This stunning concept bike breaks from conventions set by international racing authorities to bring riders a vastly improved cycling experience, from enhanced aerodynamics and speed assists to smartphone functionality and storage space.
Creative Director at Specialized, Robert Egger, designed fUCI (a jab at the UCI, or: Union Cycliste Internationale) as a functional and physical critique: “The UCI really caters to a very small population, but there’s so many other people out there who couldn’t care less about the UCI,” he explains. “They don’t follow the racing and they don’t even know all the limitations that are put on bikes for the UCI riders. So, my feeling was let’s design a bike for someone who really just wants to go fast on a road bike.”
Wheels are supposed to be the same size, but differently-sized ones in this model help riders get up to high speeds more quickly. An added motor assist works like a turbo on a sports car, something completely accepted in that vehicular realm but unusual on bikes, “so just like when you ride the turbo and you put your foot on the pedal and it lurches forward, the same thing here.”
“This little motor will get the flywheel up to speed so when you’re stopped at a stop sign, or when you’re starting out of your garage in the morning, this’ll be that burst of power to get the flywheel up and running.”
The shape is dramatic and impressive, but also pragmatic; it facilitates, for example, clever seat storage space for odds and ends (like keys or wallets) or potential essentials like spare tires and tubes.
A slot in front, protected by an aerodynamic mud and wind guard, lets you put your smart device in place for navigation, too.
The goal of this project is in part to raise awareness of what bikes can be when stripped of the rules people think are common sense but are really tied to the limited and specialized world of racing. The hacks in this case enhance functionality on various fronts and, frankly, produce a much more awesome-looking ride, too.
