Taiwan Designer Wins Gold Award in 16th Int'l Bicycle Design Contest
2012/04/19 | By Quincy Liang"Think bicycle, think Taiwan" is no longer a promotional slogan, but a fact that the island is the world's most important supply base of high-end bicycles. The industry, as well as the government, however, knows that Taiwan must not rest on its laurels to keep its lead.
Interested authorities in Taiwan and the cycle sector created the International Bicycle Design Competition (IBDC), the only bicycle-exclusive design contest for innovative bicycle design, to sow the seeds of creative exchange and stimulation to uncover new ideas. This year's contest is the 16th edition and hosted by the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). Cycling & Health R&D Center (CHC), the organizer of the highly internationalized contest, says the IBDC is not another added-bonus to a trade show, but seriously explores trendsetting bicycle design that set milestones, build new mindsets, and perhaps significantly reinvents the wheel.
The 2012 IBDC award ceremony was held on the opening day of the 25th Taipei international Cycle Show (TAIPEI CYCLE 2012) that was staged March 7-10 in the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center.
Meanwhile, the organizer also launched three 2012 conceptual prototypes, further proving that Taiwan's bicycle industry is transforming from original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to a bicycle creative hub.
M. J. Wu, director general of DoIT, lavished praise of the IBDC as a key platform to create, innovate and constantly upgrade Taiwan's bicycle sector. The IBDC not only has enhanced Taiwan's image, but also transferred sophisticated technologies from the competition to local manufacturers to boost revenue and profit. Taiwan's bicycle industry has remained productive amid rising costs and stiff competition from labor-intensive countries. Although different companies adopt different business strategies, the key to success is “product innovation”, which is why the MOEA keeps supporting the design contest, says Wu.
Summary of Winners
"Velocity" is a city bike with an integrated and detachable power-assist system called "power core," which contains the battery, motor and control unit inside the frame to achieve a streamlined exterior.
The key to Velocity winning the Gold Award lies in its leading design and revolutionary technology. Users can rapidly remove the power auxiliary system to also benefit from the lightweight design. The integrated power unit avoids exposing electric wires to compromise aesthetics.
Velocity has a 200W motor with automatic power-off once the speed reaches 25km/hr, which meets Taiwan's electric bicycle safety standards.
This innovative bicycle, besides making urban commuting easy, can also be ridden as a conventional bike by removing the power unit, enabling users to exercise at will.
Chinese designer Tim Lee won the Silver Award with the "City," the name of which suggesting its suitability for urban lifestyle.
Based on The Law of Conservation of Energy, the City was inspired to convert energy between two integrated power systems, enabling non-stop riding by supplementing energy lost during the process. With nostalgic elements as wooden wheels and combined with modern features for current culture, the City is a bicycle suitable for fitness, leisure and even the Net-connected lifestyle with charging device for iPhone4, WIFI coverage.
Paulus Maringka, a designer from New Zealand, won the Bronze Award with the "G2," which aims to help poor countries where bicycles are the main transport.
The G2 challenges current design mindset by moving away from the ongoing unsustainable production of goods and services that are unfit for human conditions in poor countries, by focusing on more sustainable production and increasing the bicycle's functionality and load capability aimed at improving user's way of life.
Excellent/Giant Award Winners
Country: Taiwan
Designer: Kuo Wei Lien
The "V BIKE" is an urban lifestyle bike with innovative dual V frame that expands the possibility of spatial contraction. With minimal components and user-friendly design balancing convenience and durability, the V Bike is not only an original vision, but also realizes urban aesthetics.
Country: Taiwan
Designer: Lee Yen-Shao
The "Woody" is made of bent plywood with more flexibility and high rigidity, with the main body constructed of two pieces of wood bent under high temperature with the same mold, integrated with carbon fiber to enhance shock-resistance, all of which serves the urban lifestyle with LOHAS motto by decreasing manufacture process, applying eco materials and simple form.
Country: South Korea
Designer: Suk-Ho Yu / Sang-Min Park
The "Pair Up" is a tandem bike for a boy and an adult. With a very simple structure and being ergonomic, the Pair Up allows the front rider to adjust the seat and the other to adjust the handle bar easily, hence making for a tandem bike that can be adjusted for comfortable riding.
Country: South Korea
Designer: Zhong-Fa Lie / Yoori Koo
For cyclists seeking a new sport to enjoy with others in cities, the Surf has been designed to simulate surfing, with the designer wishing to turn the bicycle into more than mere transportation for the rider and passenger. With boards which can be converted into surf boards as well as carrying rack and foldable handle in the saddle, the Surf gives both users an exciting and thrilling experience.
Country: United States
Designer: Mike Chan
The Visionair is a sport luxury bike with carefully considered design. Key features include an integrated air suspension/pump mechanism with a retractable valve tucked inside the frame-integrated leather tool pouch -- a convenience designed to minimize inconvenience. LED brake lights integrated into the brake levers exhibit attention to safety, while the front fork-integrated brake set keeps the lines clean. Self-sustainability, safety and simplicity are the core design values.
Product: Happy Paradise
Country: Taiwan
Designer: Shi Shun-min
The Happy Paradise is a bike that can literally grow with kids, with a slide structure to enable adjustability to easily change the bike from child size to Mini Velo. So the Happy Paradise suits children of any age and height as they grow up. Besides the charming apple green as a child-friendly tone, the bike allows kids to mark each adjustment as milestones of growing up.
Country: Taiwan
Designer: Lee Kuang-yuan
The Ricor's Wooden Bike is inspired by the new technology of 3D compression molding for wooden materials, which keeps the natural feel of woods but achieves higher hardness than engineering plastics as ABS and polycarbonate resins. The frame is hollow with organic structure for amazing flexibility, also showing natural wood grain without needing spray painting.
Country: Taiwan
Designer: Chou Zhun-hsiun
The Basket Bike is a frame-integrated carrying storage that creates more space for bike users, with the front basket in the middle near head tube for easy operation and steering, and the rear basket designed to minimize shaking caused by carrying stuff.
Country: Taiwan
Designer: Huang Yi-hsin
The Spotlight is a bicycle designed for night riding. Designed to enhance the complementary relationship between lamp and bike, the Spotlight has a simple, integrated structure that makes the lamp a part of the bicycle rather than an add-on, enabling risers to enjoy night riding safely.