All Style + Fashion

A Hybrid Bicycle Built for the Changing Needs of City Dwellers

09.18.14

Posted by Nanette Wong

Main Style + Fashion

A Hybrid Bicycle Built for the Changing Needs of City Dwellers

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HUGE Design, a product design consultancy in San Francisco, teamed up with a local bike builder to create the ultimate utility bike for the 2014 Oregon Manifest bike design competition. The result was EVO Urban Utility Bike, a hybrid bicycle with a modular accessory platform that helps the bike adapt to the user’s needs.

When analyzing the current needs of city dwellers, they realized that the one consistent thing that was missing was, well, consistency. Not only does every biker have different needs, even these needs change throughout the week. It is this inconsistency that inspired them to build the EVO.

The EVO Urban Utility bike combines the robust nature of a mountain bike with the functionality of a city bike to match the different city environments. It has easily detachable cargo accessories that are attached through quick-connect mounts that quickly lock into the frame, or are removed when not needed.

The bike also has an asymmetrical frame that supports holding heavy loads in both the front and back of the bike. That “truss” frame geometry is functional and iconic, while also simplifying the welding and time for production.

EVO Urban Utility Bike also has a front fork lockout, making it easy to lean against the wall when loading and unloading. For safe night riding, it has front and back lighting systems, as well an integrated frame cable lock.

After surviving a quarter life crisis, Nanette went from working in healthcare to pursuing her loves of design, food and writing. During the day she works in social media marketing, by night she writes for Design Milk. You can find more of her work at nanettewong.com.

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joe futschik on 09.19.2014 at 19:05 PM

great design!…is this prototype only or available for purchase. can’t find any details on that

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- Jaime Derringer on 09.21.2014 at 13:24 PM
  
  Not sure – I think you’d need to contact them directly to get more information.
  
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vintagediamondring.com on 09.20.2014 at 06:57 AM

I love it….i would also like to see more details!

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Thomas Clark on 09.21.2014 at 05:32 AM

Everything looks great about this bike apart from the lighting. How does anyone see your tiny lights when the front and back baskets are full of shopping. I love the idea of integrated lighting but am yet to see it done effectively.

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Peter Szabo on 09.22.2014 at 10:50 AM

Great aesthetic considerations and some nice details. The fact that more people in the US are realizing the practical potential of bicycles is encouraging. One concern I have with this bicycle, when considering practicality, is the height of the baskets, specifically the rear. A low center of gravity is important, but not as important as being able to lift your leg over the back to mount the bike. It might be fine for someone 6’1″, like myself, but I’m very curious to see how that works for someone 5’8″ or shorter… bikes must be practical for riders of all heights.

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Samcycle on 09.22.2014 at 12:00 PM

Beautiful details – The features seem to emphasize Different not Better. For example the center triangle places the pedals very close to the front tire. The racks place the weight much higher than modern panniers or side racks. There are so many good designs using belt drive and modern components this one seems to miss to my eye and sensibility.

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Marc on 11.07.2014 at 13:42 PM

Looks a lot like VANMOOF if you ask me

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Gina on 02.11.2017 at 12:04 PM

Thank you for sharing @Nanette. Can you please include some features?
Thanks in advance

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