Exactly 500 new products submitted, six competent jury members, expert moderation by the German Designer Club and two days full of controversial discussions: The result is twelve golden stickers, which were stuck on very different products at the end of a two-day jury meeting and marked the winners of this year's Eurobike Gold Award. What is particularly striking is that almost half of the Gold Award winners come from the electric bike sector. Another trend can be seen in gravel bikes.

As different as the award-winning products may be, they all have one thing in common: "At a time when the bicycle market is living out its innovative potential to the full, there are still products that stand out from the already strong market offering. These products shift the benchmark that defines technical innovation and special design in the industry. Only such products are worthy winners of the Eurobike Gold Award," says Dirk Heidrich, Eurobike Project Manager at Messe Friedrichshafen. The six-member expert jury of the Eurobike Award sees this high standard fulfilled this year with these Gold winners:

Compact e-bike Radius from Winora
The Radius from Winora is a new e-bike model that primarily appeals to people in cramped, urban living situations. With a Yamaha drive and compact dimensions, it offers riding fun without taking up much storage space.

Jury statement on this award: "This compact e-bike is fun. On the one hand, it is a city runabout, but at the same time it offers a high utility value for urban people due to its small parking space. Well thought-out details, such as the foldable components and a good position for the carrying handle, also contribute to this."

E-mountain bike Turbo Levo FSR from Specialized
With the Turbo Levo FSR model, mountain bike pioneer Specialized is now also entering the market for mountain bikes with an electric motor. The reason why the American company has taken a little longer to make its debut in this segment becomes clear at first glance at this new e-mountainbike, in which the system integration of the e-bike technology has been perfectly solved.

Jury statement on this award: "This bike is sensational. It also makes mountain bikers who were previously completely happy without an e-drive excited about this young product segment. The integration of the Brose drive system is masterfully implemented."

E-bike commuter bike from Coboc
With e-bikes that integrate their drive components almost invisibly, the Heidelberg-based company Coboc has already won a number of fans in the cycling scene. With the Commuter Bike, the brand's previously rather sporty approach is now also being translated into a bike for everyday urban use.

Jury statement on this award: "This bike is super beautiful. You can't tell it's an e-bike even at second glance. The drive feels very harmonious. Thanks to its low weight, this e-bike also rides very well even with the drive switched off. "

Bike carrier Bike-Lift from EAL
The Bike-Lift from EAL is a bicycle rear carrier for the car that can be electrically lowered to ground level and raised again. This means that heavy types of bikes in particular, such as e-bikes, can be easily charged.

Jury statement on this award: "When transporting e-bikes, older people in particular often have the problem that they are difficult to lift onto the bike stand. The idea of integrating a lift into the bike rack is new for us and therefore represents real progress. In addition, the bike rack can be folded up compactly when not in use and moved effortlessly thanks to its transport wheels."

Modular pump track from Bikeparkitect
The modular pump track from Bikeparkitect can be quickly assembled from modular elements for events or other purposes. Even planning with scaled-down models becomes a fun task.

Jury statement on this award: "We were immediately impressed by the idea of a modular system for bike parks. The composition of the modules can be planned easily and playfully as a model. A course can be set up for events in a short space of time. The individual components of the modular bike park are easy to transport and can therefore also be set up and dismantled in cities."

Load e-bike Spicy Curry from Yuba Bicycles
Californian bike manufacturer Yuba is one of the pioneers of the cargo bike revival on the cycling scene. With the Spicy Curry, the brand's genes are now being further developed for the e-bike age.

Jury statement on this award: "This cargo bike with electric drive is a well thought-out contribution on the way to car-free cities. The luggage transport is well solved and also designed for heavy loads. At first glance, the bike may seem a little sluggish, but it is very fast and agile on the road."

Road bike Slate Force CX1 from Cannondale
Gravel bikes, i.e. road bikes with wider tires that can also be ridden off the beaten track, are one of the new trends on the bike market in 2016. With the Slate Force CX1, American bike manufacturer Cannondale is going a few steps further.

Jury statement on this award: "This new bike from Cannondale combines two worlds that usually have little in common. It borrows from the mountain bike and translates it for the road. This expands the target group for cycling."

Cross-Bike U.P. from Open Cycle
The Open Cycle brand is best known for its light and fast mountain bikes. However, the makers of the brand also have roots in the road bike scene. In this respect, it was probably only a matter of time before Open Cycle developed a bike that has genes from both product segments. The U.P. can be fitted with either road bike or mountain bike tires.

Jury statement on this award: "In addition to the appealing and eye-catching frame design, the open concept of this cross bike is worthy of an award. Different wheel sizes and tire types can be mounted on it. This gives the U.P. a particularly high level of flexibility for various surfaces."

Children's MTB Belter 20 Trail 3S from Early Rider
In recent years, a scene of manufacturers specializing in high-quality children's bikes has developed in the UK. This includes the Early Rider brand, whose Belter 20 is a sophisticated piece of sports equipment for the youngest mountain bikers.

Jury statement on this award: "There are very few children's bikes that look like a "big" mountain bike. The Belter is one of them. It is worthy of the award because all the important components such as brake levers with a shorter reach, short cranks and gearshifts are completely geared towards children. The high-quality tires are also an exception in this product segment."

Variatronic S sports glasses from Uvex
The cycling scene has long been familiar with sports glasses whose tint adjusts automatically to different light situations. However, the speed with which this happens with the electrochromatic lenses of the Variatronic S from Uvex, namely within a tenth of a second, is extraordinary.

Jury statement on this award: "These cycling glasses impressed us with their sensor technology. The tint adapts to changing light conditions - and does so more quickly than any other pair of glasses."

Bike jacket Diamond from Pure Electric
Fast pedelecs, which reach speeds of up to 45 km/h with motor assistance, are becoming increasingly popular. However, the higher speeds also require a new approach to protective equipment, which Pure Electric takes into account with this new jacket.

Jury statement on this award: "The cycling jacket transfers elements from motorcycle clothing to the needs of S-pedelec riders. This is particularly evident in the integrated protectors. The jacket is also very comfortable to wear."

Mountain bike Aenimal Bhulk from Eurocompositi
The frame of the Aenimal Bhulk is manufactured using a 3D printing process. The biopolymer used comes from renewable resources.

Jury statement on this award: "The Aenimal Bhulk could start a new trend. It is the first mountain bike whose frame is made from biodegradable, recyclable and recycled materials using a 3D printer. With this innovation, we also have the vision that this technology could revolutionize the customizing and manufacturing of bicycles."

Green Award for Schwalbe
In addition to the twelve Gold Awards, this year there was also a Green Award for a concept for recycling bicycle inner tubes from tire manufacturer Schwalbe. "Bicycle dealers often don't know what to do with old and broken inner tubes. Schwalbe inner tubes are 100% recyclable and can now be returned to the manufacturer by dealers free of charge. Schwalbe's brand-new inner tubes already consist of 20% recycled material," said the jury about this further development of a concept that has already been used in a similar form for bicycle tires for several years.

The 13 Gold and Green Award winners and 51 other winners of a Eurobike Award will be exhibited at the bicycle trade fair in a special show in the West Foyer of Messe Friedrichshafen until Saturday, August 29. The international bicycle trade fair Eurobike will be open to trade visitors from Wednesday, August 26 to Friday, August 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and to the public on Saturday, August 29 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

www.eurobike-show.com