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The 43 prize-winning bike innovations for the Eurobike Award 2019 have been decided, from just under 400 entries submitted for this year’s accolade.
The spectrum of entries ranged from different types of cycle, apparel and bike components through to accessories. In contrast to last year, 63 entries for the Start-up Award were integrated directly into the panel meeting.
“The Eurobike Award is a powerful barometer of innovation for the industry: it reveals how the producers involved with the bike keep stoking the fires of innovation, continue developing ideas and sometimes even break down barriers,” said Eurobike show director Dirk Heidrich.
“Eurobike, however, also sees this contest for the most convincing new developments as a motivating force. It’s a way of showing companies what may really be possible today or tomorrow. And this is something that we are just a little bit proud of.”
This year’s panel once again covered a wide range of disciplines so that they would be able to examine and assess the relevant products from all angles. In Bernd Eisenschmidt, the 2019 panel has the founder and head of the Institute for Quality Assurance and Certified Bicycle Safety on board.
Viewing the bicycle and its world from a different yet also functional angle is designer Eugene Maslov, from the Munich-based team of Designworks, a subsidiary of the BMW Group. The lead designer also advises companies in connection with visionary mobility concepts across a range of industries. As a mechanic, Sam Humpeson knows the hard physics of the velocipede and is also a co-founder of the London bike café ‘Look Mum no Hands!’.
Eric Poscher-Mika has a similarly broad sphere of activity. The sociologist and bike dealer rose to fame through his co-authorship of the book ‘Cargobike Boom!’. He runs a cargo and urban bike rental scheme and advises both municipalities and manufacturers on the topic of cargo bikes.
Finally, directing the focused view of the journalist onto the award candidates are James McKnight and Andrea Reidl. The latter works for ‘Zeit online’, ‘Karl’ and ‘Cicero’, among other titles, but also writes books. Her special field is everything concerning the topic of bike transport and alternative mobility in urban areas. Author James McKnight comes from the sporting world of mountain biking, and, following his active period as an MTB Guide in southern Europe, now writes for specialist magazines in this field.
In two rounds of the soundly structured selection process, the ‘most fascinating’ of the entries underwent detailed analysis. Eventually, 43 were chosen on the basis of factors such as design, degree of innovation, quality of finishing but also price versus performance and value-added. From this selection, nine developments were in turn honoured with the Gold Award – for products that particularly impressed the jury or are able to add something unique to the sector.
The presentation of the award winners every year takes place on the evening of the first day of the show in Foyer East, where the victors also make their appearance.
Eurobike 2019 will open to trade visitors for three business days, 4th to 6th September, followed by Festival Day on 7th September. You can read more about the show in our August edition of BikeBiz.
