When a group of designers set out to build the most practical bicycles in the world, the result was The Denny.
Bicycle makers think nothing of selling bikes without built-in lights, mudguards, security or storage – features that car makers learnt long ago would help make vehicles easier to sell.
Over 130 years after the launch of the modern bicycle, the non-profit group Oregon Manifest set out to create the ultimate utility bike. The Denny won a public vote on the strength of its ingenious handlebar lock design, clever mudguard system, automatic gear shifting and stylish cargo shelf.
The competition saw large design consultancies team up with local bike builders. The winning project was collaboration between Seattle frame builders Sizemore Bicycles and Teague, a product design company whose portfolio includes the Polaroid camera, UPS truck, Pringles canister and the Xbox.
The Denny’s handlebars are designed to be quickly removed and used as a lock to secure the bicycle.
The most practical bicycles in the world – Previous winners
In 2012, three design consultancies teamed up with bicycle builders and competed against each other to create the most practical bike. This bike is the result of designers from Ziba and custom bike builders from Signal. This is the Fremont.
The Fremont is a well-equipped town bike; it boasts hub gears, built-in dynamo lights and mudguards and a stylish colour scheme. It’s distinguishing feature is a fold-down sidecar for cargo with it’s own canvas luggage.
Environmentally friendly cycle insurance
On the face of it, one cycle insurance policy is much like another, but the devil is the detail. How much excess you will be charged is just one of the things that varies wildly between providers. Another is so called ‘new-for-old’ replacement – many insurers use this term, but if your bicycle is more than a few years old, devalue it severely. This means you are left out of pocket when you come to replace it. Read our insider guide to cycle insurance.
Furthermore, every cycle insurance policy you buy from us helps support the work of the ETA Trust, our charity campaigning for a cleaner, safer transport future.
ETA cycle insurance has a low standard excess of 5% (minimum £25) and offers a new-for-old for life – however old the bike, if it’s stolen you get enough to buy a new model.
For 25 years we have been providing straightforward, affordable bicycle insurance. Whether you use your bike to commute, shop, race or amble in the park, ETA Cycle Insurance has you covered. We never devalue bikes no matter their age, allow you to buy your replacement bike wherever you like, replace stolen quick release components and handle claims in-house.
The Good Shopping Guide voted us ethical in Britain.
Berno Brosschot
No chainguard, no carrier, very limited adaptability of handlebars, no integrated lock, no stand, no step-through, no reflective sidewalls, no suspension. Nice design, but certainly not the ‘most practical bicycle in the world’. No need to try to reinvent the wheel either, there are already millions of practical bikes in all shapes and sizes, widely available in the Netherlands. Why look west all the time? The answers are right behind you.
Roderick Joyce
I have to agree with Berno. I’ve lived and cycled in Germany and now live just across the North Sea from the Netherlands. You can get any number of far more practical bikes in both countries. Unfortunately the majority of bikes sold in the UK are far less practical. – if you want sensible everyday transport with lighting, reflective sidewall tyres, etc, you have to build or adapt it yourself – or order from over the water.
Noam Bleicher
Spot on Brosschot. The Vanmoof is an example of the kind of ‘pratical’ bike the Dutch have been churning out for years, but, well, as they’re not from the Seattle they’re not worth considering.
ETA
We’re massive fans of European utility bikes and wish more mainstream cycle retailer offered them for sale here in Britain. This piece focuses on design from America because the design competition element is interesting not to mention the context – utility bikes from the land of the car.
Deeter
So, by ETA’s reasoning, a design competition to find the best shed would be interesting if it came from a land of skyscrapers and was entered by skyscraper-designers and ignored all the people who’ve been building sheds for years.
Come on, let’s look for the people who haven’t got big bucks and ‘consultancy’ in their title. They are more interesting, and more likely to survive the real world application of their ideas.
ETA
It’s interesting – to us at least – to see how a nation so intertwined with cars and car culture imagines the utility bicycle. Nobody’s suggesting that Europeans haven’t got more experience in it.