There’s been a few more photo additions to the post on the IBDC Excellent and Merit award winners re Bihandy since the original post was published. This will give some more context on how it is supposed to work.
In a post before the show I previewed a range of award winners from each of the categories. In today’s post, I’ll revisit some of these and cover a few others that I think are quite cool.
The annual Innovative Products Competition is a good complement to the International Bicycle Design Competition which is held at the same time. The designs are all real-world and tested. All that remains is to wait for the verdict of the market.
The market is the final arbiter. Great products fail to even gain a foot-hold let along market share. Less innovative seemingly ordinary products can go on to see great success.
Giant’s TCX Adavanced SL with offset seat stays and top tube giving greater seat tube flex.
The unpacking for display was a bit lax however with bits of plastic wrap still visible. Notable this year, though, was a greater degree of care and attention to details generally across the show.
In quite a few displays last year, bikes evidenced poorly finished tape-wrap. Not so this year. The standard has been excellent.
Runner up to the TCX is Asahi Enterprises EZ2 “Uni”cycle.
IUVO Industry Co.’s “Access” which won first place in the Electric Assist was not on display. It features a 250W motor, an 8.8AH Li-ion battery. Under normal riding conditions, 70km journeys are possible. An advanced torque sensor can detect different types of terrain.
It’s an attractive yet practical frame design. But seem my remarks below about batteries placing. Pity it was not on-site.
The first runner up in this division was TranzX’s E-bike RPM system.
Battery placement is one of the biggest aesthetic challenges to overcome in electric assist and this rear-carrier solution really makes what is an ordinary frame rather unattractive.
This is a common battery placement solution for so many E-bikes and needs to be treated more imaginatively. I’m thinking here of the IBDC’s award winning MOVO with its removable battery that integrates into the front wheel assembly.
Second runner up, is Merida’s Espresso. A nice frame though the motor detracts from it a good deal. Battery is more integrated into the overall design than TranzX.
First place in the Frames division and this year’s overall Best Innovation winner, Kinesis’ ISP TT frame.
Here it is on display at the Kinesis booth.
The 1st runner up in the Frames division, the Pioneer Downhill.
First place in the Wheelset category. Kenda Rubber Industrial Co.’s Color Warning Road Racing Tire. Four color gradations are used to indicate degree of wear on a tire.
The first runner up is Alex Global Technology’s Scandium wheelset.
The winner of the Accessories division, the Backeye. A mirror is attached on a mount to a cyclist’s glove. It has a vertical tilt range of 30°-80° and can be moved to any lateral position. It can also be folded flat when not needed.
The Locks and Bells division first place getter is T-One R&D Co.’s Undercover Wireless Burglar Proof device which also took out the Best Practicality award.
It is designed to fit snugly and unobtrusively in between the down tube and the water bottle cage. Since it is very hard to see it not only preserve a bike’s aesthetics but also makes it very difficult for a thief to spot.
Movements made by anyone attempting attempting to steal a bike are detected by the sensor. The unit then emits a piercing 100dB siren. At the same time a Master unit carried by the bicycle owner alerts the owner. Should a thief steal the bike, this unit also enables tracking of the bike’s whereabouts.
Qbicle take out the Components Parts division with the Tangent Issue Innovative Bicycle Fender. Its patented design allows securing and releasing with any quick-release unit. Its key engineering feature is an extreme degree of lateral stiffness.
Dah Ken Co. take first place in the Front Forks division with the world’s first Wireless Front Suspension Fork which applies wireless radio transfer technology.
Super B’s TB-3323 Trident Master Link Pliers integrates locking and unlocking functions in the one unit. But I think YBN’s “L” shaped solution which allows you to perform these functions from the side is superior, even though you have two tools rather than one.
First place in the Other Parts division, the Anti-Crank center Kickstand.
When the stand is down your bike can be moved backwards as the stand can be rotated and not damage the crank. It would good to be able to play around with this one a bit to better appreciate it in operation.
The second runner up in this division looks like a great idea, Beto Engineering and Marketing Co., Ltd.’s Alloy Mini Pump.
It features a patented tube-in-tube opposing pumping structure providing maximum air volume per stroke. Its patented 2-stage High-volume or High-pressure mechanism is the key point. Pumping with high volume will get a tire up to high pressure quickly.
But when pumping becomes too difficult, you can switch to the high-pressure mode. You’ll get the desired pressure with minimal leverage.
All this in a compact package. Great!
The third runner up in the Other Parts division is the Generator Bike Trainer. It stores energy output in battery units of up to 300W/h.
IceToolz (Lifu Bicycle Co.,Ltd.) Two-way BB Bearing Puller took first runner up in the Tools division.
First runner up to the Backeye in the Accessories division is Zixtro Inc.’s Windpath Backpack. It also took out the Best Latest Fashion Award.
It features a patent-pending adjustable back pad for more airflow and incorporates a light weight water bladder. The fabric is water resistant and has a mount on the rear for installing a light.
The first place in the Derailleur division goes to SRAM’s XG-1080 Cassette. It features stamped steel sprockets held together with high-strength pins.
First place in the Other division went to Wellgo’s Auto Reposition Clipless Pedal. It’s targeted to someone learning to use these types of pedals. The innovation is in the pedal’s angle.