A new concept design hailed as the ultimate urban utility bicycle is to be manufactured and sold by Fuji Bikes.
The Denny won a public vote on the strength of its ingenious handlebar lock design, clever mudguard system, automatic gear shifting and stylish cargo shelf.
The competition saw large design consultancies team up with local bike builders. The winning project was collaboration between Seattle frame builders Sizemore Bicycles and Teague, a product design company whose portfolio includes the Polaroid camera, UPS truck, Pringles canister and the Xbox.
The Denny’s handlebars are designed to be quickly removed and used as a lock to secure the bicycle.
It’s encouraging to see the Denny originating from the land of the car. Elsewhere in Europe, the bicycle is considered a practical alternative to motorised transport and certain designs have evolved so that they can carry loads of up to 250 kg. Such cargo bikes tend to be, by their nature, big and heavy and relatively slow, but a new tilting trike aims to alter the way cyclists think of the cargo bike.
Butchers & Bicycles is the start-up business, based in the meatpacking district of Copenhagen (hence the name), behind the MK1 – a cargo bike designed to retain the performance and fun of a conventional bike.
The MK1 is on sale for 3,395 euros.
Berno Brosschot
Very disappointing to see the ETA promoting a racing vehicle as the ultimate urban utility bicycle. This is a bike that is only suitable for young, fit, dare I say male, speed orientated cyclists who see the urban environment as a fighting ground, where they, as an individual, with their head down, try to make their way through traffic as fast as possible. The behaviour encouraged by this type of bike is antigonizing other road users and will ultimately discourage more people to make their way to work on a bicycle.
The ETA should instead be promoting bicycles that will encourage people off all ages and abilities to partake in urban traffic. Urban bicycle traffic needs to become a communal event, not a arena of individual competitors, in order to allow the less confident cyclist to join in. Only then will commuting to work on a bicycle become a normality. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=560I43DZmh4
Ruth
ETA ask for Sold Secure ratings for bicycle locks for their bicycle insurance. Would the locking system on the Denny Bike be suitable for bike insurance with ETA?
lucy.taylor@eta.co.uk
Any locking system used when leaving your bike unattended must be tested and approved by Sold Secure in order for cover to be valid.
Anne
An urban utility bike with nowhere to attach panniers? You must be kidding.
Mike Stead
Let’s see:
Where to fit panniers?
How to stop your skirt/coat from getting caught in the wheels or covered in crap from hanging over the back tyre?
How to stop your trousers getting caught in the chain?
How to stop yourself getting generally covered in filth when the brushy ‘mudguard’ things let even 1% of stuff through?
How to load the bike without it falling over/stuff falling off? (a KICKSTAND? seriously?)
How to carry a child?
…in other words, a bike designed by and for young males in good weather who don’t need to carry anything larger than a shoebox.
What an utter failure.
Terryfwit
Just out of interest, your whiny message contained no real facts, just a collection of disparaging remarks regarding something you could never hope to imagine yet alone design, yet I wonder where you get your 1% stat from? Is it in any way calculated or was it conjoured up in between bouts of early am transgender porn?
Matt
What Idiots judged this competition?
Terryfwit
Amazing that a team can pour their blood, sweat and tears into something so beautiful only for net cretins who have undoubtedly achieved zilch to come along and slate it.