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The Official Eurobike Newspaper | www.bikeshowdaily.com September 4, 2019
WEDNESDAY
INSIDE:
Latest news
Show highlights
What’s on today
PRODUCT
ROUNDUPS:
Road apparel
Heavy-duty e-cargo bikes
Mid-drive systems
Backpacks
e-SUVs
Micromobility
Bags & panniers
Gloves
Wednesday, September 4, 2019 3
CONTACT US TABLE OF CONTENTS
A good check-up
Advertising Editorial Healthy 2019 bike sales in Germany bode well for Eurobike ........................................ 4
Tom Kavanagh, Publisher Doug McClellan, Editor in Chief
tom@bikeshowdaily.com eurobikeshowdaily@gmail.com
Day 1 events
There’s a lot going on during the opening day of Eurobike ........................................ 5
Eurobike connects
Eurobike launches an industry networking and matchmaking platform ................ 6
Pexco is ready for its close-up
The new bike company brings its wares to Eurobike ................................................. 10
Greyp has a grip on connectivity
Croatian e-bike company is run by coders, not hardcore riders .............................12
Taking the rental market by storm
TODAY
From nowhere, Greenstorm now dominates the e-bike rental market .............. 14
Heavy cargo
Commercial e-cargo bikes are poised to go big ...........................................................20
September 4 Mid-drives from the market leaders
FRIEDRICHSHAFEN Bosch, Brose, Shimano and Yamaha work to stay ahead of the pack ................. 24
23 C (73 F)
Mid-drives from the challengers
0 0 The e-bike boom leaves room for mid-drive upstarts ............................................... 26
More is more for these e-SUVs
Sunny Plush, versatile e-bikes vie to be car replacements ................................................... 28
There’s nothing small about micromobility
E-scooter exhibitors reflect Eurobike’s new focus on mobility .............................. 32
TONIGHT TOMORROW
Bikewear that can take the heat
10 C (50 F) 17 C (62 F) Apparel brands help cyclists cope with scorching summers .................................. 34
0 0 0
0
Mostly Cloudy Showers A business revolution
Eurobike hosts its inaugural Bike Biz Revolution conference ................................. 64
A GUIDE TO EUROBIKE STAND NUMBERS
A & B = MAIN INDOOR HALLS
DA = DEMO AREA EXHIBITORS COURTS
FG = OUTDOOR AREA WEST (“FREIGELÄNDE WEST”)
FG-0 = OUTDOOR AREA EAST (“FREIGELÄNDE OST”) INCLUDING DA
FW = FOYER WEST
F0 = FOYER EAST
ÜO = PASSAGE EAST (”ÜBERGANG OST”)
4 EUROBIKE SHOW DAILY Wednesday, September 4, 2019
STRONG 2019 GERMAN
BIKE SALES BODE
WELL FOR EUROBIKE
If the bike market is healthy, so is EUROBIKE — and
this year the bike market is very healthy, especially in
Germany.
Germany, the biggest bike market in the country rose by 6.1 percent in the
the European Union, is on track to sell first half, according to the country’s
at least 1.1 million electric bikes this Federal Statistical Office, with e-bikes
year, surpassing the 1 million mark for accounting for 26 percent of the
the first time. imports.
Sales of all bikes rose by 3.2 percent Reisinger said the healthy exhibitor
in the first six months of the year, levels reflect the relative strength of
Siegfried Neuberger, director of the the bike market.
German Bike Industry Association “I’m quite satisfied,” he said. “The
(ZIV), said Tuesday at the Industry house is full. We have more than 1,400
Discussion Panel, traditionally held on exhibitors from all over the world.”
the eve of Eurobike. He noted that Eurobike has evolved
And that’s on top of 2018 results, with the industry over the years,
which Neuberger said was a “sensa- from its founding as a sports-oriented
tional year” for bike sales. mountain bike show to its current
Neuberger joined Eurobike head status as more of an e-bike and a
Stefan Reisinger along with Fabrizio mobility show.
Scalzotto, CEO of Bianchi, [B2-500] “E-bikes dominate the industry, so
and Philipp Simon, CEO of online they are also dominating the show,”
retailer Bike-Components, for this Reisinger said.
year’s panel. ARD-Sports reporter Scalzotto said Bianchi is debuting a
Bernd-Uwe Gutknecht moderated the new e-bike line at the show, a develop-
discussion. ment that carries some challenges for
Neuberger said sales of conven- such a traditional brand.
tional bikes are about flat, with growth “It means a double personality. It’s
coming from e-bikes. “We think the difficult to convince the customers
bike industry without the ‘e’ has that we are a race bike maker and at
stabilized at a certain level, and that the same time also an e-bike maker,”
growth comes from the e-bike sector Scalzotto said.
— which is quite a nice development,” The new line also required new
he added. production techniques, he added.
E-bike sales of 1.1 million would “It takes a different kind of plant to
represent a growth rate of 12 percent produce e-bikes.”
over 2018, he said. Still, Neuberger Scalzotto, who took charge of
added, about 75 percent of the German Bianchi one year ago yesterday, said
bike market is conventional bikes, not he insisted that the brand return to
e-bikes. Eurobike after an absence.
“We have to keep that in mind,” The former general manager of
he said. “The largest part is still Fulcrum Wheels said he has attended
traditional bikes – muscle-driven bikes every Eurobike since the beginning.
— although by the end of the year that “I think this is one of the most
might change a bit.” important fairs in the world. I think
German bicycle production is also it is absolutely necessary to be here
growing, with manufacturers making to speak with people,” he said. “The
about 1.47 million bikes in the first half first decision I took when I arrived [at
of the year, an increase of 4.6 percent. Bianchi] was that we have to be back in
Imports of bicycles and e-bikes into Eurobike.” ■ DM
The Eurobike Industry Discussion panel on Tuesday drew a crowd of international bike
journalists.
LIVE FROM THE SHOW 5
WHAT’S ON TODAY
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 4
Show Dates: post them online and on the big bulletin
Business Days: Wednesday, Sept. 4 – boards in the West Foyer. 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 6 Conference Center East/
Festival Day: Saturday, Sept. 7 FO-106 Room Paris
Velomobile Show Bianchi press
Show Hours Vehicles that close the gap between conference – Lif-E
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. bicycles and cars e-bike premiere
A1-105 12 – 12:45 p.m.
All Day / Every Day Events Greenstorm Conference Center East/
Enter a lottery for a chance to drive a Room London
Foyer East
Tesla Model 3 for eight months, and Eurobike Start-Up
15th Eurobike Award
many other prizes. Academy Panel
Exhibition of the award-winning
Discussion —
products
A7-400 Innovation bicycle:
Thule product development
Open Air Grounds East/
Buy a Thule Vital hydration pack for through smart
Behind Halls B4 and B5
30 euros. All proceeds go to the Apa partnerships
Demo Area
Sherpa Foundation of Nepal. Recep Yesil, Coboc;
Around 100 brands will have road,
Marc Gillessen, Hermann
cargo, mountain and city bikes,
A4-303 Hartje; and Manuel
conventional and electric, for visitors to
Ortlieb Prager, Chike (In German
test on 10km (6 miles) of test tracks. SQlab debuted its first bike shorts at a press tour yesterday.
Jonas Deichmann prepares for the Cape with English translation)
to Cape Challenge of 18,000km (11,185
Foyer East
miles) 12 – 12:45 p.m.
Recumbent Bikes and Velomobile 3 p.m.
Foyer East/Eurobike Stage
exhibition Hase Bikes/FG-B7-1
LEVs @ Eurobike
The Hase Bikes Beast Show
Hall A1
Scheduled Events ExtraEnergy
Cargo Area/E-Mobility Area 3 – 3:30 p.m.
1 – 1:30 p.m.
See how cargo and e-cargo bikes offer Wednesday, Sept. 4 Foyer East/Eurobike Stage
Bioracer/A7-305
new solutions for urban logistics, along Kristina Vogel
Sharea — e-mobility, ready for you
with trends and new micromobility 8:30 – 10 a.m.
Franz Tepe (In German)
vehicles such as e-scooters. Hall A1 is Foyer East/Blogger Base 3:45 – 5:15 p.m.
also home to the increasing number Blogger Breakfast with South Tyrol Foyer East/Eurobike Stage
1 – 2 p.m.
of suppliers to the e-bike industry, Start-Up Award Pitches: 20 finalists
Conference Center East/Room Paris
including established and new e-bike 9:30 – 10 a.m. get 180 seconds to pitch their
Taiwan Excellence Press Conference
drive makers. Foyer East/Eurobike Stage products.
Updates on the 2020 Taipei Cycle show,
Welcoming Start-up Day with
and product presentations from Merida,
Foyer East networking 4 – 6 p.m.
Kenda, KMC, Buzzrack, and Bryton
Blogger Base/The Wriders’ Club Enervit/B5-207
The Blogger Base, supported by the 10 – 10:45 a.m. Italian Aperitivo in honor of
1:45 – 2:15
Wriders’ Club, gives international Conference Center East/Room London Francesco Moser’s 1984 Hour
Foyer East/Eurobike Stage
bloggers from the bike and travel Eurobike Start-Up Academy Record
Kettler Alu Rad new product
industries a place from which they can Workshop: What type of support
presentation
engage with exhibitors and visitors, structure suits my start-up best? 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
(In German)
track down trends, and post live on Guido Zinke (in German with English Foyer East/Eurobike Stage
social media. The Eurobike Social Wall translation) Eurobike Award Ceremony
2 – 6 p.m.
provides an overview of posts published
Foyer East/Blogger Base
with the hashtag #EurobikeShow. 10 – 10:45 a.m. 5:30 – 8 p.m.
Meet the Start-Ups at the Blogger
Workspaces, available for accredited Foyer East/Eurobike Stage Entrance West/Show Lake
Base
bloggers, have free WiFi, coffee and World Bicycle Relief – The Power of Eurobike Social Ride by Shimano
catering. Bicycles Take a 43km (28 mile) road bike ride in
2:30– 2:45 p.m.
Juana Gräter (in German) the Friedrichshafen area, followed by a
Foyer East/Eurobike Stage
Foyer West BBQ at the Shimano booth. Bring your
Start-Up Day Opening Ceremony
Service Area 10:30 – 11 a.m. own helmet and bike. Come early to
and panel discussion: Why Eurobike
The Service Area, started in 2017, pools VSF/FW-OG100 register
is focusing on start-ups
products and services to improve AGFW-BW: Establishment
Stefan Reisinger, Eurobike; Julian
the marketability of bicycle products “Förderkreis Wirtschaft” 5:30 p.m. – on
Pfeiffer, Eurobike; Ulrike Saade,
for retail and industry. Exhibitors can With BW Transport Minister Winfried Hutchinson/B3-207
Velokonzept. Moderator: Bernd-Uwe
help in such areas as merchandise Hermann and AGFK-BW Chairman Booth party, and intro to Racing Lab
Gutknecht
management, logistics concepts and Günter Riemer range
digital sales platforms, along with
2:45 – 3:45 p.m
insurance, anti-theft security and 11 – 11:30 a.m. 6 – 8 p.m.
Foyer East/Eurobike Stage
ergonomics consulting. The Service Rouvy/B3-110 Foyer East
Start-Up Day panel discussion: The
Area includes a lounge for discussions. New Rouvy App – Now on Apple TV Start-Up Lounge Bodensee
bicycle is leading the way — is the
New this year will be short presentations and Mac Networking party with a discussion by
bicycle industry going along too?
given during the day by Service Area 2018 Start-Up Award winners. Panelists:
Martin Obers, Swapfiets; Fabian
exhibitors. 11 – 11:40 a.m. Carsten Fongen, TriEye; Johnny Smith,
Auch, Magenwirth; Katja Diehl,
Conference Center East/Room London Velco; and Finn Süberküb, Trenux.
Door2Door; Geraint Florida-James,
Passage East Eurobike Start-Up Academy Moderator: Bernd-Uwe Gutknecht. (In
Mountain Bike Center of Scotland;
Start-Up Area Workshop: Legislation pitfalls – how English)
Philipp Kessler, Start-up Netzwerk
Some 50 start-up companies have start-ups can avoid them
Bodensee. Moderator: Isabell Eberlein,
small booths to show their inventions Dirk Zedler, Institut für Fahrradtechnik 6 – 8 p.m.
Velokonzept. (In German and English
throughout the show, while a bar and und Sicherheit GmbH Thule/A7-400
with translation)
lounge area encourages networking. (In German with English translation) Beer and networking
3 p.m.
Foyer West 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Hosting a party, an athlete appearance
Yuba Bicycles/A1-715
Job Fair Foyer East/Eurobike Stage or another special event at Eurobike?
Guided tour of Cargo Area for
Whether you’re looking for a job in Eurobike Academy: Why we buy Send us your information no later than
visitors and journalists
the bike industry, or you’re looking to what we buy 3 p.m. for the next day’s Show Daily at
hire, the Job Fair is the place to go. Patrick Seitter, Seitter & Partner (In EurobikeShowDaily@gmail.com. Please
Individuals and exhibitors can submit German) include your stand number and a contact
job postings for free, and Eurobike will name, phone number and email.
6 EUROBIKE SHOW DAILY Wednesday, September 4, 2019
FROM FRIEDRICHSHAFEN
TO THE WORLD WITH
‘EUROBIKE CONNECT’
Eurobike is adding a virtual component to the show as
it prepares to launch a digital platform to connect bike
brands with suppliers and other partners in the bicycle
and mobility industries.
Called Eurobike Connect, the platform yesterday during the Bike Biz Revolution
will launch in October. Participating conference. The German digital agency
companies will be able to make contacts, developed Eurobike Connect.
find suppliers and compare products, Other potential users, Post said,
but will not be able to conduct sales. In included representatives of city
effect, it will be a digital extension of the governments or technology firms. He
show itself. added that Scholz & Volkmer has plenty
“You have the possibility to make of ideas for added features, and said
use of the central platform in the digital the platform will evolve based on how
world, and in addition it makes sense people use it, and on comments from
to meet here personally once a year,” participants.
Eurobike head Stefan Reisinger said Unlike other business matchmaking
Tuesday. platforms, Eurobike Connect has no
Eurobike has been developing apparent plans to upsell participating
Eurobike Connect for more than a year. companies to put them at the top of
Officials say they want to “supersede search results. “We would prefer to
Google as the main source of information implement the next features to help
and developing business connections” companies make their information more
for the bike industry. useful, instead of having them pay extra
With a simple and clean design, the money to be ranked up,” Post said.
digital service allows companies to Messe Friedrichshafen has not set
easily upload information about their goals for numbers of members. Instead,
businesses such as product highlights, it is more focused on other indicators
media and contact details. Develop- that show how intensely members use
ers created customized search and Eurobike Connect, such as the duration
filter functions specifically for the bike of connections and the number of
industry, including a filter that shows contacts made.
which languages a member speaks. The platform fits with Eurobike’s
Companies will be able to subscribe earlier decision to open up some events
to Eurobike Connect for 690 euros (about to participants that are not exhibiting
$755) a year, but all of the 1,400-plus at the main show. The menu-based
exhibitors at this year’s show will approach allows such companies to pick
receive a free, one-year subscription. and choose among Eurobike events,
Other companies that sign up before such as Eurobike Media and Urban
Dec. 7 will receive a 30 percent discount. Media Days and the upcoming ASEAN-
Individuals will be able to upload their Bike show in Bangkok, which debuts in
profiles for free. October. ■ BS
Participants don’t
have to be Eurobike ex-
hibitors — or, indeed,
members of the bike
industry. “I would be
glad if strange and
‘weird’ people had
profiles there, because
that would give the
platform a different
feel than just a copy
of a physical event,”
Peter Post, managing
director of Scholz &
Volkmer, said at the
platform’s rollout
8 EUROBIKE SHOW DAILY Wednesday, September 4, 2019
GUIDE TO EUROBIKE DEMO AREAS
O/206
Csepel
O/405
Revonte
O/105
APM Marketing O/508
TQ-Systems
O/205 O/303 O/404 O/410
SIMPLON M1 PEXCO Brose An-
Sport- triebstechnik
technik
O/302
MERIDA
O/204 O/207
FLYER Panas-
O/104 onic
Stromer
O/208 O/507
Amper- Velo de
O/403 O/409 Ville
um CENTU- BULLS
RION
O/209
COMPANY STAND COMPANY STAND COMPANY STAND Barbieri O/506
O/103 YouMo
FIRMA FIRMA FIRMA Bikee Bike O/210
Heinz-
mann
O/100 Electric Bike Solutions O/211 Pinion O/404 PEXCO O/203
KTM Fahrrad
O/101 Coboc O/212 Alpine Riding O/405 Revonte
O/408
O/102 Riese & Müller O/214 Eurosport DHS O/406 SHIMANO Europe O/202
O/301
Continen- O/402
Pendix
Alber O/504
O/103 Bikee Bike O/300 Rabeneick O/407 LEISGER Fahrrad O/102
Riese &
O/211
tal Bicycle
Systems
Scandinn
Urban
Arrow
Pinion
O/104 Stromer O/300 vsf fahrradmanufaktur O/408 Pendix Müller
O/407
LEISGER
O/105 APM Marketing O/300 ebm O/409 BULLS O/401 Fahrrad
HP O/503
O/201 Carla
O/200 Storck Bicycle O/300 Kreidler O/410 Brose Antriebstechnik KETTLER
O/212
O/300
Cycle Union, Kreidler,
Velo-
technik
Cargo
O/502
O/101 Rabeneick, SWYPE, ebm, O/406 GLEAM
O/201 O/300 O/500
Alpine
KETTLER Cycle Union ZEHUS Coboc Riding vsf fahrradmanufaktur SHIMANO
Europe
Technolo-
gies
O/214
O/202 Alber O/300 SWYPE O/501 Aevon Eu-
rosport
O/400
Prophete
DHS
O/203 KTM Fahrrad O/301 Continental Bicycle O/502 GLEAM Technologies O/100
O/501
Aevon
O/204 FLYER Systems O/503 Carla Cargo Electric Bike
Solutions
O/500
O/200
O/205 SIMPLON O/302 MERIDA O/504 Urban Arrow Storck Bicycle ZEHUS
O/206 Csepel O/303 M1 Sporttechnik O/506 YouMo
O/207 Panasonic O/400 Prophete O/507 Velo de Ville
O/208 Amperum O/401 HP Velotechnik O/508 TQ-Systems
O/209 Barbieri O/402 Scandinn
O/210 Heinzmann O/403 CENTURION
521
ASE
Action
Sports
B5 B4
Electro-
nics
420
VICTORIA
c/o Hermann
Hartje
419
Hercules
520
Bosch
519
Argon 18, United
Cycling 418 ANANDA
511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 417 TranzX 416 415 414 413 412 411 Outbraker,
Rookey BicBuddy Cloud Bike freeflow VAZAL- Star Union Bafang Electric Profile 3t cycling, Open Cycle XCYC_excites BASSO Bikes YORKS OECHS- FINE CHEMICAL
Bike AB Wuxing (Suzhou) Design cycling LER
TEST TEST
TRACKS TRACKS
505 410 409 408 407 406 405 404 403
508 507 506 504 503 502 501 Fazua 500 cycle- Greyp Bikes Hase Bikes RTI Sports Pivot Cycles F.S.A. 402 401
WC
ExtraEnergy
Mahle Promo- iweech Krykun Private Denver Bike Fantic Schindel- GOLDEN Rohloff YOKLER Motinova HELM-
Services,
Mac Motor vec Company hauer WASH WHEEL CARGOBIKES
Technology AUSGABE
COMPANY STAND COMPANY STAND COMPANY STAND COMPANY STAND
FIRMA FIRMA FIRMA FIRMA
500 Schindelhauer 511 Rookey Bike 401 Motinova Technology 411 FINE CHEMICAL
501 Fazua 512 BicBuddy 402 YOKLER CARGOBIKES 412 OECHSLER
502 Fantic 513 Cloud Bike 403 Rohloff 413 YORKS
503 Denver Bike 515 VAZALAB 404 GOLDEN WHEEL 414 BASSO Bikes
504 Krykun Private Company 516 Star Union Wuxing 405 F.S.A. 415 XCYC_excites cycling
505 iweech 517 Bafang Electric (Suzhou) 406 Pivot Cycles 416 3t cycling
506 Promovec 518 Profile Design 407 RTI Sports 416 Open Cycle
507 Mahle 519 Argon 18, United Cycling 408 Hase Bikes 417 TranzX
508 ExtraEnergy Services 520 Bosch 409 Greyp Bikes 418 ANANDA
508 Mac Motor 521 ASE Action Sports Electronics 410 cycleWASH 419 Hercules
411 Outbraker 420 VICTORIA c/o Hermann Hartje
10 EUROBIKE SHOW DAILY Wednesday, September 4, 2019
PEXCO IS FINALLY READY
FOR ITS CLOSE-UP
It takes more than a year, as it turns out, Raymon. Husqvarna
to create a new bike company with global bikes are assembled in
Taiwan, and R Raymon
aspirations. models in Bulgaria
by Maxcom. “For two
At Eurobike 2017, Susanne and Swedish maker of tractors, chainsaws
years now we have
Felix Puello — who are as close to and other power tools.
been a major Maxcom
bicycle industry royalty as anyone — (KTM Industries, known for its
customer,” Felix Puello
announced the launch of a new bike KTM-branded motorcycles, should
said.
company, Pexco, at a packed news not be confused with KTM Fahrrad, a
For 2020, Pexco
conference. separate company that manufactures
is looking to expand
The Puellos had hoped to return the well-known KTM brand of
beyond its “home”
to Eurobike last year to show the bicycles.)
markets of Germany,
first models from the new company. All Husqvarna Bicycle models are
Austria and Swit-
But starting a new broad-based bike electric, while the R Raymon brand,
zerland and other
company, with three brands for aimed at younger, more price-sensitive
European countries
different markets, takes time. cyclists, offers a mix of conventional
where it already has
Although Pexco began selling bikes and e-bikes, including e-bikes with
distribution, including The Husqvarna Gran Tourer GT4 is an urban SUV bike.
in 2018, executives waited until this 24- and 26-inch wheels for teenagers.
France, Italy, the
year’s show, when they could offer a Husqvarna uses the Shimano Steps
Benelux region, parts
broader line to the global market. mid-drive motor system exclusively, the Winora name. Susanne Puello is
of Scandinavia, Poland, and the Czech
Their timing is ideal. With other big while R Raymon’s e-bike models will the great-granddaughter of Winora
Republic. Pexco will undoubtedly sign
brands skipping Eurobike, Pexco [B2- be equipped with Yamaha’s new founder Engelbert Wiener, and the
up distributors for other countries at
400] will be a significant presence in mid-drive range for 2020. The only Puellos had overseen the Winora
Eurobike.
the halls. exceptions are some of its juvenile brand under Accell.
The company is also launching a
The company is showing more bikes, which use a less expensive hub The Puellos were also the brains
new service app for IBDs, so mechan-
than 100 models across two brands, drive from SR Suntour so they can behind the launch of Haibike, the
ics can connect directly with Pexco
Husqvarna and R Raymon. The rollout reach price points as low as 1,499 Accell brand that went on to sensa-
employees for help.
of its third brand, R2R (for “Ready to euros ($1,680). tional success and helped drive the
Pexco is also entering the growing
Race”) has been delayed. ”R Raymon is the launch partner boom in e-MTB sales. Susanne Puello
new segment of e-bike leasing, which
Officials say Pexco’s top priority for for Yamaha’s new mid motors,” said at the time that she disagreed
it believes could open up the e-bike
2020 is to deliver on time. Susanne Puello said. “It’s a commit- with Accell’s strategic direction.
market by making access to bikes
“For us as a newcomer, delivery ment between us and Yamaha that we Several Winora employees followed
less expensive. “We want to make
ability is a central point,” Bernd Lesch, are strongly connected to.” the Puellos to Pexco.
e-mobility affordable to everyone,”
director of sales, said earlier this year. The first Husqvarna models were The name Pexco is short for “Puello
Susanne Puello said.
“To reach this target, we have so- e-mountain bikes, but for 2020 the eMobility Crossover Company.” Pexco
It’s a triumphant return to Eurobike
called ‘All Stars’ models. This selected brand expands into gravel and urban is a joint venture between the Puello
for the Puellos, who shocked the
range is going to be most likely in segments. “The expanded ranges family, KTM Industries, and Stefan
industry in 2017 when they severed
stock during the entire season.” means reaching out for new customer Pierer, the CEO of KTM Industries.
ties with the Accell Group, owner of
The Husqvarna brand is Pexco’s groups to increase volume sales,” she ■ Jo Beckendorff
flagship. Pexco co-owner KTM Indus- said.
tries licenses the Husqvarna name Pexco is even launching a collection
for motorcycles and bicycles from the of Husqvarna bike apparel, created
in collaboration with KTM
Industries’ motorcycle
division. The new range
includes performance and
urban pieces, including
co-branded products such as
helmets from Bell [B3-203]
and eyewear from 100%
[B4-200].
Astro Engineering
in Vietnam, a longtime
manufacturing partner for
the Puellos, produces the
From left to right: Susanne & Felix Puello, Ralina Mitkova, Ilie Mitkov, Nina Mitkova,
frames for Husqvarna and R Maxim Mitkov & Viktor Mitkov. Maxeurope assembles all R Raymon bikes at its plant
The GS4 is part of Husqvarna’s new ‘Gran Sport’ line. in Bulgaria. (Photo by Jo Beckendorff)12 EUROBIKE SHOW DAILY Wednesday, September 4, 2019
GREYP ’S E-MTB IS STRIKING, BUT
ITS APP IS GROUNDBREAKING
One of the hottest new exhibitors at Eurobike He added, “We connect the bike to
declares in its slogan that it is “not a bike the cloud and the entire internet — not
just for sharing purposes, but also
company.” Its young staff is more into coding to log the use of our products and
and electronics than riding bikes. Its new help optimize it, to do small software
electric mountain bike, while striking, isn’t the updates for the battery, or to notify
customers that a firmware update is
main attraction. Instead, it ’s the bike’s built-in available.”
electronics and the app that comes with it. Another difference between the G6
and typical e-MTBs is also invisible,
The company, Greyp [A1-502] hails owner’s smartphone to the bike. but significant: Greyp insisted that the
from Croatia. It’s a subsidiary of Rimac With front and rear cameras, riders drive system manufacturer open up its
Automobili, which builds electric hyper can record and share ride videos. In source code so Greyp programmers
cars that sell for 1.5 million euros ($1.7 case of accidents or other unexpected could modify it. Mate Rimac at the launch of the Greyp G6 in
million) and up, and has attracted events, they can also rewind and view The big names were unwilling to Croatia earlier this year
investors including Porsche Engineer- the last 30 seconds or so of video. do so, “but Taiwanese mid-motor
ing, Kia and Hyundai. Rimac’s 31-year- Greyp is now developing a way of manufacturer MPF happily agreed, so
Greyp engineers worked on the G6
old mastermind, Mate Rimac, has been letting cyclists livestream their rides. our coders were free to add functions
for about three and a half years and
called the “Elon Musk of the Balkans,” An embedded eSIM module ensures not seen thus far on a bicycle, and
unveiled it to the public this March, on
in a nod to the founder of Tesla. the bike is always connected to the to optimize the way the motor works
the Croatian island of Brac.
At Eurobike, Greyp is showing internet. with our own 700Wh battery pack,”
The company is working on other
its newest e-MTB, the G6. Extreme “With Greyp, it really is about said Irene Weber, brand and marketing
versions, including a more affordable
riders would dismiss the G6 as a bit the experience riding the bike and manager for Greyp.
hardtail, the G6 C, and a performance-
too heavy, with a geometry that is too sharing it with others, not just about The G6 is unusual, but the e-MTB
oriented version, the G6 X, with a
short and steep. But at Eurobike Media the performance. We are no hardcore it was derived from is even more
29-inch wheel up front and a 27.5- inch
Days, journalists — and representa- mountain bikers, but we are mad about out-there.
wheel in back. The G6 models will
tives of other brands — were most digital technology and we are not That bike, the G12, is a wild cross-
retail for prices ranging from 6,499 to
impressed with the Greyp app. afraid to use it,” said Zvonimir Sucic, breed between a pedal-driven bike and
7,499 euros. Owners will need to buy a
While most e-bike displays tell the chief technology officer of Greyp. an electric motocross machine. It was
separate plan from T-Mobile for mobile
rider how much range is left, the G6 Sucic is particularly proud of the a passion project of one of Rimac’s first
services delivered through the eSIM
displays what Greyp calls the “reach eSIM chip, which today is used by employees, who had been working on it
chip.
potato” — a graphic visualization of the only a handful of high-end carmakers, in his spare time.
Greyp is also taking an unconven-
remaining range that is overlaid on a including Tesla, BMW and, of course, The employee called it the
tional approach to distribution. It is
map of the area. (And, yes, the shape Rimac. Greyborg. Rimac was fascinated by its
skipping national distributors to work
can somewhat resemble a potato.) “While other manufacturers ride dynamics and decided to put the
directly with bicycle retailers. And it
A “kill switch” lets the owner connect their e-bikes to the owner’s Greyborg into production through a
is exploring retail channels outside of
remotely shut down the drive system smartphone, that is just one tiny aspect new subsidiary. Rimac called the new
cycling. To promote the eSIM card, for
on a stolen G6. The only way to restore for us, as the smartphone is the bike’s company Greyp in a nod to “Greyborg.”
example, T-Mobile will sell the G6 bike
the bike’s function is to plug the display anyway,” Sucic explained. Greyp now employs a staff of 70,
at select shops in Germany, starting
22 of whom are programmers or IT
this month. ■ LvR
specialists (compare that ratio to most
bike brands).
The G12 delivers electric support
up to a speed of 70 kph (43.5 mph),
powered by a rear hub motor that
cranks out a humongous 12kW of
power. You can buy one today for as
little as 9,000 euros.
“As the G12 could only be ridden on
private property, sales were limited to
rich people who bought a hyper car
from us and a G12 to go with it,” Rimac
said. “So we decided to scale down the
G12 in order to bring a product to the
market that complied with all relevant
regulations and thus could be sold as a
normal e-mountain bike.” The G6 app is one of its most impressive
Greyp showed journalists the G6 at Eurobike Media Days. features.1/1 A-Pro Tech
14 EUROBIKE SHOW DAILY Wednesday, September 4, 2019
GREENSTORM TAKES E-BIKE
RENTAL MARKET BY STORM
A company that gives hotels premium electric
bikes in exchange for the right to sell their vacant
rooms has, in just two years, become one of
Europe’s biggest sellers of e-bikes.
Now, Greenstorm Marketplace refurbishes it, and sells it on the
[A1-105], formerly known as second-hand market. It then replen-
Greenstorm Mobility, is expanding ishes the IBD’s inventory with a new
its e-bike exchange program to IBDs rental e-bike.
with a program it calls Green4Rent. It By August, Hirschhuber said
will provide a fleet of new e-bikes to Greenstorm had signed up more than
participating IBDs, who can offer them 1,800 IBDs, mostly in the German-
for test rides and rentals. speaking market. “We hope to increase Greenstorm general manager Richard Hirschhuber poses with refurbished e-bikes he sells at
“While our IBD partner can get more this number within a short time to the company’s headquarters in Kuftein, Austria. (Photo by Jo Beckendorff)
customers interested in e-bike mobility, 3,000,” he added.
30 percent of the rental price goes into The company, in Kufstein, Austria, Greenstorm’s business model has details on specific investments.)
his pockets. The remaining 70 percent is already working with nearly 1,000 attracted a capital infusion from Bregal The program is so successful that
is for us,” Greenstorm co-founder hotels in central Europe. It provides Milestone, a European private equity Greenstorm ordered 15,000 new e-bikes
Richard Hirschhuber said. “If there are e-bike fleets, along with charging firm. Bregal invested an undisclosed for the 2019 season. The company
any repairs while these e-bikes are at stations and some electric cars, to the amount in Greenstorm, which works with a host of brands, from
the IBD, we will pay for the labor.” hotels that they can then offer to their Hirschhuber said exceeds 10 million Bergamont, Corratec, Cube, and Ghost
After an e-bike is used for no more customers. In exchange, the hotels give euros. (Bregal says it typically invests to Haibike, Husqvarna, KTM and
than two seasons or 1,500km (930 Greenstorm the right to sell some of between 20 and 60 million euros in its Raleigh — and many more.
miles), Greenstorm takes it back, their inventory of unsold rooms. partner companies, but declines to give In April, Greenstorm will startWednesday, September 4, 2019 15
reselling those 15,000 e-bikes on the The store will not only sell Green- the products on an online platform For Hirschhuber, Greenstorm is a
secondary market. How will it move all storm’s fleet of second-hand e-bikes, with a million-plus visitors a month,” big change of pace from his previous
of these second-hand bikes? but will be open to its IBD partners, he said. job. He ran a family hotel business in
First, the e-bikes have to be who will also be allowed to sell new In addition to working with hotels Kufstein for 18 years before founding
refurbished. Greenstorm has estab- e-bikes there. and IBDs, Greenstorm is rolling out an Greenstorm, with partner Philipp
lished a subsidiary in Slovenia, where Unlike other online merchants, e-bike rental program for corporations Zimmermann, in 2016.
it can repair and refurbish the bikes Hirschhuber says Greenstorm will not that it calls “My Job — My Bike.” He’s since sold the family business
cost-effectively. charge IBDs a commission on sales, Among the companies taking part to concentrate on Greenstorm, which
The more important part is the and will help them advertise through in the program is the big Austrian firm has seen exponential growth since
creation of a new online marketplace, Facebook and Google. Swarovski, a famous manufacturer of the company launched its hotel rental
which Greenstorm launched on Aug. IBDs will also be able to use crystal used in jewelry and apparel. program in 2017.
28. Hirschhuber calls the store, at Greenstorm’s logistics and automated “Swarovksi can now equip its employ- “In 2016, we started with four
www.shop.greenstorm.eu, “Europe’s payment system. Finally, and most ees with green e-mobility at most people. Today we have a total of 160,”
largest online e-bike marketplace.” important, “they will be able to offer attractive prices,” Hirschhuber said. he said. “Isn’t that great?” ■ JB
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Richard Hirschhuber considers 8 to nine to 88 can advertise for a day, and
be his lucky number.) winners 89 to 888 for an hour.
The second- and third-place Trade visitors can enter the lottery
prizes are intended for IBDs, who will throughout Eurobike, but consumers
receive a Green4Rent rental station who attend Festival Day are not
and four e-bikes that they can rent eligible to participate.
out for a year without paying commis- Greenstorm will announce the
sions to Greenstorm. The company winners about a week after the show
typically splits rental income 70-30 ends. ■ JB16 EUROBIKE SHOW DAILY Wednesday, September 4, 2019
BREXIT IS A CHALLENGE, BUT
BROMPTON HAS SEEN CHALLENGES BEFORE
With a British factory that can turn out up
to 100,000 of its iconic folding bikes a year,
Brompton is a strong player in Britain’s bicycle
industry. And while it faces much uncertainty
amid the country’s seemingly endless Brexit
odyssey, Brompton has overcome more difficult
challenges before.
Today, Brompton [A2-309] sells Brompton’s marketing department.
its folding bikes in 1,450 shops across In its home market, Brompton
50 countries. Its stores include 15 benefits from a rise in consumers who
flagship stores, called “Brompton are more concerned about the environ-
Junctions,” in major cities including ment, and from an effort by cities to
New York, Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, reduce car traffic in their crowded
Singapore, and Barcelona. urban cores and thereby reduce smog
All bikes come out of a complex and gridlock.
in Greenford, England, that opened Low-slung Brompton folding bikes
in October 2016. Brompton has its can be seen all over London, and
headquarters there as well as a factory hardly one bike is exactly like the Brompton’s new factory and headquarters opened in October 2016.
that handles everything from welding other. That highlights another of the
frames to painting, wheel building and company’s strengths: While the frame (1.09 million euros; $1.2 million). The wealthy friends and created a business
final assembly. and fork are identical throughout parts are stacked to the ceiling on plan to restart Brompton.
“While the annual production capac- Brompton’s model range, consumers heavy-duty shelves in Brompton’s Brompton, Chapter 2, was launched
ity of our new factory could max out at can choose from among some 16 mil- headquarters. in 1987 — in a 93-square-meter
100,000 units, the current production lion variations of colors, components, While managing Brexit is a huge (1,000-square-foot) building under a
is closer to 60,000. Apart from the and other specifications. Brompton challenge for British firms, Brompton railroad bridge in the West London
optional titanium forks and rear also produces special editions, such has survived more serious difficulties. suburb of Brentford. Ritchie tweaked
triangles for our Superlite models that as the sporty, well-equipped CHPTR3 Its story began in the late 1970s, in the original design to create the Mark
are being welded in Sheffield, the steel editions designed with former road the aftermath of the oil crisis. Andrew II, and the rest is history.
frames and forks are being soldered at professional David Millar. Ritchie, a newly minted engineer Today’s Bromptons are largely
the factory, with two production lines Brompton hasn’t ignored the e-bike from Cambridge University, wanted similar to the Mark II design and still
and about 30 frame builders working trend, either. Its solution is a typically to get people out of their cars. He offer a unique parking option — where
in our spacious headquarters. Most distinctive one that doesn’t rely on designed a high-quality folding bike the bike sits on its own and leaves the
of those welders have been trained well-trodden solutions from famous that he hoped would spark interest in rider’s hands free — between its riding
by ourselves,” said Tom Hobbs, who suppliers. multimodal mobility. Yet he couldn’t and fully folded positions. ■ LvR
at the time of a recent visit worked in Instead, the Brompton Electric uses convince Raleigh, then Britain’s biggest
a front hub motor that it developed bikemaker, or banks to back his idea.
with Williams Advanced Engineering, a In 1982, Ritchie founded a company
British company with a long history in with one other employee and made
motor racing. The motor uses a 300Wh about 50 of his original folding bike,
battery that’s hidden in a bag in front of called the Mark I. But a recession
the steering column. proved to be too difficult to overcome,
Sensors and the brains of the drive especially after a key supplier — a
system are also hidden in the bag British metal processing firm that made
mount. The cadence sensor is the only the main hinge on the frame — went
drive component that is visible on the out of business.
main frame. Ritchie gave up and took on a job
By relying on domestic suppliers as a landscape gardener to make ends
and production, Brompton has meet. Then, fate intervened.
sidestepped the ongoing trade conflicts A wealthy entrepreneur, Julian
between China and the EU and Vereker, docked his yacht in the French
United States. Yet its extensive export harbor of Cherbourg and saw another
business faces a different challenge in yacht owner pedal away on his Mark
Britain’s never-ending Brexit saga. I. Vereker — founder of the company
To hedge against the uncertainty of that makes Naim high-end amplifiers
exactly whether and how Britain will — wanted one of his own and wouldn’t
leave the European Union, Brompton take no for an answer.
With a range of colors and component has stockpiled parts and components Vereker tracked down Ritchie,
choices, Brompton customers can
worth more than a million pounds pulled together financing from other
customize their bikes up to 16 million ways. Brazing frames at BromptonWednesday, September 4, 2019 17
A SMALL DANISH BIKEMAKER TAKES ON
A BIG ISSUE WITH RECYCLABLE CARBON BIKES
Coh&Co Copenhagen is so small you can count same composite and
weighs a much more
its employees with your fingers and still have competitive 1.1kg.
a digit or two left over. But it ’s punched well The Erik, now in
above its weight with bikes made of unusual production, is distinc-
tive for another
materials. Its Wooca line, for example, uses reason: The frame
frames crafted of thin veneers of ash or walnut has one seatstay
interleaved with carbon fiber. and one chainstay.
That makes it easy to
At Eurobike, Coh&Co [A2-507] the end of the bike’s life, leaving the maintain.
hopes to land another punch with a fibers available for other uses. “They “When you
line of carbon fiber bikes that it says are not going to make new bikes. They live in a city like
are completely recyclable — thus are being downcycled,” he said. “But Copenhagen, and you
tackling one of the biggest drawbacks for once, we finally have a recycling ride 24/7, 12 months
of carbon usage in an industry that process that’s interesting for a few a year with winter,
prides itself on its environmental reasons.” gravel, dust, and
friendliness. Typical carbon fiber frames use dirt, nobody cleans
The recyclability is just one of the resins that break down only under their bikes until the
distinctive features of the new bikes. very high temperatures, imposing a spring because it’s
Frames are made of a combination of high “cost” in energy usage and CO2 just a horrible ugly
carbon and basalt fibers — basalt, as emissions. The resin used by Coh&Co process,” Cohen said.
in stone. breaks down much more easily. “An open chainstay
“It’s crushed-up rocks that have Coh&Co calls the frame material allows you to get
been melted and extruded into fiber, StoneWeave. At Eurobike, it’s showing in with a rag in 10 StoneWeave Mattis gravel bike
and then woven into a textile, just an urban bike, Erik; a gravel bike, seconds.”
like carbon,” said Paul Harder Cohen, Mattis; and frames for a forthcoming More important, use enormous carbon fiber blades.
co-founder of Coh&Co. “If you put raw road bike that are made of the stuff. the design allows the frame to flex in a Why basalt? Cohen says it is very
carbon [fiber] and raw stone next to At about 2kg (4 lbs., 6 oz.), the Erik’s way that enhances the bike’s response. similar to wood in its ability to deaden
each other, you’d think that one was frameset is relatively heavy. Cohen Cohen, whose background is in road noise, without having to rely
just a dirtier version of the other.” said that’s by design, not because of materials engineering, used to design on, as he puts it, “weird seatstays or
These carbon and basalt fibers the basalt. “We want something that racing yachts. He noted that Denmark rubber inserts or disconnecting the
are embedded in a degradable you can hit with a hammer. It’s sup- has a thriving composites industry seat tube from the seatstays” or other
resin system, developed by a Chinese posed to be used in the city,” he said. because it was once the world’s largest “active damping” systems touted by
supplier, that can be “dissolved” at The new road bike frameset uses the manufacturer of wind turbines, which bike brands. ■ DM18 EUROBIKE SHOW DAILY Wednesday, September 4, 2019
HUB MAKERS RUSH IN AS THE DT SWISS
STAR RATCHET PATENTS EXPIRE
It was 1995 when DT Swiss [A3-400] bought wheel giant launched its ID360 SRAM XD drivers.
freewheel mechanism. A closer look
Hügi, a fellow Swiss company, and expanded at the inner workings of these “Instant Taiwan hub specialist Chosen
its portfolio from spokes and nipples to hubs. Drive” hubs shows a star ratchet-like [A5-203] also has developed a star
But DT Swiss hadn’t just acquired a hub system with serrated interlocking ratchet-like freewheel system that it
discs. These come with 40 teeth each, calls TC, for “toothed coupling.” Its
manufacturer. It also acquired Hügi’s valuable resulting in an engagement angle of 9 serrated discs each have 36 teeth for
intellectual property for the star ratchet degrees. Mavic says its new freewheel an engagement angle of 10 degrees —
freewheel mechanism. system does a much better job of fast enough for almost all applications
coping with high torque. without sacrificing durability.
Shimano, [B5-300]
another heavyweight in the
OE market, had planned
to launch a star ratchet
freewheel system with its
new XTR groupset in 2019.
Originally, the ratchet-style
Scylence freewheel system
was designed for silence,
making no noise at all when
coasting and thus offering
less internal drag. While
Bear Pawls Clutch 24t schematic early samples of these
new hubs worked well at
media events, Shimano faced
The patent proved to be a boon More important, the star ratchet reliability and durability DT Swiss Spline 190 Ratchet EXP & DT Swiss Ratchet
for DT Swiss — even more than the system allows for simultaneous issues for production models EXP parts
company perhaps expected. It turns engagement over a larger area, and has shelved the Scylence
out that star ratchet freewheels are distributing peak loads much better hubs for now.
Other manufacturers rely on
well-suited to the demands of electric than conventional pawl-based hubs. But Shimano didn’t shelve its Face
conical springs or magnets to move
bikes and electric MTBs, which That allows them to handle the Ratchet system. The system, which
the ratchets, while Chosen opts for a
didn’t exist in 1995. That’s because higher torques generated by mid-drive uses angled serrated discs, offers a
compact tooth spring made of steel for
these freewheels can cope with the motors. tight engagement angle of 7 degrees
secure power transmission. And like
extra torque dished out by mid-drive Some smaller manufacturers such that should appeal to competitive
many other hub makers, Chosen says
motors. as Chris King, exhibiting at Cosmic riders. Since most moving parts are
a planar engagement is more reliable
Thanks to its star ratchet system, Sports [B1-308], Syntace, Newmen, made of alloy, the weight is attrac-
when increased forces and more
DT Swiss has found much success on Foss, and Tune [A2-301] managed tively low as well. Shimano offers the
torque come into play.
the OE market for its hybrid e-MTB to find ways around the DT Swiss Face Ratchet freewheel mechanism on
wheels and, now, for its e-gravel and patents and create similar ratchet its Micro Spline hubs for XTR, XT and
With the Ratchet EXP system,
e-road bike wheels. But its star ratchet SLX groupsets. While the Face Ratchet
DT Swiss is taking a less-is-more
patents expired in August, and a flurry system may not be silent, it offers a
approach to its top-of-the-line hubs.
of hub makers is launching their own secure engagement that can easily
Instead of two ratchet discs that
products based on the system. deal with high torques.
move alongside the axle with conical
DT Swiss is not standing still. It
springs, the inner ratchet disc is fixed
is rolling out the new Ratchet EXP At this year’s Taipei Cycle Show,
to the hub shell. Only the outer disc
system that it says is lighter and more the new Bear Pawls [A5-206] hub
moves along the axle.
reliable and adds stiffness to the rear brand from Alex Global debuted its
Because there are fewer moving
hub. “Tens of years of experience with Clutch 24t freewheel mechanism. It
parts, DT Swiss says the freewheel
this system are part of our DNA, and is clearly a ratchet system because it
mechanism is more reliable. And
it took DT Swiss quite some time and uses serrated discs for engagement.
Shimano Face Ratchet system because it permits the axle bearings
effort to get things exactly right,” said By using discs with 24 teeth, Bear
to be moved further outboard, the
Friso Lorscheider, a mountain bike Pawls has opted for durability and reli-
Ratchet EXP also increases rear hub
marketing specialist for DT Swiss. ability rather than the fastest possible
mechanisms based on serrated discs. stiffness.
“No doubt our competitors will find engagement — a sensible choice for
But the bigger players shied away from In fact, some World Cup mountain
out that getting 90 percent of a new e-MTBs with mid-drive motors. The
the challenge for fear of being sued bike teams are now using Ratchet
system right is not that hard, but get- Clutch 24t fits any Bear Pawls hub with
and labelled as copycats. Now that the EXP-equipped rear hubs with ceramic
ting the remaining 10 percent exactly an axle that runs on four bearings,
patent is no longer in force, that’s no bearings, usually considered too
right is the real challenge.” giving OE customers more options.
longer an issue because anyone can fragile for use on rough terrain. DT
The star ratchet system relies on
use the technology. Swiss opted for ratchets with 36 teeth,
ratchets instead of pawls for fast and Kun Teng [B3-503] is another
finding the sweet spot between fast
safe engagement. The ratchets — ser- Taiwanese heavyweight in the OE hub
Mavic may not be exhibiting at engagement and internal drag. ■ LvR
rated metal discs with interlocking market that has rolled out a ratchet-
Eurobike, but its wheels can be seen
teeth — make a distinctive rattling based freewheel mechanism.
on a lot of the bikes here on display.
sound when coasting. Its Disc Drive, or DD,
For the 2019 model year, the French
system features the serrated
and interlocking discs that
typically provide the reliable
engagement with ratchet-
style freewheels. While the
Disc Drive system does not
show up in Kun Teng’s 2020
OE catalogue, the QL-DD4MR
aftermarket mountain bike
hub comes with this variety
of the star ratchet system.
It’s available in a non-boost
version with a 142mm axle
width, and in a boost version,
with IS or centerlock disc Kun Teng Disc Drive schematic
Chosen TC components mounts and with Shimano orWednesday, September 4, 2019 19
THE LONG AND WINDING
ROAD TO BENNO BIKES
Samuel Weishaupt didn’t know anything about
the bike business. But he did know how to
convert delivery vans into tricked-out “expedition
vehicles,” rugged enough to tackle off-road paths
or beaches and luxurious enough to sleep, feed,
house, and entertain four people.
He set up his company on the In Switzerland, Weishaupt built a
grounds of his family’s century-old busi- bike trailer, attached it to the back of a
ness in Appenzell, Switzerland. His first small Suzuki van, and set off to visit bike
customer was Benno Baenziger — the shops. After he had production models
co-founder of Electra Bicycle Company to show, Weishaupt switched to the Land
— who asked him to convert a Mercedes Rover and wound up visiting about 200
Sprinter van into a “surf mobile.” Swiss IBDs.
Baenziger lives in southern “There were periods of frustration,
California, and he and his partner had but I didn’t want to give up,” he said.
sold Electra to Trek in 2014. But he was “First, I chatted with the dealers about
already drawing up plans for a new bike the Land Rover and the trip around
brand, Benno Bikes [A1-518]. the world. Then — very important — I
“While we were planning his Sprinter rolled a bike into the shop. The Boost
together here in Appenzell, Benno kept E quickly became an eyecatcher, and
telling me about his latest bicycle plans. the IBDs immediately saw that this bike
That’s when I first came into contact was different. Some guessed the Electra
with bikes,” Weishaupt said. background right away.”
Weishaupt didn’t think more about He began delivering Benno bikes
them until he saw the Benno Boost E in 2018, and orders doubled for 2019.
electric cargo bike for the first time. “I “In March 2019, we had 50 dealers in
thought it was really cool. I had never Switzerland. In May it was up to 55,” he
seen such a transport bike before,” he said.
recalled. Weishaupt has set up a duty-free
He liked it so much he decided to warehouse from which he can serve the
become Benno Bikes’ distributor for European Union, and currently distrib-
Switzerland, even though he didn’t know utes Benno in Austria and northern Italy.
anyone in the industry, much less the This year, half of the bikes he’s sold are
bike dealers he would need to convince the Boost E, about 30 percent are the
to carry the brand. eJoy — a more compact cargo bike with
He went about it the old-fashioned a step-through frame; and 20 percent
way. After establishing Benno Bikes the eScout, a rugged commuter bike.
Swiss GmbH, Weishaupt began visiting Benno Bikes recently received a
IBDs one by one and showing them three marketing boost when Air Zermatt —
prototypes of Benno models, including one of the world’s oldest helicopter
the Boost E. rescue services — ordered Boost E bikes
Although he was a stranger to the painted in its signature red and white
retailers, Weishaupt had quite a story star design.
to tell. From 2008 to 2010, he and a At Eurobike, Benno Baenziger hopes
buddy had driven around the world in a to line up distributors for Germany and
colorful Land Rover. At one point, they other European markets. It’s a good
had paid a visit to Baenziger, a distant bet he won’t find anyone as colorful as
relative, in California. Samuel Weishaupt. ■ JB
Samuel Weishaupt and his Land Rover, which he drove around the world and now uses to
promote Benno Bikes. (Photo by Jo Beckendorff)20 EUROBIKE SHOW DAILY Wednesday, September 4, 2019
OVERVIEW: COMMERCIAL CARGO BIKES
THE CARGO BIKE MARKET IS
ABOUT TO GET BIG — REALLY BIG
So many families are giving up cars in favor of Yet these XL cargo bikes
can handle loads of 300kg (660
cargo bikes that bike manufacturers can’t keep pounds) or more — including
up. Some brands report lead times of up to 25 cargo, bike and rider. Some
weeks for new orders because frame builders are governments offer financial
incentives for companies to
running at full capacity. purchase cargo bikes. For
example, the German govern-
ment subsidizes 30 percent of
the cost of a large cargo bike,
up to 2,500 euros. The bike
must be intended for commer-
cial use and have a minimum
cargo capacity of 1 cubic meter
Urban Arrow Tender Post & Parcel 1300
(35 cubic feet).
Regulators and the cargo
bike industry still need to Powering the A-N.T. is a fully
resolve some issues before the market integrated Erzmo MS1 mid-drive motor
can truly take off. One is a lack of with a built-in three-speed transmis-
suitable infrastructure: Nearly all big sion. Made by German supplier
cargo bikes use three or even four Elektromotorenwerk Grünhain GmbH,
wheels, so they need more room in the motor provides plenty of torque to
which to operate. get a fully loaded bike moving from a
Another problem is that the stop.
European Union has not yet set The front cargo platform holds up to
standards for such important issues 100kg, and the rear platform takes an-
as the maximum power output of other 60kg, allowing the A-N.T. to easily
an electric motor for commercial meet the 1 cubic meter requirement.
cargo bikes, or their maximum weight. The platforms have plenty of space for
Because of this uncertainty, some large modular containers of varying sizes.
bike manufacturers have been wary of To reduce charging times for its big
entering the market. 810Wh battery, the system runs on 48
Yokler U
Germany is in the process of adopt- volts.
ing a new standard for commercial One remarkable detail of the A-N.T.
But family-oriented cargo bikes are ies, including Stockholm and London,
cargo bikes, DIN 79010, and there’s a is its parallelogram steering system,
just the start. Now, the cargo bike mar- are restricting traffic coming into their
good chance it will also be adopted developed by a retired engineer who
ket is poised for big growth — literally city centers. That’s a challenge for
throughout the EU. previously designed the suspension
as well as figuratively. Many brands vans and larger trucks, which already
Instead, specialized manufacturers system for the iconic Porsche 911.
are rolling out oversized electric cargo have to cope with scarce parking and
have stepped into the breach. They The system places the pivot of the
bikes for commercial use, as logistics pedestrian-only zones.
include Rytle, which makes bikes for steering axle ahead of the front wheels
companies seek urban-friendly Enter these oversized cargo bikes.
UPS, and Velove, manufacturer of the to stabilize the trike’s handling and
alternatives for last-mile deliveries of They are narrow enough to fit onto a
Armadillo cargo bikes used by DHL. steering.
everything from mail to Amazon and bicycle lane and squeeze past traffic
Perhaps the most serious challenge
Zalando shipments. jams, and operators don’t need driver’s
has less to do with regulations and Urban Arrow, [A1-706] a
A growing number of European cit- licenses.
more to do with manufacturing and recognized name in conventional cargo
servicing, as Franz Tepe, marketing bikes, has reworked the design of
director for ZEG, explained: the oversized Tender bike that it first
SPONSORED BY “In a pilot study that UPS did with launched in 2017.
the University of Nurnberg, ordinary The original Tender has been used
cargo bikes caused repair costs by supermarkets for home grocery
exceeding 7,500 euros per year, and deliveries, and by other logistics
a lot of downtime,” Tepe said. “These companies for delivering parcels. The
downtimes are a serious no-go in Dutch cargo bike specialist used these
logistics. A cargo bike that cannot be real-life test cases to improve the bike’s
used due to some mechanical issues design.
WE BUILD YOUR BIKE equals a loss in logistics — even
without any repair costs.”
For its newest version, the three-
wheeled Tender Post & Parcel 1300,
Tepe added, “For these customers Urban Arrow offers a flatter cargo
Looking for a new Ebike supplier? Sample specs: GEM2701 we need first a product that has been compartment with a capacity of 1.3
We can solve your problems! Frame: Aluminum 27.5" fully optimized for reliability and util- cubic meters. The new compartment
We’ve specialized in the bike Motor: Bafang mid-drive motor 332, ity, and second a service solution that improves the rider’s view of the road
business for more than 25 years 250W
solves any issues quickly and reliably ahead; Urban Arrow’s original boxy
and have satisfied customers in Battery: Greenway 36V 10. 4AH,
Europe, Middle East, South America Samsung Cell to get the bikes back to service as fast compartment created a large blind
and USA. We can offer CKD parts, Display: Bafang LCD-Display DP as possible.”
SKD shipment, 95% assembly C18
shipment, from the Far East Brake System: Shimano Disc Brake That’s why ZEG is debuting a large
(without anti-dumping) or Europe. Derailleur: Shimano Altus 9-Speed commercial cargo trike that it designed
We can offer full QC check before from scratch. It has also launched a
shipment. B4-311
new brand, A-N.T. [A1-703] to produce
The bike shown has and distribute it.
one of our newest
The burly A-N.T. trike uses only
frames. All specs can
be changed a few components from traditional
according to your bicycles, including the saddle, handle-
request. Joyland bar and pedals.
Sports Technology To handle the bike’s 300kg capacity,
Co., Ltd. (China & which includes cargo, rider and bike,
Taiwan) the three-wheeled A-N.T. borrows its
wheels, tires and disc brakes from A-N.T. Cargo Bike
motorbikes.You can also read
