Fuseproject and SyCip designs for ultimate utility bike (photos)

Yves Behar's Fuseproject design studio teams with tiny frame builder, SyCip Designs, to craft a new urban bike, one that can handle San Francisco's hills during daily chores.

Jay Greene

July 6, 2011 5:31 a.m. PT

1 of 7

Fuseproject

Planning session

Jeremy SyCip, the namesake of bike frame builder, SyCip Designs, meets with Fuseproject's Noah Murphy-Reinhertz, center, and Nick Cronan, right, in Mill Valley Public Library to discuss their approach to the Oregon Manifest utility bike design challenge.

2 of 7

Fuseproject

Early sketches

Some of the early sketches of Fuseproject's collaboration with SyCip Designs to create the ultimate utility bike in the Oregon Manifest design competition.

3 of 7

Fuseproject

Tiny prototype

Fuseproject's Nick Cronan "drives" a prototype bike made for the Oregon Manifest bike design project. The tiny prototype, created quickly and cheaply, gives designers a sense about potential flaws before they actually sink more money and time into the approach.

4 of 7

Fuseproject

Fuseproject-SyCip Designs team

Fuseproject's creative director Josh Morenstein, left, is working with bike frame builder Jeremy SyCip of SyCip Designs to create the ultimate utility bike as part of the Oregon Manifest bike design challenge.

5 of 7

Jay Greene/CNET

SyCip Designs shop

SyCip Designs' shop in Santa Rosa, Calif., is housed in the airy old factory that once made hop harvesting machines.

6 of 7

Fuseproject

A SyCip bike

One of SyCip Designs creations. Notice the detail on both the front and rear racks, custom made to match the frame. The retro-style tubing gives the bike a unique flair. And even the wheel rims are painted to match the frame.