Zen and the Art of Cycle Design

Programme Outline

This programme contrasts two very different approaches to modern bike design, which come from two design teams with very different backgrounds. John Whyte, an ex-Formula 1 racing car designer has designed a radical mountain bike with wishbone suspension, and Marc Newson and Jens Martin Skibsted designed the Biomega bike for 'urban hipsters', now on display in the San Francisco museum of modern art. Mark is a famous product designer who has worked for such firms as Nike and Alessi, designing products ranging from chairs to watches and restaurants to bottle openers. Jens used to run an art gallery and now makes bikes!

0.00-5.05
The Whyte PRST-1 bike is John Whyte's brainchild - it marks a radical departure from conventional bicycle design. The bike encompasses two major innovations - a four-lever suspension system, borrowed from racing car design, and a monocoque frame construction, both of these are clearly described in the programme.

5.05-6.45
A Meccano model was first made to prove that the steering and suspension system could work at the same time. To support the suspension system, a light, stiff and strong frame was required - the design of which marked the second departure from the norm.

John experimented with a range of materials and material sections to give him the required compromise between lightness, stiffness and strength. The programme explains that when strong, thin, sheet aluminium is formed into a shell shape, its stiffness increases dramatically and when two such shells are welded together to form a monocoque structure, the required combination of all three attributes is obtained. A process of trial and error using hand-based processes led to the first prototype, which is then refined using a CAD system. The resulting CAD files are then emailed to a manufacturer for production on a CAM system. The bike is tested and evaluated by John's ex-Formula 1 boss. The bicycle is an example of form following function, resulting in what some would consider an odd-looking machine!

6.45-8.00
The linking sequence between the two bike designs explains how the traditional and conservative image of cycling has given way to a new cooler image - mountain biking being part of a 'RAD' culture of snowboarding, surfing, clubbing and extreme sports. The new shapes, forms and technologies of bikes are now an acceptable part of this 'RAD' lifestyle.

8.00-11.30
The Biomega bike is a result of a very different design brief. The bike is designed for fashion-conscious urban hipsters in the USA who are looking for something fresh - indeed it is described as a 'lifestyle' product and even includes Marc Newson's signature as part of its livery.

11.30-12.50
Like John Whyte's bike, the Biomega also encompasses new technology. The monocoque frame uses novel production techniques from the automotive industry - rather than stamping out the frame shells conventionally, heat and air pressures are used. A mould is heated to over 400°C and then air pressure forces the sheet material over it. The resulting shells are then precisely cut out using computer aided manufacturing techniques.

12.50-13.40
Two bikes, two very different designers - one driven by the desire to achieve technological perfection with form following function, the other driven by the desire to create beautiful objects - functional but also considered to be works of art. The common ground however, is that both designers allow their imagination to flow free in their design solutions.