.specials
MAY Ltd.
*Bicycles in Their Purest Form
written SARAH ARENDTS
In Zurich, a graphic designer began rethinking how a bicycle could look and feel in the context of city life. What started in 2017 as a personal design study became a refined approach to everyday movement.
The first models appeared in 2018, shaped by the idea that precision and simplicity can coexist. From this, MAY developed, focused on proportion, quality materials, and on clarity of form. The bicycles quickly found an audience that values understatement and careful design.
Since 2023, Alex and Timo have continued this direction, they work from Zurich, where they design and coordinate production. The bicycles are assembled in Portugal and distributed through warehouses in Switzerland and Germany. Each step reflects the brand’s approach, a timeless design and functional purpose.
The YIWU+ continues this line of thinking, its steel frame with lugged forks refers to classic racing geometry while adapting it for today’s city use. The inspiration reaches back to the 1970s Giro d’Italia, when bicycles combined efficiency with elegance.
The model is available in Petrol Grey and Chrome, the frame weighs 11.3 kilograms and is equipped with an eight-speed Shimano system. Slightly wider tires add stability and comfort in urban traffic, each element is built for function and long-lasting use. The YIWU+ is designed for balance, between agility and stability, between strength and weight. The frame lugs add visible reinforcement, expressing the construction.
MAY’s work follows three ideas of timeless aesthetics, functional design and direct production. Timeless aesthetics remove everything unnecessary and keep what defines the bicycle’s character, functional design connects form and performance and components such as the 8-speed shifting or the precise welds are chosen for reliability and clean execution.
Direct production means involvement at every stage, ensuring traceable quality and consistent results.
The YIWU+ moves easily through the city, the gearing responds directly, the frame stays quiet and stable, and the proportions feel deliberate. MAY keeps refining the way a bicycle moves, shaping a rhythm where design and use merge into one continuous experience. Enjoy Yourself.
MAY - Minimalist City Bicycles
www.may-ltd.com
Operating from Zurich, Switzerland
Assembly: Portugal
Models: YIWU+ (Petrol Grey | Chrome) • YIWU (Chrome | Night Blue | Bordeaux | Rosé Pearl)