BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
This year’s gongs were presented on 10th March at Hannover’s CeBIT telecommunications and IT show.
2322 products were entered for the awards, from 31 countries.
The top 50 winners across a broad range of categories were awarded gold sculpures and can use “iF gold selection 2005” in marketing materials.
In the lifestyle category there were 35 winners, with six of the 35 being cycle products. Of these, five of the six won gold medals.
The gold award winners were the GoBell from Le Groupe GO inc. of Canada; the SLC Gel Flow saddle from Selle Italia; two bike frames from Markus Storck of Germany; and Shimano’s WH-8R25 INTER 8 Comfort wheel-set.
W.L. Gore’s XENON road bike jacket won a lifestyle award but not the top gold gong.
Go-Bell, Go Bike
"Most bicycle bells stick out like a sore thumb from the handlebar. The GoBell, on the other hand, seamlessly integrates to the shifter/brake lever/grip area making it inconspicuously disappear from sight. This disappearing act comes from mounting the bell radially around the handlebar. It is designed to be installed on the left hand side in between the grip and brake lever. It fills the gap left out by not using a left shifter, enabling you to position both brake levers at equal distance from the grip for better ergonomics. The bell’s hammer is shaped around the GoMan. This playful character is the signature of all GO products."
XENON Jacke Race bike jacket
"The GORE BIKE WEARTM XENON Jacket is designed to offer weather specific protection and ideal comfort to the race-biker. This is achieved by the lightest WINDSTOPPER® shell laminate (Helium 80), which reduces the jacket’s weight to 194 g (in size L)."
SLC Gel Flow saddle, Selle Italia
"SLR experience and worldwide success have made SLC. Beyond its fine and essential design by the best ongoing anatomical research mirroring Selle Italia’s family-styling, SLC is made inside and outside by carbon materials. The carbon fibre big central insert, the special front block and the two lateral ones improve the full resistant standards for the best comfort performances." cyclists need.
Scenario CD 1.0 carbon road frame with Stiletto aero fork, Storck Bicycle GmbH
"The newest Storck is the most rigid carbon fibre racing bike frame ever. A patented reinforcement in the head tube increases steering precision. In the rear triangle carbon fibre dropouts are used for the first time in the history of bicycle frame building. The owner has a bike which rides like it is on rails. A frame bringing together technical highlights and beautiful form in perfect harmony. – The aim of our new fork design was to continue the Stiletto product family with a new improved aerodynamic form. Additionally the fork should create a fluid transition from frame to fork. Sensational ride characteristics and strength incorporated in every fibre."
Rebel Carbon MTB frame, Storck Bicycle GmbH
"After the success of the Scenario and Adrenalin carbon fibre frames a new sibling in the mountainbike family was to be expected. Top at the list of priorities: to develop a super light yet rigid frame. The proven form of the classic Rebel mountainbike frame has been adapted to the material characteristics of carbon fibre. The futuristic new 3-D dropouts provide a strong mounting point for shifting components, disc brake and rear wheel as well as unusual and innovative design. The result is not just beautiful to behold: in first tests the frame received top marks in stiffness and STW (Stiffness-to-Weight) categories. The Rebel Carbon transforms power into motion like no other bike before it."
WH-8R25INTER 8 Comfort wheel-set, Shimano
"Shimano Comfort wheel set – symbiosis of function and design. The high-performance dynamo is integrated in the front wheel, the Nexus 8-speed hub in the rear wheel. The result is a reliable wheel set which performs in all weather conditions. Additional features: – no batteries required – wide gear ratio – easy shifting – quick assembly and removal (quick release mechanism) – limited maintenance required – 20 / 24 black spokes, partly with rial lacing – modern design – an upgrade for each trekking bicycle."
