10th International Bicycle Design Competition
Award Ceremony, 8th of March 2006, Taipei
By Han Goes 

VeloNova bestuurslid Han Goes was dit jaar als jury lid betrokken bij de grootste fietsontwerp wedstrijd ter wereld, die wordt georganiseerd in Taiwan.

Author: Han Goes, was one of the international jurors to the 10th IBDC competition. He took part in the judgement of the qualifications during August 2005 and during the finals in January 2006.

In the last 10 years the IBDC has grown into a renowned global platform for new cycling concepts. Often I have the feeling that the bike industry does not properly value the importance of this institution. The last new cycling concept which became a smashing hit was the mountain bike. Most of us may remember that the commercial introduction of mountain bikes was around 1985 and it’s success lasted till 1995. Ever since the bike industry has been waiting for the next new thing after the mountain bike. No need to wait: young, creative and internationally oriented designers present themselves every year again during the IBDC bicycle design contest.
For the 10th IBDC the CHC received nearly 1100 registrations from 59 countries, of which 375 entries made it to the qualifications. In August 2005 an international jury selected 24 designs to go the finals in January 2006. Last month the same jury decided which of these 24 designs were going to be awarded with 3rd, 2nd and 1st price.

Looking at the 24 designs from the finals there is a clear trend towards new cycling concepts, towards new ways of cycling. Some are indeed very refreshing and vital and have a strong focus on consumers, new consumer needs and new consumer trends in common. Key words are: compactness / multifunctional / hybrid combinations / micro mobility. The new cycling concepts are here ………..

For more information see also: http://design.runride.com/design/

Sandwich Bikes, by Basten Leijth / Imre Verhoeven / Pieter Janssen from the Netherlands

IKEA-like concept: a simple DIY-bike kit, bought in a nicely packed box. It can be assembled by the consumer himself with just one single tool. Components made from ply wood (frame parts), recycled plastics, aluminium and rubber. Instead of ply wood for the frame, other materials like carbon fibre can be used.

Sandwich Bikes, IKEA-like “Do-It-Yourself” concept

Rotating Folding Concept, by Jae-Koo Knag / Ji-Hoon Lee / Jung-Joo Sohn / Jun-Yup Lee from south Korea

For some reason folding bikes seems to be the Holy Grail for bicycle designers. It’s the ultimate design challenge and it keeps triggering an avalanche of new concepts and ideas. The rotating folding concept from South Korea is based upon a folding structure with a drum system which is rotated by a hollow drum and pivot technique.

Rotating Folding takes a new design direction for making a compact folding bike.

Box Portable Folding Bike, by Chu Xu / Zhang Jianyi / Wang Ziren from China (PRC)

Another folding bike concept, based on the brief case idea. It has been done before in the past, but this one looks extremely slick. The idea originated from the Swiss Army Knife. When folded, it can be carried like a brief case or a suit case, thus combining public transport with personal transport. New ways for micro mobility, interesting design direction which should be pursued more often and more deeply.

Inspired by the Swiss Army Knife concept.

New City Bike, by Feng Wei Li from China (PRC)

The ergonomics of the seat of this New City Bike may need some redesign for cycling applications, but for relaxed hanging around with your friends in the city, this new concept is perfect. Just turn the seat around, park the bikes next to each other …….. and you have created your own public café or pub in the open air. For maintenance free bike use a shaft drive has been incorporated.
The New City Bike concept was awarded with 3rd Grand Prize.

New City Bike would create a new in crowd scene in Peking.

Market, by Woo Seung Kyun from South Korea

How many people take their car when going to the super market? Even when it is only 500 meters far away. This concept tries to combine cycling and shopping by transferring your heavy duty short distance bike instantly into a shopping cart. And what’s more, inside today’s enormous shopping malls, this is a perfect and comfortable way of transporting yourself.
The Market concept was awarded with 2nd Grand Prize.

Market takes you to the supermarket and back, fully packed!

Trix, by Yves Plattard from France

Yves Plattard set himself the task to improve, enhance and redesign the traditional tricycle. He felt that especially the poor manoeuvring characteristics while cornering needed serious improvement. In the new design the Trix will maintain its functionality of the traditional tricycle (transporting cyclist plus passengers or goods) and in the same time providing a pleasant and enjoyable cycling experience. Making sharp turns with the Trix will be a piece of cake.
The Trix Concept was awarded with 1st Grand Prize.

The new beast of burden for multifunctional city transport looks modern and sexy.

Q-bike, by Fan Hung Cheng / Yu Yuan Liang from Taiwan (ROC)

The Q Bike is a bicycle designed for a typical female target group: mothers to go shopping with their children. The designers integrated the concept of bicycle and traditional pram. It allows the mother to take her kids for a cycling trip and when arriving at the super market the Q-bike can be transferred into a kids trolley, including storage space for shopping.

Bicycle, kids trolley and shopping cart, need more functions?

IQoN, by Trihariyanto Kadir Darmokusumo from Indonesia.

To improve cyclist safety in metropolitan environments was the main goal of this design. An up right riding position: like sitting on a bar stool while your arms rest comfortably on the bar. The bicycle gear mechanism cannot start unless you remove the helmet from the frame. Since there is no other place to store the helmet, the rider is forced to put the helmet on his head.

Use your IQ and put a helmet on when cycling!