor various parameters of cycling and cyclist, enabling both to set preferable riding and training programs. It provides cyclist with accurate information on vital signs and also avoids sensing errors with a heartbeat strap.