On the first day of the Eurobike trade show in Friedrichshafen, Germany, this week, the focus was on 12 products that ‘redefine state of the art in the bike industry and are worthy winners of a Eurobike Gold Award.’ This year, one company is also being celebrated with the Eurobike Green Award for its innovative concept that makes an important contribution to recycling valuable resources and sustainability.
Take 500 new products, a panel of six expert judges, facilitation by the Deutscher Designer Club and two days of intensive evaluation and discussion and the end result is 12 golden stickers – or Eurobike Gold Awards. A total of 64 companies were given a Eurobike Award, with the Gold Awards and Green Award reserved for a select few.
The range of winning products might be wide and varied, but there is one thing that they all have in common. Dirk Heidrich, Eurobike Project Manager at Messe Friedrichshafen summed up, “At a time when the bicycle industry is witnessing an explosion in innovation, there are still products that stand out from the rest of the field. These products are setting new industry benchmarks for technical innovation and outstanding design. Only such products deserve to receive a Eurobike Gold Award.”.
This year, the expert panel of six judges chose to award the following products a Eurobike Gold Award:
Compact e-bike Radius by Winora
The Winora Radius is a new e-bike model aimed in particular at people who live in urban environments with reduced living space. Its Yamaha motor and compact dimensions minimize storage space.
E-mountain bike Turbo Levo FSR by Specialized
Pioneering mountain bike manufacturer Specialized has now entered the e-MTB market with its Turbo Levo FSR model.
E-bike Commuter Bike by Coboc
Heidelberg-based manufacturer Coboc (Germany) already has a large number of fans in the bike scene for its e-bikes that conceal their drive systems, so that they are almost invisible. With the Commuter Bike, the brand’s previous more sporty approach has now been transformed into a bike for everyday urban use.
Bike carrier Bike-Lift by EAL
The Bike-Lift by EAL is a rear-mounted bike carrier for transporting bikes by car. It features an electric lift that lifts bikes up and lowers them back to the ground. In particular, it makes heavier bikes, such as e-bikes, easier to load.
Modular Pumptrack by Bikeparkitect
Thanks to its modular system, Bikeparkitect’s modular Pumptrack can be quickly assembled at events etc. With the help of scaled down models, set-up is ‘easy and enjoyable’.
E-cargo bike Spicy Curry by Yuba Bicycles
Californian bike-maker Yuba is one the leading brands pioneering the revival of cargo bikes in the bike scene. With its Spicy Curry, Yuba is now entering the e-bike segment.
Road bike Slate Force CX1 by Cannondale
Gravel bikes, i.e. road bikes built also for use off-road and on dirt and gravel tracks are one of the new bike market trends for 2016. With the Slate Force CX1, American bike manufacturer Cannondale is aiming to take the concept a few stages further.
Cross-Bike U.P. by Open Cycle
The Open Cycle brand is generally known for making lightweight and fast mountain bikes. However, the brand also has roots in the road bike scene. As such, it was only a matter of time before Open Cycle developed a bicycle ‘containing genes from both sectors: cross/road and mountain’. The U.P. (Unbeaten Path) has a road oriented geometry and parts with clearance for mountain bike tyres.
Kids MTB Belter 20 Trail 3S by Early Rider
In recent years, a bike manufacturing sector has grown in the UK that specialises in making of high-quality bikes for kids. Early Rider is one of these manufacturers and the Belter 20 was seen to be a well-thought-out design for young mountain bikers.
Cycling glasses Variatronic S by Uvex
Cycling glasses that react to different light conditions are not new. However, the speed at which Uvex’s Variatronic S photochromic lens tints – in the tenth of a second – was seen as exceptional.
Cycling jacket Pure Electric by Diamond
Fast pedelecs that can travel at speeds of up to 45 km/h assisted by an motor are becoming increasingly popular. These higher speeds necessitate a new approach to safety equipment and apparel; Pure Electric meets these requirements with its new jacket.
Mountain bike Aenimal Bhulk by Eurocompositi
The Aenimal Bhulk’s frame is manufactured using 3D printing. The biopolymer used is made from sustainable resources.
In addition to the twelve Gold Awards this year, there is also a Green Award for a recycling concept for bicycle inner tubes by tyre manufacturer Schwalbe.
‘Bike dealers often don’t know what to do with old, worn-out inner tubes,’ commented the judges panel on the further development of this concept, which has already been in use for several years to promote recycling of bicycle inner tubes.
The panel added, ‘100% of Schwalbe inner tubes can be recycled and now returned by the dealers to the manufacturers free of charge. Straight from the factory, Schwalbe’s bike inner tubes already consist of 20% recycled material.’
“The entries were really exciting. There are a large number of really interesting products,” said expert panel judge Jens Klötzer commenting on this year’s award winners. For Jens, editor of Tour magazine, the panel’s work also shows that “2016 is going to be a exceptionally exciting year for the bike industry.”
The 2015 Gold and Green Award winners and 51 further Eurobike Award winners will be displayed in a special showcase in the Messe Friedrichshafen Foyer West until the end of the trade show on Saturday 29 August.
Eurobike is open to industry visitors from Wednesday 26 August until Friday 28 August from 08:30 to 18:30 CET daily. The show will be open to consumers on Saturday 29 August from 09:00 to 18:00.
