Bicycles

UBC coren: High-tech, high-price carbon fiber fixie

UBC coren: High-tech, high-price carbon fiber fixie
UBC promises that each frame is hand built in clean room conditions in accordance with motorsports standards
UBC promises that each frame is hand built in clean room conditions in accordance with motorsports standards
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The UBC coren's carbon fiber is shaped into a unique frame
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The UBC coren's carbon fiber is shaped into a unique frame
The coren is a limited edition bicycle
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The coren is a limited edition bicycle
UBC says the thin top and down tubes lend a visual lightness
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UBC says the thin top and down tubes lend a visual lightness
UBC applies its carbon fiber expertise to a bicycle
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UBC applies its carbon fiber expertise to a bicycle
The coren fixie
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The coren fixie
The coren uses a Gates Carbon Drive
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The coren uses a Gates Carbon Drive
The T1000 carbon fiber used in the coren is also used to build F1 monocoques
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The T1000 carbon fiber used in the coren is also used to build F1 monocoques
UBC partnered with German and American components companies in outfitting the coren
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UBC partnered with German and American components companies in outfitting the coren
The coren is offered in single speed, fixie and pedelec models
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The coren is offered in single speed, fixie and pedelec models
UBC gave carte blanche to its designers
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UBC gave carte blanche to its designers
UBC is headquartered in Murr, Germany
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UBC is headquartered in Murr, Germany
Industrial designer Christian Zanzotti penned the coren
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Industrial designer Christian Zanzotti penned the coren
The coren pedelec
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The coren pedelec
The coren pedelec
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The coren pedelec
The coren pedelec
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The coren pedelec
The coren pedelec
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The coren pedelec
The coren pedelec
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The coren pedelec
The coren pedelec
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The coren pedelec
The coren single speed
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The coren single speed
Components come from such suppliers as BOR, ENVE, Schmolke, Trickstuff and Tune
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Components come from such suppliers as BOR, ENVE, Schmolke, Trickstuff and Tune
The coren uses ENVE carbon wheels
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The coren uses ENVE carbon wheels
The carbon belt drive is quiet and light
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The carbon belt drive is quiet and light
The coren uses ENVE carbon wheels
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The coren uses ENVE carbon wheels
Each coren is built by hand over the course of 40 hours
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Each coren is built by hand over the course of 40 hours
UBC will produce the €25,000 coren in limited numbers
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UBC will produce the €25,000 coren in limited numbers
The Gates belt drive provides clean, maintenance-free cycling
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The Gates belt drive provides clean, maintenance-free cycling
UBC won an ISPO BrandNew award for its efforts
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UBC won an ISPO BrandNew award for its efforts
Components come from such suppliers as BOR, ENVE, Schmolke, Trickstuff and Tune
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Components come from such suppliers as BOR, ENVE, Schmolke, Trickstuff and Tune
UBC gave carte blanche to its designers
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UBC gave carte blanche to its designers
UBC won an ISPO Brand New award for its efforts
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UBC won an ISPO Brand New award for its efforts
UBC builds the frame in clean room conditions
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UBC builds the frame in clean room conditions
UBC promises that each frame is hand built in clean room conditions in accordance with motorsports standards
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UBC promises that each frame is hand built in clean room conditions in accordance with motorsports standards
View gallery - 32 images

The UBC coren is what happens when creative minds get to run amok without the usual constraints imposed by reality. The new single speed bicycle combines a unique shape, belt drive and plenty of high-tech composite.

"Carte blanche" – it's a phrase that designers, artists and creative minds thrive on. And it's a phrase that the design team at German carbon fiber outfitter UBC got to hear directly from CEO Ulf Bräutigam, who also mentioned ignoring the bicycle production rule book. It's no surprise that the resulting coren looks a little different than the standard bicycle.

The carbon belt drive is quiet and light
The carbon belt drive is quiet and light

UBC typically concerns itself with faster, more technological modes of transportation like race cars and aircraft. Instead of taking a step down to design a bicycle, it decided to bring the bicycle a step up in terms of high-tech design. The coren's unique, parallelogram-like frame is built of the T1000 carbon fiber ordinarily reserved for Formula 1 monocoques.

Instead of the typical chain, the coren uses a Gates Carbon Drive belt system. The toothed carbon belt is designed to be quiet, smooth, maintenance free, lightweight and durable when compared to a chain. Other components hail from suppliers such as BOR, ENVE, Schmolke, Trickstuff and Tune. UBC lists weight at just under 17 pounds (7.7 kg).

The coren pedelec
The coren pedelec

UBC promises that each frame is hand built in clean room conditions in accordance with motorsports standards. It plans to offer the limited edition bike in single speed, fixed gear and pedal-assisted electric configurations by the end of the year. The starting price is €25,000 (about US$32,500 as of publishing). Who said German carbon fiber bikes defined by French terms come cheap?

Source: UBC via ISPO

View gallery - 32 images
6 comments
6 comments
BZD
Pretty, but there are reasons why it is a good thing bike frames are not usually tall near the handle bar - two reasons to be exact (not counting material or production reasons).
When one stops on a bike there is a need for room to stand over the bike. Especially if the stop is an emergency one room is needed else certain personal items can get in trouble (hence the two reasons)!
Gregg Eshelman
"The UBC coren is what happens when creative minds get to run amok without the usual constraints imposed by reality." Or rider comfort!
Will someone out there design a high tech, light weight, COMFORTABLE CRUISER BIKE?
Enough of these back breaking wannabe racer bikes.
Lewis Taka
@BZD You obviously can't track stand :P
Dawar Saify
Another problem is riding long distances maintains high pressure and reduced blood flow in the perinial area.
Joey Tourettes
$32,500? I didn't know hipsters had any money.
citizenchan
@Joey Tourettes You can only be a hipster if you have a lot of money to buy clothes/bikes/beer/cigs that make you LOOK like you don't have a lot of money.