Concoursvelo: The first beauty contest for bicycles

For the first time, Switzerland is holding an election for the most beautiful bicycle. Concoursvelo is the name of this new beauty contest, which will bring together owners of all types of bicycles at the end of March 2018. There are definitely a few treats for mountain bikers too. The most beautiful bike wins the "Best of Show" prize worth 1,000 francs, and the jury is made up of prominent figures.

On 25 March 2018, there will be a must-attend event for bike fans with an eye for beauty: Stefan Schäfter is organizing the Concoursvelo for the first time at the Tonhalle in Lausen. Schäfter is not only the founder of Basler Velokurier, but also a well-known figure in vintage bike circles far beyond the country's borders, as he runs Speedbicycles GmbH in Basel.

Schäfter emphasizes: "The Concours Velo is not one of the well-known and typical sales fairs. Although dealers and manufacturers are invited alongside private exhibitors, no displays, advertising banners or sales signs are allowed". Accordingly, all bikes should have an equal chance of winning at this show.

According to the press release, all types of bicycles are invited: Old, new, fast, slow, expensive, cheap. E-bikes are also ok. For lovers of vintage mountain bikes: the first classics from the early years of mountain biking have already been registered. According to Schäfter, bike tuners and tuners who produce selected bikes in small quantities are also targeted. An exhibition hall measuring over 400 square meters should allow up to 60 bikes to be presented in a clear and relaxed manner.The selection is carried out by a seven-member jury, "all people with a passion for bicycles, a sense of beauty and a creative background". Also on the jury is the well-known Swiss writer and self-confessed cyclist Max Küng.

The competition focuses on the desirability of the object; arguments such as quality, price, equipment and assembly should only play a role if it is conducive to the overall impression, Schäfter adds. The organizers put it this way: "The bike should be ready to ride in principle, but not necessarily". In addition to the main "Best of Show" prize, the jury will also vote in individual categories and the top three places in each will be announced at the awards ceremony and certificates awarded.

The jury:
Linxi Dong, Basel architect Herzog & De Meuron
Max Küng, Zurich, reporter, columnist, author, maxkueng.ch
Stefan Schmidhofer, Bern, IT architect, vive-le-velo.blogspot.ch
Stephan Dornhofer, Berlin, Managing Director, Magazin Stuttgart
André Schwyn, Zurich, visual designer, k-i-n-g.ch

Head of Jury:
Beat Trummer, Biel, Head of the Biel site and Vice Director of the Bern and Biel School of Design

When and where:
Sunday, March 25, 2018 from 11 am to 5 pm, Tonwerk Studios in 4415 Lausen. The exhibition is open to interested visitors from 11 am to 5 pm, the entrance fee is CHF 8.

www.concoursvelo.ch