Good design on wheels

As lockdown measures are relaxed or come to an end in different parts of Europe, we are gradually returning to a new normality where avoiding crowds is one of the key tasks in the face of the threat of new outbreaks. An object of design we are rediscovering in this new scenario, especially in large cities with an already saturated transport network, is the bicycle.

In recent years, in line with public policies to make cities more sustainable, the use of the bicycle has already begun to increase exponentially. In the Bicycle Barometer 2019, issued every two years by the Spanish association, Network of Cities for the Bicycle, and presented last December, it was estimated that the use of the bicycle had grown two points compared to 2017. The study also revealed that the bicycle has replaced the car and the motorcycle in more than 40% of cases on daily commutes and that the visibility and use of public bicycle schemes have increased, such that they are now used by more than three million Spaniards.

The need to practice social distancing will only continue to accelerate this growth, already evident in a boom in the purchase of bicycles in many large cities that some sellers have compared to the boom in the purchase of toilet paper at the beginning of the lockdown.

Be that as it may, the renaissance of the bicycle is a reason for celebration, since it will not only help to decongest public transport but will also reduce the use of combustible means of transport and improve air quality. It will also force us to become more active, healthier and happier.

All this renders the bicycle a more optimal design than ever, and today we want to pay tribute to it with a selection of objects that make using the bike, now that it is so necessary, a more pleasant, comfortable, easy and safe experience. Helmet, lights, bell, bottle holder, mobile mount, padlock… there are so many bicycle accessories – which can make the experience of going riding more of a hassle than a joy. For this reason, our selection highlights designs that are functional and light.

 

Helmet

Safety comes first, and a good helmet is key to protecting one of the most delicate parts of the body in case of accidents. We highlight three different designs.

 

 

Closca Helmet
Web

Winner of a Gold Delta at the 2016 ADI Awards, as well as a Red Dot Design Award and a Eurobike Award in 2015, the great advantage of this helmet, besides the quality protection it offers, is its patented folding system, which allows you to compress the helmet by 55% when you are not wearing it on your head, thus relieving the burden of carrying the helmet. In addition, Closca Helmet includes an NFC chip where you can store your personal data and/or medical history, necessary in the event of an accident.

 

 

Lumos Ultra
Web

Lumos is a brand which specialises in the production of helmets with integrated and rechargeable LED lighting, including indication signals. Its latest model was launched, like its first, through Kickstarter, where it has gone down in history as the most financed product in the bicycle category, and as the most-funded cycling accessory on the crowdfunding platform. In just 4 minutes, Lumos got the £48,513 it had set as a goal, and 18 days before the end of the campaign, they have already reached almost £ 1,400,000. The reason? The price of this last model is lower than earlier models created by Lumos, making it more accessible.

 

Inflatable Airbag Helmet Hövding 3
Web

It seemed a risky venture, but eight years after the launch of their first model, Hövding continues to gain supporters and save lives with their inflatable helmet (if we can call it a helmet, since it is actually a scarf with a built-in airbag system). If you are one of those who detest wearing a helmet and trust the good reputation of Swedish design, perhaps this is the “no-helmet” you need. However, the high-end technology demands effort: for the system to work, it is necessary to keep the battery charged and to turn the sensor on and off before and after each trip.

 

Bottle Holder

 

 

Closca Bottle
Web

After the success of their helmet, Closca embarked on the design and launch of a portable bottle. Its strengths? A silicone arm that allows you to hold the bottle on the bicycle frame, on the handles of any bag and on the handle of a baby carriage; a double opening to make the cleaning of the bottle easier; and an accessory for infusions. In addition, the bottle is made with borosilicate glass, which is very resistant and free of BPA (a chemical material associated with plastic packaging) and its creators have developed an app that locates water sources around you to be able to fill the bottle. Their first model, also winner of a Red Dot Design Award in 2018, was produced through a campaign on Kickstarter in which they achieved more than triple their goal. Their latest model is on the Delta Awards shortlist in the wearable designs category.

Smartphone mount

Taking the phone out of the bag or pocket every time we have to check the map on our trips can be a pain. The mounts for smartphones allow us to adjust the phone to the handlebars and avoid extra movements.

 

 

Triban Waterproof Bike Smartphone Holder
Web

The advantages of this model compared to other mounts is that it is compatible with different types of phone (there are two sizes), it protects the phone from the rain and it can be easily and safely adjusted to the handlebars or the stem of the bicycle.

 

 

Wheel Up Mobile Phone Waterproof Handlebar Bag
Web

More bulky than the previous one, but also compatible with different phones, tactile and weather-resistant, the advantage of this model is that it is useful for transporting not only the phone but also your purse and keys.

 

Navigation systems

Mounting the phone on the handlebars can be useful to check your route but it can also be a source of constant distractions that could be dangerous. For this reason, there are intelligent navigation systems that can be connected to your phone and show you the route with simple signs, without the added distractions of the phone screen.

 

 

Smarthalo
Web

Among the currently available navigation systems, Smarthalo is one of the most interesting designs. Mostly financed through Kickstarter, this simple device and its mobile application allow you to reach your destination without having to read a map, following only simple turn signals. Simply enter the destination in the application and choose the preferred route type for the directions to appear on the device. The device is designed to always remain on your bike, and that is why it has a built-in anti-theft system that emits a 100-decibel alarm that will scare any thief. The application recommends the safest routes with bike paths when possible and it also records where you have left the bicycle in case you forget where you have locked it. The device records and can show you the metrics related to each trip automatically; it can connect with other apps like Strava; and it lets you customize how you want the user experience to work with simple gestures. It also features a 250 lumens night driving light that automatically turns on when it’s dark.

 

Bicycle holders

For some, the bicycle is not only a useful object but can be a work of art. It can actually be used to furnish a room – ideally, in such a way that it occupies the least possible space. We highlight two bicycle racks that will allow you to display your bike while saving space.

 

 

Giro Kion Home
Web

The Giro wall mount for bicycles, designed by Fernando Crespo Sánchez for Kion Home, is suitable for all types of bicycles as it is rotating, thus adapting to the angle of any type of frame. The design is available in matt black and white and incorporates a hook under the mount where you can also hang the keys, helmet, or padlock. Giro is one of the shortlisted products of the ADI-FAD Delta Awards 2020.

 

 

Martin Foret
Web

When the bike is not there, Martin Foret’s cleverly designed racks serve as pleasing wall sculptures. As William Morris counselled, “have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful. This is both!

 

Rechargeable Lights

With the increase in the theft of bicycle parts, including lights, and the need to depend on disposable batteries, removable lights are arguably a must. You can carry them not only on the bike, but on the helmet or attached to your clothes, and they are rechargeable via USB.

 

Beryl
Web

This company, born in 2012 with the aim of creating a better world through the bicycle, started with the production of the Laserlight, devised by its founder, Emily Brooks. Laserlight is a 300 Lumens LED light, rechargeable via USB (a single charge lasts for 13h), easy to adjust to the bicycle, which projects a laser with the figure of a bicycle that helps to visualize blind spots. The success of Laserlight has led Beryl to develop other models of rechargeable lights and even to develop a network of bicycles for public and shared use.

 

Waving Gloves

Waving to signal turns makes it safe both for us and for the recipients of our gesture. But what if, in addition to security, you could spread good vibes?

 

 

Loffi
Web

Smiling makes the world a better place. Loffi is a high-quality cycling glove with a mission: to make travel happier for everyone. The idea is simple, the glove incorporates an Emoji of a smile that makes signalling more meaningful. Loffi’s intention is to turn a simple gesture into a movement capable of creating a culture of goodwill on the roads. Their mission: to make their gloves spread love (#SpreadTheGlove). Loffi was exhibited on the Transport category of the Beazley Designs of the Year 2019 show, at the Design Museum in London.

 

Locks

 

 

Litelok
Web

Litelok Gold is the lightest and most flexible bicycle lock on the market with Gold Secure sold certification, necessary if you want to get insurance for a high-cost bicycle. It is capable of withstanding sustained attacks from common burglary tools to the highest level, including pincer, lever and saw attacks. The flexibility and lightness of the chain give it a certain superiority to U-shaped or D-shaped locks, which have limitations when it comes to attaching them to certain supports.

 

Rear Kid Seat

 

 

Urban Iki
Web

Japanese-inspired in its choice of colours and patterns, this dutch design won five awards in 2019: the German Innovation Award, the iF Gold Award, the Red Dot Award, the German Design Award and the Eurobike Design Award. Besides its minimalist aesthetics, comfort and safety, it can be assembled in just five minutes.

 

Text: Sol Polo