free wheel examines bicycle design from different eras

free wheel examines bicycle design from different eras
‘folded pocekt bici’ by T&C
photo by bernhard angerer

free wheel – cyclepedia: iconic bike design
design museum holon, israel
on now until march 22nd, 2014

design museum holon pays tribute to the tour de france, which marked its 100th race this year, with ‘free wheel’–an exhibition that surveys 100 bicycles, giving visitors a look at the diverse existence of two-wheelers from the past 200 years.

the bicycle is something whose original structure has experienced minimal transformations since its invention in the 19th century; and though it hasn’t drastically evolved physically, it has undergone technological and social developments.

‘folded pocekt bici’ by T&C
photo by bernhard angerer

the exhibition is divided into two parts, where the upper gallery sees the presentation of 43 from the 275 something bicycles of the collection of michael embacher, an austrian architect, designer and of course, avid bike enthusiast. the pieces selected from his archive have been chosen not only for their design quality, but also their significance and representation of key moments in history. included are the 1940 paratrooper which folds with an attached parachute used during world war II by british paratroopers; and an early version of a fixed wheel drive version from the 1970s.

‘sportplex’ by sironval from the michael embacher collection
photo by bernhard angerer

the lower gallery highlights local bicycle manufacturing, displaying 11 pieces produced in israel against a backdrop of historical posters, photographs and videos that have accompanied the cycling culture in the country as far back as the 1930s.

‘strida I’ by strida LTD from the collection of michael embacher
photo by bernhard angerer

‘free wheel’ pays tribute to one of the easiest and accessible modes of transportation, and its transition from something purely functional, to a sporting and social trend indicator.

‘one off moulton special’ by alex moulton from the collection of michael embacher
photo by bernhard angerer