Gold Vehicle, Mobility and Transportation Design · 2021
Sadler Foldable Electric Bike
- A' Design Award 2021 Gold Winner in Vehicle, Mobility and Transportation Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: Sadler Bike
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 78,239
- Verification code 1D5438173E · Verify this award
About Sadler Foldable Electric Bike
Sadler is a foldable bicycle designed for street, urban and light outdoor use. The frame and finish are made of carbon fiber with an epoxy resin system, and the base body is made of aeronautical aluminum alloy. The wheels are hubless and spokeless and measure 26 inches. Sadler folds with a single move into a compact form that can be pulled like a trolley. A double chain multiplies the pedal thrust to match the run of a traditional bicycle. Three versions are offered: classic, three-gear and electric. The seat and handle are finished in Italian leather.
Within the evolving discourse of sustainable personal mobility, Gianluca Sada's Sadler Foldable Electric Bike emerges as a compelling synthesis of engineering innovation and aesthetic refinement, positioning itself at the intersection of transportation design, sculptural object, and technological statement. The work demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of material expression, where the woven pattern of carbon fiber communicates both structural integrity and contemporary material culture, while the selective introduction of natural leather establishes touchpoints of warmth and tactile pleasure at the crucial human interface zones. The radical hubless wheel configuration represents perhaps the most visually arresting element, transforming a utilitarian mechanical component into an architectural gesture that frames empty space as compositional positive. This formal decision carries functional implications regarding weight distribution and structural loading while simultaneously creating an unmistakable visual signature that distinguishes the design within crowded commercial categories. The curved frame members demonstrate fluid transitions between structural necessity and aesthetic aspiration, their sweeping trajectories suggesting both speed and grace while accommodating the folding mechanism that addresses practical urban storage requirements. The transparent windscreen element introduces material variety while maintaining visual lightness, its crystalline presence offering weather protection without compromising the sculptural openness of the overall silhouette. One might observe how the proportional relationships between wheel diameter, frame geometry, and rider contact points suggest careful ergonomic consideration balanced against visual harmony. The restrained color palette allows material qualities to communicate directly, eschewing applied graphics or chromatic complexity in favor of honest material expression that rewards close examination. Viewers are invited to contemplate how contemporary mobility design might reconcile environmental responsibility with aesthetic ambition and the pleasure of beautifully crafted objects.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Sadler is a hubless bike with an innovative design, made in carbon fiber. It is foldable and portable design, measuring only 26 inches when folded, makes it the world’s most compact.
Available in three versions: classic, 3-gear shift and electric motor Sadler Bike is versatile and light, suitable for street, urban and soft-outdoor environments. 100 percent Made in Italy, Sadler Bike innovative design combines functionality with exclusive materials. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Wheel size: 26 inches, seat shaft angle 75 degree, seat fork angle 73 degree, handle-seat distance 752 mm, chain carter length 407 mm, step 1033 mm, standover 504 mm, overall measures 1656 X 1025 mm
- Tags
- bike, Bicycle, e-bike, foldable, hubless, spokeless, made in Italy, carbon fiber frame, aeronautical aluminum alloy
- Production Technology
- Sadler bike is provided with frame and finish in carbon fiber Epoxy Resin System, base body in aeronautical aluminum alloy, anodized hoops, carter in carbon fiber with real wood profiles, tube handle and ergonomic seat in real Italian hand crafted leather. Available with three gear shift on pedal shaft and electric engine built-in on drive hub. Battery level can be monitored through bluetooth app.
- Design Challenge
- The project of a foldable bike required several studies, centered on the reduction of weights and bulk, which brought in the past to design Bicycles with excessively small dimensions. They are provided with frame and wheels of reduced size, at the expense of stability, to privilege compactness and portability. This affects the driver’s position during the ride and the reduced wheel size is affected significantly by uneven grounds. The rigid frame makes them scarcely flexible during transport.
- Project Duration
- The project started in 2010 in Torino and reached the prototype stage in 2020 at Adler Airola plant. Sadler won first prize IDEA-TO 2010, was elected among 200 Young Italian Talents 2010 won The 10 Start-ups of 2014 MIA – Macchianera Italian Awards in 2014, won Golden A’ Design Award 2020 and D’AC 2020
- Operation Flow
- Sadler bike can be folded with a single move to world's most compact portable size, thanks to a practical trolley. Thanks to its double chain, the system multiplies the pedal thrust by 1 to 4 to match a traditional bicycle run.
- Research
- A spokeless bike, foldable and portable, comes to life from an idea of the designer Gianluca Sada, who made this project the subject of his graduation thesis in Engineering of the Automotive. Sadler’s goal is to design a bicycle with standard dimensions of 26 hoops and to have a very reduced bulk in the transport phase. The spokeless wheels, the reduced folded bulk, the one-move folding system, the packaging that doubles as a backpack, are the innovations of this project.
- Inspiration
- Sadler wants to pave the way to a new mobility system, off the beaten path, with a broad range of uses capable of integrating with other transportation systems, while respecting the environment. A personal style and versatility of use confer dynamism to the traditional bicycle, an increasingly sought-after item in a moment of growing environmental conscience and desire to embrace a sustainable lifestyle.
- Image Credits
- All images and videos are property of Sadler Bike.
- Patents
- The idea is protected with patent for industrial invention EU-USA: Foldable bicycle with spokeless wheels. The patent was filed in Italy 2010, Europe 2011 and USA 2011.