Core77

Weird Bikes Done Right

If you're going to make a conceptual fixie at least make it funny

By Kat Bauman - April 10, 2017

in Cars | Bikes | Salone Milan

I'm on record as pretty unimpressed by most of the hubless and minimal frame and clunky carbon fiber and 3d printed and "modular" bike ideas you design nerds come up with, but I still like fun. The designers at Playful Design Studio obviously do too. Their new bike design links two of the more carefree types of bike riding - bmx and fixies—and ropes them together almost literally to do it.

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This roping might be more metaphorical than anything, since the two schools of riding don't automatically play nice, but they did a good job making it literal too. The frame elements directly suggest a tied-together construction, which looks both fun and disconcerting with the fat flatland/cruiser style of the other parts.

nice brake :/

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The weird minimalism also reminds of the various rope or cable tensioned frames we've seen throughout the years. Thankfully this one doesn't just rely on the buzzy appeal of "tensegrity" to keep you moving forward. And they've even added a flat city bike rack to rope down your pizza and beer.

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The crazy high bottom bracket and weirdly aggressive seat choice are design quibbles for "actual riders" and hey, maybe they do a lot of stunts in between their commuter racing.

Playful Design Studio had their, well, playful designs on view at last week's Lambrate show in Milan.

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Sean Horita

7 years ago

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Would love to read the piece except there's a big yellow advertising banner obscuring the text.

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- Simon Christopher
  
  Sean Horita
  
  7 years ago
  
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- Steven Johnson
  
  Sean Horita
  
  7 years ago
  
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  Yes, it would be NICE to read this, but for the yellow thing in the way.
  
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    Steven Johnson
    
    7 years ago
    
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    I second this statement^ I don't mind the popup, but when you can move it you have a problem
    
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Dan Lewis

7 years ago

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Literally anything can be designed ........... as long as you don't have to make it.

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Dee An

7 years ago

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I like it! (and I, like the author, am usually dubious of most bicycles featured on Core77).
Does anyone have any ideas as to how this could actually be made? Not because I want one, but just as a nerdy exercise in thinking about manufacturing.

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Mark H

7 years ago

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Those design quibbles aren't as bad as the radially laced rear wheel.

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