Home > Bike Types > Commuter

CYLO “Ultimate Urban Bicycle” Debuts from Former Nike Advanced Concept Designer

44 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

cylo-ultimate-urban-bicycle-commuter-from-nike-designer

CYLO is a new Portland, OR, based bicycle brand started by a former Nike design director and his brother. The name comes from a mash up of the American “cycle” and French “Velo”. It was designed in Paris by ARRO.studio but will be manufactured and assembled in Portland. A fitting blend from two cycling fanatics raised in France but who’ve been fully immersed in US business and culture. And they’re both cycling fanatics.

The CYLO One is dubbed the “Ultimate Urban Bicycle” and is designed to be the one bike for any and all city riding. To climb that steep hill of a goal, it’s made from a durable yet lightweight 6061 aluminum frame. A dynamo hub powers front and rear integrated lights, including a brake light, and Shimano mechanical disc brakes and a Gates Carbon Belt Drive with 3-speed Shimano Nexus hub keep it all tidy and efficient…

cylo-ultimate-urban-bicycle-commuter-from-nike-designer

They didn’t want just a functional bike, they wanted something beautiful and iconic. And this is just the start. An e-bike is on the drawing board, too. As is a front basket integration for the CYLO One.

“Born out of 18 months of design, engineering and passion, CYLO is our vision of the perfect urban bicycle. So simple you’ll wonder how you lived for so long without it.” says co-founder Eric Duvauchelle. “It will take you right back to the feeling you had as a kid on hot summer days, freely exploring as you coasted down the street on your first adventure.”

cylo-ultimate-urban-bicycle-commuter-from-nike-designer

The headlight is a Supernova 205 lumen Cree LED unit designed to illuminate your path a bit as well as making you visible to others.

cylo-ultimate-urban-bicycle-commuter-from-nike-designer

The E3 Tail Light doubles as an accelerometer-based brake light. Here’s how they should look at night:

cylo-ultimate-urban-bicycle-commuter-from-nike-designer7

They claim a five minute run time when stopped (for the rear), plenty for staying lit during traffic lights and such. And since they’re part of the bike, they can’t be stolen or lost.

cylo-ultimate-urban-bicycle-commuter-from-nike-designer

Integrated full coverage fenders hug the Schwalbe 32c tires. Those, plus the grease/oil-free drivetrain, help keep you neat for the office. And if your office (or apartment, etc.) is up a flight of stairs, the entire bike is light enough to be easily carried.

cylo-ultimate-urban-bicycle-commuter-from-nike-designer

Interested? They’re building the first 50 now and have a waiting list you can join on at Cylo.cc. Target price is $2,199 and will most likely be launched via crowd funding soon.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

44 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Daniel Knighten
Daniel Knighten
9 years ago

The front fender is worthless. If you actually ride in the rain you quickly learn that the front fender needs to go below the height of the bottom bracket and ideally has a flap that scrapes the pavement. “The fronts for your toes, the back is for your bro’s”.

Zach D
Zach D
9 years ago

Plastic brake levers. Why?

Splurge that extra $10.

il Bruce
il Bruce
9 years ago

Mash up. Sigh.

Ripnshread
Ripnshread
9 years ago

How do those fenders not rub the tire? Computer renderings are useless. No braze-ons for accesories? Single-speed? 2k for a alloy single speed with plastic everything and lights is a little (alot) steep when you can get an entry level alloy suspension mountain bike put slicks lights and a lock on it for well under 500 bucks. Show me an integrated iPad mount on the handlebars and Ill show you the customer for this bike…bleh.

Kachinjsh
Kachinjsh
9 years ago

An urban bike without rear rack mount? The front ligh should move with the handlebars. 3 speed hill climbing? Oh, and it’s pretty ugly.

Jesse Edwards
Jesse Edwards
9 years ago

No one who buys this bike is gonna care about braze ons. It’s gonna sit in garages until the weather is perfect 7 days a year for a nice little cruise around the neighbourhood. Let the yuppies have their fun on this fashion bike. Real commuters have lots of great options.

Ben
Ben
9 years ago

WHOA, REVOLUTIONARY!!!! (Tongue firmly in cheek).

@Ripnshread 3-speed? You read these things before you post? I know it’s not a Nexus hub in the images, but that’s what the article says.

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
9 years ago

art posturing as function. lemme guess did they design nikes too? i bet it is practical riding around inside a studio building at night.

thor
9 years ago

cute …. details however show that this bike like others is “born” on a fashionable drawing board, instead of real knowledgable bike riders and in particular commuters.

barrierhero
barrierhero
9 years ago

AHHHHH KILL IT WITH FIRE!

Skeeter
Skeeter
9 years ago

The REI Novara Gotham has this thing totally beat. Indeed – fashion bike. Unless there’s an upgrade path, I don’t want my electronics as a permanent fixture on my bike, though I suppose that ‘feature’ would help prevent the bike from being stolen after a few years.

Seth Snyder
9 years ago

Looks like the ultimate piece of sh*t to me! Everybody wants to integrate some piece of electronics into their bike and say it is a game changer, but nobody wants to embrace traditional designs and approach production as a way to create bikes people can afford. Nobody cares about your magical 18 months of design for a product that should be for the everyman, because he cannot afford it! Re-think your design, re-think your production, and then re-think your customer base. Can you even sell it in Portland? There are plenty of custom builders there who can build something far nicer, one at a time, for the same price. The “designer” that looks at that bike and calls it beautiful has been sitting at his desk for the last 18 months stroking himself in pride for nothing. It is ugly, it is not a game changer, and it should be said that there is nothing “ultimate” about it, except that ultimately, it is an overpriced and ugly piece of equipment.

Peter R
9 years ago

Nice looking concept, but $2200! Ideally shouldn’t and “urban” bike be under $700?

Clay
Clay
9 years ago

I made my own ‘ultimate commuter’ bike with a 3 speed hub and the hub didn’t make it 3000 miles. So, this is an art bike, not something for getting to and from work for 10 years. The IGHs seem ideal, but in practice, they don’t hold a candle to a derailleur.

The other thing an ‘ultimate commuter’ needs is turn signals. Why doesn’t anyone make them? I know, we have hand signals, but I happen to be needing to brake or turn instead of waving my hand at someone on their phone. It makes me want to design one on my own and sell it for some stupid price.

dorkdisk
dorkdisk
9 years ago

Not a bad $500 bike

Harry
Harry
9 years ago

Nothing supports disc brakes like 16 radial spokes.

lonefrontranger
lonefrontranger
9 years ago

ugh that’s hideous. How about a belt drive commuter with proper rack/fender mounts, internal gearing, belt drive AND dynamo lights? what’s that you say? oh right, Trek, Giant and Specialized (to name a few) have already come up with this configuration for like less than half the price, and they didn’t sell that great anyhow.

(deleted)

James S
James S
9 years ago

I like the idea of integrated lights and a dynamo hub. But like others have said, where is the mount for a rear rack? Obviously the rear tail light will interfere with a rack and it looks kind of stupid. However, carrying stuff is a big part of commuting and urban riding. As others also said, there are plenty of bikes out there doing the same thing better for less money. If they want to address real needs, make a bike with integrated lockable storage. That’s something I haven’t seen yet. I often make multiple trips to buy stuff because I don’t want to carry things into different stores and have to leave backpacks or bags at counters or worry that they think I stole the stuff I bought elsewhere.

Chris
Chris
9 years ago

So the ultimate urban bike has zero ability to carry anything?? Have they looked at the Velib?

Peter R: why should an urban bike be cheap?? Seems really stupid to spend a ton of money on a bike you only ride for fun a few days a week but then go cheap on the bike you rely on for transportation every day. I used to think spending money on an around town bike was silly until I actually looked at how much it’s actually used compared to my road bike.

Ben
Ben
9 years ago

@harry its great when you need to make a quick stop for tacos

Scott
Scott
9 years ago

I’m fine with the idea of an “Urban bike,” but it bothers me when they claim it was “engineered.” There’s no good reason to not have a straight downtube on this and it gives up both a lot of strength, and the ability to shoulder it if you’re carrying it up a couple of flights of stairs. The rear light would be entirely blocked if you mounted a rear rack, which is an important part of most urban bikes. And a radial wheel with a disc brake is going to result in serious injury. Not to mention the price!

Lars TB
Lars TB
9 years ago

Ultimate commuter? Have a look what they use in Amsterdam or Copenhagen! Everything that works is already invented and is used. Even bikes with integrated lockable storage… (Urban Arrow)

RUSTYDOGG
RUSTYDOGG
9 years ago

You can take a survey on their site. I’m sure they are watching here too. They definitely need to take a closer look at what a urban bike should be before using “ultimate” These guys obviously have no experience in a true urban setting. That 2k$ rig is going to get stolen first. Its too damn flashy. Not to mention all the other utility shortcomings. IMO its got to be a little ugly and utility looking to be beautiful (and functional).

Peter R
9 years ago

@ Chris: I’ll counter with this….an urban bike should be cheap because it is going to get locked up outside, ridden in all sorts of weather, take a beating from other people locking their bikes next to it, knocking things into it, etc. I want my urban commuter bike to be something that if it gets stolen, I’ll be annoyed, not out $2200. $700 ain’t cheap in my book. That get’s you firmly into a quality frame with parts that shouldn’t die in a month (or even 12 months). Just take a swing on over to Giant, Trek, Specialized.com and see what they are offering for $700 commuter bikes.

Ruben C
Ruben C
9 years ago

WOW, It only took them 18 months of design, engineering and passion….Amazing!

Topmounter
Topmounter
9 years ago

Yeah. Wow. I can see the city bicycle paradigm evolving before my very eyes. OMG.

dontcoast
dontcoast
9 years ago

one of the less awful concept commuter bikes, but yeah…
a big brand $500 hyrbid with some fenders and usb lights will be better for less

and if you want to pay the premium to buy made in USA, a Shinola is much better looking and probably more reliable too.

Carbonspoke
Carbonspoke
9 years ago

I agree with all this but I do think urban bikes should have more built-in, proprietary parts that can’t be stolen, like these lights. That’s why you can park a $10k motorcycle outside overnight in the city, but not a $1k bike.

PBJoe
PBJoe
9 years ago

The ultimate city bike would have a battery pack, not for propulsion, but with a switch that if not turned off before riding electrocutes the thief…

EpicThroatBeard
EpicThroatBeard
9 years ago

I think the internet hates this bike.

Brad
Brad
9 years ago

Did these guys actually spend much time in Portland before they designed this thing? This is the antithesis of Portland chic, which seems to revolve around older steel frames from brands that have since abondoned steel (Treks, Fujis,), with fenders. A steel Lemond is held in very high regard, for instance.

Lucaslazer
Lucaslazer
9 years ago

Cannondale hooligan x Elllsworth ride except ugly and with less function.

Ck
Ck
9 years ago

This is what happens when a designer thinks they’re also an engineer.

Ripnshread
Ripnshread
9 years ago

Just noticed the 90deg bends in the front brake cable.

Chris
9 years ago

It’s a concept bike to all the naysayers. Why not enjoy the fact that people are willing to engage their time and experience into something that defies convention and utilitarian design. It’s not aimed at Mr Practical I can Do anything go everywhere bike. Who wants to look at those old rigs anyway, especially on some borrowed time on the net. It caught your eye and compelled you to write something about it, it challenged convention and that upset you. No so original now! ha!

Andrew
Andrew
9 years ago

Only on Bike Rumours would you get comments like this. Unbelievable.

Two guys passionate about bikes develop a concept with plans to manufacture within the US and they get shat on.

Sure it could be improved upon, but the vitriol here is disgusting.

Bushpilot
Bushpilot
9 years ago

http://vanmoof.com: 1/4 of the price of the ugly POS in this article, from Holland – done.

Charles
Charles
9 years ago

Looks not bad, but Vanmoof has integrated lights, hub dynamo and integrated lock for 1/3 of the price and looks much better. It’s my believe that the ultimate urban commuter bike is affordable and has anti theft protection and stoarage space.

King County
King County
9 years ago

This looks like the people that designed it have no idea of what exists in the bike industry, nor do they have any bike commuting experience.

Jerry
Jerry
9 years ago

My first thought is that what is missing from the “ultimate urban bicycle” is a way to carry the things you need when you actually use a cycle in your daily life. No racks, no way to attach them. Front basket integration? No. Just no.

Fenders – need actual full coverage

Integrate lights – lose the stinger tail with the tail light. Just in the way. Also, add USB charging to the dyno setup.

Speedy
Speedy
9 years ago

I’ll stick with a Swobo and some fenders and take my extra $1k plus to the bank.

christophe
christophe
9 years ago

Something tells me this bike will have rack mounts when production time starts. Being this company is in PDX, my guess this bike will be very capable (no one knows bikes like PDX folks). There are plenty of steep short hills there so my guess the 3 spd hub will suffice.

dorfus 30
dorfus 30
9 years ago

This bike needs to be rethunk, now that they have garnered quite the focus group here. Yikes, that vestigal tail that has been re-purposed as a tail light holder, really efficient use of material.

Antoine
9 years ago

Hey Bikrumor and everyone. Thanks for posting about us and for all the comments. We read them all very carefully and took them into account. We are very excited to let you all know that we are now open for pre-sales for a limited time. Come check us out!

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.