In 2014 I collaborated with TEAGUE for Oregon Manifest’s Bike Design Project, a five-city competition to imagine the future of everyday cycling. We called our entry “Denny,” and my focus from the start was simple: design a bike that didn’t intimidate people. I shaped the frame concept and riding posture to feel open, upright, and familiar — a stance meant to welcome riders who might not normally see themselves in bike culture.

Utility was built into the structure, not added after the fact. I designed the front platform as part of the frame itself, keeping weight stable and making everyday carrying feel natural, not like an accessory bolted on later. Security followed the same principle. I developed a handlebar-lock concept that let the bar detach and secure the bike — a small but meaningful shift toward lowering friction and making riding feel easier. That mechanism was later patented.

Like most prototypes, this one had experiments in various stages of resolution. One example was the silicone-brush fender system, adapted from a separate personal project exploring alternative ways to manage road spray. It wasn’t perfect, but a few more iterations could have had it. Someone even tried to make their own.

Denny won the competition through public vote, and a short film by Zeek Earl helped the idea resonate with a much wider audience. Better than the win: emails from people who hadn’t ridden in years telling me this bike made them feel like they could again.