A Chicago design firm is competing with others around the country to create a new, better bike for city riding. All the designs were unveiled Friday, July 25. Phil Ponce will test drive the new bike Monday, July 28, and talk with the designers.

Chicagoans love their bikes, whether on the lakefront trail, commuting to work or just running an errand. But urban riding poses special challenges, like potholes, and winter and navigation.

A nationwide, five-city competition is on to design and build a better urban bike. After about six months working behind closed doors, all five bikes were unveiled Friday, July 25.

Chicago’s entry, the BLACKLINE, was inspired by the City of Broad Shoulders and takes its name from Chicago’s iconic elevated train lines that run throughout the city.

The bike includes a custom steel frame with a 2” single main tube, LED headlight and side indicators featuring hands free turn-by-turn navigation blinkers on a custom Helios smart handlebar, an internal 3-speed kick back hub developed for the World Bicycle Relief program, and tool-free, removable front and rear cargo supports.

Chicago will compete against designs from New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Portland. Watch videos of each entry below.

Vote in the competition, and view a slideshow of the BLACKLINE.

Watch a video about Chicago's entry.

The BLACKLINE by MNML + Method from MINIMAL (MNML) on Vimeo.

Watch a video of New York's entry.

Merge - Ride Your Way from PENSA! on Vimeo.

Watch a video of San Francisco's entry.

SF: HUGE DESIGN x 4130 CYCLE WORKS' EVO from oregon manifest on Vimeo.

Watch a video of Seattle's entry.

SEA: TEAGUE X SIZEMORE BICYCLE'S DENNY from oregon manifest on Vimeo.

Watch a video of Portland's entry.

PDX: INDUSTRY x TI CYCLES’ SOLID from oregon manifest on Vimeo.