Last year Design 21 held the Power To The Pedal design contest. The competition was to create a biking accessory or add-on for existing bikes that would improve the bicycling experience and encourage more people incorporate cycling into their lives. Making cycling more convenient, more enjoyable, safer and more integrated into daily lifestyles.
Contestants from all over the world entered their designs. There were 220  entries including everything from honeycomb tires to the “Joy Pod”. Some were submitted as concepts while others were actual prototypes. The top three entries, the Power Pedal Pack, Retrofit Folding Handlebar, and the Sound From Wind are featured below…
1st Place: Power Pedal Pack by Ben Decherd from Portland, Oregon, USA
The Power Pedal Pack is portable generator that operated much like a bike trainer. Any bike can be fitted to the generator and used to create electricity. Decherd sees his design benefitting everyone from natural disaster victims to environmentally conscience people who want to reduce their carbon foot print.
2nd Place: Retrofit Folding Handlebars by Joe Wentworth from London, UK
There were more than one folding handlebar design entered into the competition. Bicycle storage in larger cities can be a problem. Hallways and offices don’t often lend well to bike storage. Wentworth’s design drastically slims a bikes profile and locks the front wheel from turning while in storage.
3rd Place: Sound From Wind by Joseph KIM and Jinwook HWANG from the Seoul, South Korea
Sound From Wind was also voted most popular. These ceramic instruments mount to the handlebar and channel wind like a flute to create an analogue sound. The riders can change the sounds using keys are connected to the hand grips and by adjusting their speed. Thus creating music as they ride.
