'This is the bike for Chicago'

The worst winter in decades inspired a design firm and frame builder to fashion a bike tough enough for this town.

http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/minimal-method-bicycle-concept...

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Quist on July 29, 2014 at 5:35am

Okay, I'm missing something really basic here. It's an X-frame. There are no triangles to run a lock or cable through. How the heck do you lock it securely?

Yeah, I realize that's a topologically pedantic question, but having fully adopted the Sheldon Brown method (shortest lock possible, lock the rear rim to a post _through_ the rear triangle, including or cabling the front as desired) I don't see that as a viable approach with this bike. And if you've got freaking integrated nav and not-bright-enough lights, why not an integrated locking system? An integrated U-lock mount? Okay, gee, thanks, that saved my $5 buying one on my own.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on July 29, 2014 at 5:38am

there's still a rear triangle. 

Permalink Reply by Duppie on July 29, 2014 at 6:11am

May have missed it, but did anyone hear how much this bike costs in this configuration?

Also, those fenders are not just ridiculous short, but also way to far above the tire. Spray from the tire will fly everywhere.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on July 29, 2014 at 6:15am

In production mode from $750 to $1500. Also, the designers were required to add GPS and integrated lighting as part of thet rules.

Duppie said:

May have missed it, but did anyone hear how much this bike costs in this configuration?

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Quist on July 29, 2014 at 6:34am

Ah... Perhaps I should clean my glasses more frequently... 

KevinM said:

there's still a rear triangle. 

Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on July 29, 2014 at 7:39am

I'm a little disappointed that all five entries appear to be prettified versions of Vanmoofs, rather than radical re-imaginings of what a concept city bicycle could be.  You'd think five design groups with sky-is-the-limit design criteria could do something more interesting.

For example, I'd be interested in a city bike that folded up into a backpack:

Though, with this particular example, if I were the designer, I'd probably try to make it look less like a toilet seat hanging on my back.  But that's just me.  The concept is still strong.

Maybe a city bike should protect us from the elements:

Or just look way cool:

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 29, 2014 at 7:52am

Because the "perfect city bike" wouldn't' look at all like the bikes that are ridden by the majority of people who live and ride in bike-friendly cities like Amsterdam.  

Because those silly people don't have a clue what they are doing.  Why should they? What do they know about riding everywhere and everyday on bikes in a city?  They have obviously been doing it wrong all these years....

Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on July 29, 2014 at 8:07am

James, I think the point of a design competition isn't to just gussy up what we're already doing, it's to give designers free reign to imagine something different without commercial constraint.  The auto industry has been doing this for decades, producing pie-in-the-sky concept autos, shown at auto shows as concept vehicles that are unlikely to ever go into production, which nonetheless have advanced features that eventually trickle down into ordinary models.  A concept bike competition is precisely the venue to introduce bikes made of new materials, with unimagined shapes, drivetrains, wheels, brakes, and so on.  If we never pushed the limit to what a bike could be, we'd all still be riding penny farthings.

Edit: Ditto to rwein5, who was typing while I was typing.  ;)

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Quist on July 29, 2014 at 8:35am

Coincidentally this morning I heard from friends of mine who happen to be in Amsterdam for a couple of days. They were impressed by a municipal parking garage they saw. 3 levels, nearly full, nothing but bicycles.

James BlackHeron said:

Because the "perfect city bike" wouldn't' look at all like the bikes that are ridden by the majority of people who live and ride in bike-friendly cities like Amsterdam.  

Because those silly people don't have a clue what they are doing.  Why should they? What do they know about riding everywhere and everyday on bikes in a city?  They have obviously been doing it wrong all these years....

Permalink Reply by Davo on July 29, 2014 at 8:40am



Thunder Snow said:

James, I think the point of a design competition isn't to just gussy up what we're already doing, it's to give designers free reign to imagine something different without commercial constraint.  The auto industry has been doing this for decades, producing pie-in-the-sky concept autos, shown at auto shows as concept vehicles that are unlikely to ever go into production, which nonetheless have advanced features that eventually trickle down into ordinary models.  A concept bike competition is precisely the venue to introduce bikes made of new materials, with unimagined shapes, drivetrains, wheels, brakes, and so on.  If we never pushed the limit to what a bike could be, we'd all still be riding penny farthings.

Edit: Ditto to rwein5, who was typing while I was typing.  ;)

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on July 29, 2014 at 12:29pm
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 29, 2014 at 12:42pm

Bikesnob doesn't disappoint.


Lisa Curcio 6.6mi said:

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