For this year's EUROBIKE AWARD, 439 entries from 28 countries (2011: 430 entries from 27 countries) were sent in to compete for this renowned seal of quality in the bicycle industry. A total of 84 products were able to convince the judges and were the proud recipients of the EUROBIKE AWARD – the eight most outstanding innovations were honored with a GOLD award.
The 8 GOLD award winners are:
1) NINER Air 9 RDO (Category 1: Mountain Bikes)
The Niner Air 9 RDO is a racing bike with purposeful lines and trimmed profiles throughout. The Air 9 RDO’s smaller PF30 shell eliminates the need for an alloy insert and allows the use of smaller junctions and profiles. The rear brake mount is tucked inside the staying curves to distribute twisting forces evenly, permitting smaller caliper mounts and decreased wall thicknesses. Even the headset races in the head tube are molded carbon for the best weight savings.
2) CANNONDALE SuperSix EVO Black (Category 3: Race Bikes)
The SuperSix EVO is a road racing machine. It is the perfect blend of all the key performance factors: weight, stiffness, strength, compliance, handling and aerodynamics. The EVO was designed for serious road racers and breaks the mold for elite racing machines. It is extremely LIGHT – at less than 700g, it sports the lightest production frame in the world, extremely STIFF – it has the best stiffness-to-weight ever recorded, an incredible 142.3 Nm/deg/kg and extremely STRONG – it even outperforms most aluminum frames in destructive and fatigue testing.
3) SILKROAD Xplore (Category 5: Special-Purpose Bikes)
The Silkroad Xplore combines maximum functionality with perfect handling. The pinion transmission is integrated centrally into the frame and it is the first time that such a transmission has been used in combination with a steel frame and a travel bike to provide for worry-free cycling. With its 18 gears, it provides a huge response spectrum at an excellent range of gear ratios, making it the ideal choice for long-distance touring. The centrally mounted transmission ensures that the weight is well distributed, which allows for perfect handling. The special butted-down tube optimizes load handling and rigidity.
4) KTM eShopper (Category 6: E-Bikes/Pedelecs)
This carrier bike is designed to make shopping trips more comfortable and convenient than ever before. A reinforced frame with an extra-low ‘step through’ that can carry loads weighing up to 150kg in total meets all the most important needs. A powerful electric motor made by Bosch makes it easy to go uphill, even when carrying a full load. This bike features a complete range of road equipment and eight hub gears along with a hydraulic disk brake, which guarantees optimal braking efficiency.
5) PROTECTIVE Cycling Shoes (Category 7: Clothes)
The Protective is a biking shoe for e-cyclists and regular-pedal cyclists alike. Its key feature is the 0.6-mm inner sole with absolute lateral stiffness but with longitudinal flexibility for the ball of the foot. Thanks to optimal power transfer, there are no pressure points and the ball of the foot does not tire. The natural rubber sole is raised in the front and rounded up the back. The lower pedal position is marked. Calf leather has been used for the outside and pigskin for the inside. Reflective heel flap.
6) PEdALED Urban Jacket (Category 7: Clothes)
The “Urban Jacket” is made of a special waterproof, breathable cotton mix fabric. Special functions and details: ergonomic sleeves specially designed for cycling, smartphone/MP3 player pocket, earphone wire guides, two back pockets with reflector strips, “rip-open” quick-release zipper with adjustable hood and hem with elastic, reflecting cords, four large pockets that double as air vents, buttons made from Brooks England leather scrap and reinforced shoulder pads to cushion bag straps.
7) SCOTT AMT (Category 7: Clothes)
This mountain-bike outerwear wears well under even the most grueling conditions thanks to its ultra-lightweight, extremely durable material: highly functional stretch fabrics, welded hems and an uncompromising, anatomical fit are unbeatable arguments in favor of this lightweight collection. Consisting of a shirt made of four-way stretch material, quick-drying shorts and a water-repellent, abrasion-resistant windbreaker that weighs a mere 60g, this 280g all-mountain outfit is the ideal choice for any adventure in the mountains.
8) MAGURA RT8 TT (Category 8: Parts/Components)
A revolution in braking systems for triathlons and time trialing. The world’s lightest and quickest hydraulic rim brake. Its braking strength and good modulation set new standards in triathlon and time-trial machines, thus enabling effective speed management on descents and before curves. It features four key performance factors: high braking power, fine modulation, light weight and an aerodynamic shape that was optimized in a wind tunnel.
