Fuseproject and SyCip designs for ultimate utility bike (photos)

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Jeremy SyCip of SyCip Designs measuring the width of some tubing he'll use to build a bike frame.