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Winners of the 13th annual Eurobike Awards were announced on the evening of the show’s kick-off day, including the all-important eleven gold ones. There were 43 winners across all categories, selected from 458 applications.
Eurobike head Stefan Reisinger said: “We are delighted by the large number of entrants in the Eurobike Award and the high level of innovation displayed among them. This year’s competition has shown once again that the bike industry is now one of the high-tech segments and in some areas, such as electromobility, materials technology and digitization, is actually assuming a pioneering role."
The winners of the Eurobike Gold Awards 2017 are:
Påhoj Child Seat
The child bike seat by this start-up from the Swedish bicycle centre of Malmö can be easily removed from the carrier rack and then used as a buggy thanks to its integrated wheels. “The concept is simply brilliant,” was how the Eurobike Award expert panel described this product.
Rohloff E-14
The Rohloff hub is a classic and now, in collaboration with Bosch, is entering a new era as an electronically controlled version. “The new option delivered instant proof in a test ride,” was the verdict of the Eurobike Award judges.
Linka Smart Bicycle Lock
The Linka Smart Bicycle Lock is a Bluetooth and smartphone controlled lock. The Award panel was impressed: “Linka has developed an intelligent lock with an exceptionally high quality finish and design, considering the company is still in the start-up phase.”
Mokumono Delta
Mokumono from the Netherlands is aiming to revolutionize the manufacturing process with its fully automatic production of laser-welded bicycle frames using aluminium profiles. “The concept enables added value to be increased in Europe, thus helping to keep transport routes short,” was the panel’s observation.
Adlerwerke Bicycle Carrier
Under the traditional name of Adlerwerke, the bicycle manufacturer of the same name is presenting a new roof carrier, which impressed the judges with its minimalistic approach. “By attaching to the handlebars and saddle, this carrier system provides a quick and low-cost solution for transporting high-end bikes,” they said.
Durbanis LocLock
“The combination of cement for durability and a surface that reduces the risk of damage to frames is a very good idea," said the judges.
Tucano Urbano Magic Parka
Tthe Milan-based motorcycle apparel company has created the "Swiss army knife of cycling apparel,” the judges declared.
Rondo Ruut CF1
Rondo has taken the young gravel scene by storm with its optically and technically inspired bike models, said the judges. And the Award panel was similarly unable to resist the attraction of this start-up from Poland: “What makes the Ruut CF1 so special is the option of adjusting the forks, allowing the rider to adapt the bike for wheel size and terrain.”
Focus Project Y
With its Project Y, the sporty bicycle manufacturer Focus is showing a new angle for the racing bike market, where members of the Award panel also see great potential: “Until now, the trend towards electrification had largely passed road bikes by. We are convinced that this is set to change with Project Y.”
Fazua Evation
Integration is currently the magic formula for innovations in the e-bike segment. One company that provides the best possible conditions for this is the young drive producer Fazua: “Fazua is creating an entirely new segment with its evation drive. Motor and battery can be easily removed so that a normal bike remains,” was the panel’s comment on this Gold Award winner.
Van Nicholas Skeiron
“The market for titanium road bikes may be small, but the Skeiron particularly impressed us with its classic retro design and its unique integration of cables in the cockpit and frame,” said the judges.
The twelth gold award winner is, in fact, a green award.
The Eurobike Green Award Winner – Green Compound by Schwalbe.
The tyres from the new Green Compound by Schwalbe particularly impressed the panel members, who judged it to be deserving of a Green Award: “With its Green Compound, Schwalbe is setting a new standard in the use of recycled materials," said the judges, who were the designer Tomas Fiegl, the test technician Ernst Brust, the trade journalists Julia Milan and Fran García, the cycling transport planner Anna Luten and Evans Cycles’ head of buying Joel Natale.
Among the award winners at the show was Endura’s D2Z Encapsulator Suit, said by the Scottish company to be the "world’s fastest time-trial suit." It was developed by Endura and Drag2Zero in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 wind tunnel.
“We adopted a fresh perspective and exploited a technology that none of our competitors was using,” explains Jim McFarlane, Founder and Managing Director of Endura. “The results have been phenomenal.”
“We’re extremely happy to have gained this recognition for work that has been ongoing for several years. A great deal of effort has been made by a wide group of staff in the design, development and production teams at our headquarters in Livingston, Scotland, and by Drag2Zero’s Simon Smart and his team of aerodynamics experts in Brackley, as well as by our roster of world class athletes.“
The D2Z Encapsulator Suit’s most striking innovation – its exclusive, patent pending Silicone Surface Topography (SST) – has already been ridden to victories in the most prestigious races in professional cycling, including Grand Tours and national time-trial titles, by Movistar Team and Cervélo Bigla.
SST uses strategically-placed 3D chevrons to positively affect airflow around the body, reducing drag at speeds relevant to the target rider. It is only one weapon deployed by the D2Z Encapsulator Suit in the war on drag, however. Optimised for a time-trial position, and for speeds between 46kph and 58kph, it also boasts an integrated dossard pocket and a new, aero-specific iteration of Endura’s 1,000-series pad, specifically shaped for an aggressive riding position.
