Future of Commuter Bikes

[elapid]

The Oregon Manifest Urban Bike Design Project and Competition tasked 5 teams with designing the ultimate urban bike. Interesting ideas and designs.

See http://oregonmanifest.com for the designs and more information.

 

[avanti]

I can't say I'm impressed by any of the designs without more details.

In a commuter I would want light but rugged, easy on/off mudguards, dynamo lights, saddlebag, and low BB, and mirrors. Also one that I can take on busses and subway trains (probably folding), probably something based on the Moulton bikes from the UK.

 

[richwagmn]

What happens when hipsters design bicycles...

 

[Aapjes]

yeah, not surprising that a design competition will result in designs that are form over function.

Real innovation typically comes from engineers, not designers (although some people can do both).

 

[MarkvW]

yeah, not surprising that a design competition will result in designs that are form over function.

Real innovation typically comes from engineers, not designers (although some people can do both).

The Denny Bike uses the handlebars as the bike lock. That is pretty cool.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

The Denny Bike uses the handlebars as the bike lock. That is pretty cool.

Keen bike but like a auto prototype..even made in the dungeons of asia, it's gonna be real expensive and not really 'available' to the hipsters that want to dumpster dive for their latest POS 'ride'.

 

[Zigster]

Some of those were downright embarrassing - they spent 4 minutes talking about how cool their city was and the incredible challenges they face riding their bikes and being so cool. Then the designs were solving problems that don't exist. I guess the right team won though.

 

[hfer07]

Some of those were downright embarrassing - they spent 4 minutes talking about how cool their city was and the incredible challenges they face riding their bikes and being so cool. Then the designs were solving problems that don't exist. I guess the right team won though.

Indeed. there were many unnecessary components added to the designs, just supported by lengthy rhetoric (some of the video presentations are horrible as far as the product itself) which at the end, only adds up to the price tag.

BTW how much is roughly marked the winning design? 3K? Ironically-with that kind of money, you can equip properly your commute bike with all the features the designers covered, and have some to spare...

but setting aside the logic & concentrating purely on the design exercise- I can say I'd favor the SF "Evo" & the CHI "Blackline" because they're the simplest & their design seems good enough to address the task....

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Though I'm not currently living there, I'm from Portland, Oregon, and the "hipster" criticism leveled at some of the designs, and mentality backing them, is completely spot on correct. I love my hometown, but...

Not that the other cities didn't have their share of issues.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Though I'm not currently living there, I'm from Portland, Oregon, and the "hipster" criticism leveled at some of the designs, and mentality backing them, is completely spot on correct. I love my hometown, but...

Not that the other cities didn't have their share of issues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErRHJlE4PGI

stranger than truth but truth nonetheless