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Matt Cardinal of Signal (left) on "Fremont"

Where the Fuseproject × SyCip team went for a novel three-wheeled design and IDEO × Rock Lobster sought to perfect the electric-assist bicycle, Portland's local collaborators Ziba × Signal Cycles decided to improve upon existing mechanisms, so much so that they saw fit to file patents on the sidecar, bags and lock.

"Fremont" at Checkpoint 2

At first glance, the "Fremont" looks like a traditional mixte-style cruiser with a sidecar, though its conventional appearance belies several key innovations from the Ziba design team, led by none other than Paul Backett. Which is not to say that it's not an absolutely beautiful machine; credit to Matt and Nate of Signal Cycles for building an exceptionally-crafted bicycle (and kudos to SyCip and Rock Lobster as well, while we're at it).

Courtesy of Oregon Manifest

The most obvious feature is the sidecar, which consists of a collapsible bag atop a platform, set on a hinge at roughly 10 o'clock on the drive side of the rear wheel. (The bicycle also features a belt drive instead of the traditional chain, which makes for an interesting contrast to the otherwise classic bicycle design.) When the bag is flattened and set into the base (or simply removed), the entire sidecar can be flipped over the rear wheel to function as a rear rack for cargo-less rides.

Similarly, the heavy-duty canvas bag and removable pannier—which makes a handsome tote bag in itself—have both an internal and an external locking system, designed to secure their contents whether or not the rider is with the bike.

Lastly, the lock is essentially a standard cable lock with an elongated pin that passes through the head tube (and fork within) to hold the front wheel still when the bike is locked. This design has a secondary security measure, akin to the "club" for automobile steering wheels: even if the cable is cut, a potential thief cannot turn the handlebars or front wheel.

Not only did they produce a "lookbook" documenting the process and production of the bicycle (pictured top right, above), Ziba also made the local newspaper in anticipation of the big weekend:

See all of their drawings in the video in their March diary