MACHINE’S CONTEST 2021
Concours de Machines : a new adventure is coming
9-12 september 2021 at Arbent (01)
The “Concours” 2021
The aim of the Concours de Machines is to promote the design and manufacturing of handmade bicycles, by inviting framebuilders to challenge and imagine the multiple uses of the bicycle, in order to foster its’ further evolution.
Our underlying hope is to tweak the bicycle, to trigger creative thinking at the fringes of the bicycle industry by making small significant deviations to the existing designs. Observe what has been done, ask ourselves how it could be improved, further existing designs, propose new ones, finally implement an alternative (which might not be necessarily disruptive) that requires starting from a clean sheet of paper and building a bicycle, by hand.
The Concours de Machines hosts mainly French bicycle builders, but those of other nationalities and a few beginners or“rookies”, are welcome too.
Theme
The guiding principle for this edition is a self-sufficient trip between friends on a 2-3 days ride basis, among medium and high mountains of the Pyrénées, on the French border with Spain.
It always start around a drink...
“Who’s up for a couple of days riding among the mountains?”
Dates: 9 to 12 september 2021
Location: Meet at Arbent (01) during la Forestière Mountain bike
Schedule: 10h ride per day
Requirements: being self-sufficient in food, shelter, electricity… Being animated by a spirit of conviviality, favour a environmentally-friendly approach.
The scene being set, you are asked to design and built the most suitable bike for such a program.
The specifications to respect are therefore the following guidelines…
The presented solution must…
– ride day and night on all type of terrain (road, dual and single tracks), incluiding hilly environment (staires, rocks, dirt, roots, scree…) among the mountains with your friends
– take the essentials to :
• fix his bike
• treat wounds of a rider
• manage your waste / reduce the envirenment impact of your ride
• keep a memento of this experience (photo, video, drawing, painting, writting, sound, ...) , and therefore being able to get access to it as simply as possible.
• orient yourself with a GPS track
• contact rescue services
• get 48h of electric autonomy
• ride and set the camp by night
• keep yourself dry and warm during the bivouac
• boil water
• carry 4L of water including 1.5L easily accessible when riding
– be compacted easily to facilitate a car-free arrival on site, that is to say, fit the french train policy (SNCF) : the bike must fit in a 1200mm long and 900mm high suitcase or bag, and minimise the width.
– protect the cables and brake hose from agressive environment and get access for maintenance
– have bicycle bags quickly removable but firmly tied up.
– avoid friction and abrasion of the frame and the components
– _making bike carrying easier during hike-a-bike sections, allowing a free hand available during the progression.
– _integrate multiple features of the bike
– _recycle second-hand parts and components
– _suggest additional feature at your own discretion
– _maintain the spirit of conviviality and mutual aid
And since not everyone has several bikes, this bike adapted to bivouac in the mountains must remain efficient stripped out of all its bivouac equipment.
Mandatory equipment
(absence = elimination)
Mechanics
– frame and fork
– handlebar and stem, or substitute
– a seat attached to the frame in such a way as to allow adjustment and removal
– two wheels with rim, hub axle, and a quick-release mechanism
– a drivetrain including a crank and arms
– multi-speed, and the ability to freewheel
– independent front and rear brakes
– equipment required to carry out these five repair or maintenance operations:
• Repair a puncture or a gash in a tire, and inflate it, whether tubed or tubeless.
• Repair a chain, a coupling, replace a belt, ...
• Adjust the drivetrain, replace a component to keep it operational, for example a cable.
• Adjust the position on the bike (raising and lowering the seat, tightening the handlebar, stem, brake levers) and adjust the headset.
• Replace and tension a spoke, including the ones on the driveside, re-true a wheel.
Safety first
– front and rear lights in order to see and be seen at night, even at low speeds (5 km/h)
– a portable light (for use when off, or carrying the bike!): 2h capacity
– a device to contact rescue services
– a first-aid kit incluiding a survival blanket
– these details must appear prominently on the frame as well as on the rider’s helmet:
• last name & first name
• blood type and known allergy (s)
• number of a contact person in case of an emergency
Navigation
– GPS / smartphone: 24h capacity
– Bivouac / food / comfort
– 3 meals including 1 picnic, 1 warm meal and 1 breakfast
– a shelter to keep the rain and wind out, and prepare meals in it
– a zero degree (Celcius) sleeping solution, including a matress
– a puffy jacket
– a headdress
– a trousers
– a raincoat
– a solution to boil 1L of water
– carry 4L of water including 1.5L easily accessible when riding
Backpack and hipbags are allowed within the limit of 12L capacity, 3kg overall weigth, and 3L water maximum capacity in a water bag
Weighing configurationsBikepacking
Bike ready to ride + lightning + GPS/smartphone + electric storage + bike bags
• stove + fuel + pan
• shelter
• water container : if water bag, add the backpack or the hipbag
• waste management
• tools
Will be removed the food, clothing, sleeping bag, mattress and first-aid kit.
Empty
Bike ready to ride without all the bags
Note: second-hand parts
There will be no specific mark assigned on this requirement but the Jury will take them into account in their overall assessment.
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INSCRIPTIONS
Openning on 15th february 2020 at noon on this site.