eBikes International Fall 2022

eREVoLUtIon

eMobility silver Bullets

The move is on as the e-mobility revolution is capturing the imagination of more and more people and businesses around the globe. Cycling and e-bikes are the silver bullet for the world of transportation. Sharing the stage are e-cargo bikes, poised to reach an unprecedented 500,000 units in Europe. Then there’s Canadian global leader Bombardier Recreational Products, acquiring Pinion GmbH and effectively entering the bicycle and e-bike markets worldwide. Meanwhile, Porsche has finalized its takeover of Fazua and plans to develop powerful e-drive systems. German robotics manufacturer TQGroup launched its new HPR50 e-drive system with patented harmonic pin-ring technology, touted as the smallest, lightest and quietest in its class. Don’t miss our Gear 2023 for the latest innovations, new e-bikes, e-systems and e-accessories coming soon to local bike shops in your neighbourhood. Plus, check out our indepth e-bike and e-cargo bike test reports. Then take a spin and enjoy the fabulous fall colours as another season winds down and we get ready for some amazing new opportunities on two wheels in the new year. – BAS

Pinion GmbH Acquired by Canada’s Bombardier Recreational Products

Canadian global leader Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) has acquired German drive system manufacturer Pinion GmbH and effectively has entered the bicycle and e-bike market worldwide.

Pinion’s innovative gearbox system is used by over 100 bicycle brands.

Founded in 2008 by Michael Schmitz and Christoph Lermen, Pinion GmbH quickly established a following. By 2015, around 50 bicycle manufacturers were using their 9-, 12-, and 18-speed maintenance-free gearbox systems.

In 2018, Thomas Raith joined the company that is currently based in Denkendorf near Stuttgart as the third managing director. At this point, more than 100 bicycle manufacturers from around the world were on board.

In mid-July, Stromer, based in Switzerland, introduced the ST7 as the world’s first e-bike with Pinion’s Smart Shift Technology.

BRP employs nearly 20,000 people worldwide, and its portfolio includes Rotax and Great Wall Motor Austria powertrain systems, in addition to snowmobiles (Skidoo), personal watercraft, on- and off-road vehicles, as well as pontoons and boats. With annual sales of CA$7.6 billion in more than 120 countries, BRP is now the new majority shareholder, alongside Pinion’s founders and managing directors.

European Cargo Bike Survey 2022 Projects Sales of 500,000 Units

The second annual CCCB Cargo Bike Manufacturers and Operators Survey suggests that up to 500,000 units are estimated to sell across Europe in 2022. The survey covered around 20% of the European cargo bike market, which anticipates sales of almost 100,000 cargo bikes this year.

Survey respondents indicated that the average number of cargo bikes in commercial fleets has more than quadrupled since 2019, generating €400M in revenue, employing 28,000 people and saving some 50,000 tons of CO2 per year.

Projecting across Europe, CCCB suggests that the segment generated €2.5B in revenue, employed 170,000 people and on average saves 302,000 tons of CO2 annually. With this kind of footprint, the cargo-bike sector could become one of the largest growth areas in green mobility — and the potential for expansion is far from being fully exploited.

Montréal’s Bixi Acquired by Lyft

In late April, Montréal’s legendary Bixi bike-share system, operated by PBSC Urban Solutions, a global supplier of bikeshare equipment and technology, was acquired by Lyft. This huge move is part of Lyft’s micromobility expansion in North America.

PBSC has 7,500 stations and 95,000 bikes in 45 markets across 15 countries; the acquisition will roughly double Lyft’s scale in micromobility.

In 2018, Lyft entered the bike-share market through its acquisition of Motivate. With systems in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, it has since doubled the size of its flagship New York City bike-share system, Citi Bike, from 12,000 to over 24,000 bikes.

Established in 2008 under the name ‘Société de vélo en libre-service’, Montréal’s Bixi was launched in 2009 with great fanfare and initial success. The new bike-share system came to Toronto as well, but in 2014, the parent company filed for bankruptcy protection amidst controversy. Soon after, PBSC was formed.

France Unveils €5 Million Cycling Rebate Program

Stromer ST7 is the world’s first e-bike with Pinion’s Smart Shift.

“Beyond our existing powersports and marine products, we are expanding our addressable market and entering untapped categories such as urban mobility and services,” said José Boisjoli, President and CEO of BRP. “This acquisition is strategic for us, as it enables BRP to leverage Pinon’s unique, state-of-the-art technology in order to spur the development of new electric human-assisted products. We are pleased to welcome the Pinion team.”

Effective Aug. 15, the French Ministry of Transport’s new €5 Million cycling subsidy program will come into effect. This eco-friendly and mobility-forward program offers €400 for the purchase of new e-bikes and up to €2,000 for e-cargo bikes. The rebates cannot exceed 40% of the retail value.

The program includes up to €3,000 per household, and up to €4,000 for lower-income households, for the purchase of new or used e-bikes for all family members in exchange for scrapping a polluting vehicle.

Lithuania has introduced a similar scrap-vehicle initiative over the last couple of years that has proven to be very popular.

While pundits support the overall rebate program, they note that at the same time as these subsidies were approved, the French government created a €4bn package for car users, including a €0.30 subsidy on fossil fuels.

Moustache Celebrates 10th Anniversary with New Gallery in

Frankfurt

Moustache Bikes recently celebrated the company’s 10th anniversary with the opening of their first “Galerie Moustache a 10 Ans” at the Alte Textilfabrik in Frankfurt, Germany, July 2-26, during Eurobike 2022.

Constantly supporting and working with artistic projects to promote art for all, the company’s French “Art de Vivre” led to some major artistic collaborations over the years with artists such as Philippe Starck, Lucas Beaufort and many others.

Moustache’s co-founders, Greg Sand and Emmanuel Antonot, had a cycling vision, and over the years the brand has seen big success and multiple awards from its humble beginnings in Les Vosges, France.

With a strong conviction for e-bikes and leaving the car at home, the company formed a long-standing partnership with Bosch, who helped the new start-up when Moustache couldn’t attain the quantity for a minimum order. Now 10 years later, the collaboration has been a success with 250,000 e-bikes being sold worldwide.

Gilloux & Göldi Defend Titles at eMTB World Championships 2022

Reigning UCI eMTB World Champions Jérôme Gilloux (FRA) and Nicole Göldi (SUI) defended their rainbow jersey titles

on Aug. 26 at the fourth edition of the eMTB event at the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships held in Les Gets, France.

In the men’s 7-lap race, Gilloux opened a gap on the first lap and kept extending it by 29 sec. over his compatriot, Hugo Pigeon (FRA), who won the silver, while Joris Ryf (SUI) took the bronze. Gilloux’s victory marked the first win for the host nation France.

New to the eMTB format, Peter Sagan (SVK), the triple UCI Road Worlds Champion, battled well but crashed and then slid out in a corner on the final lap to finish 16th overall.

Göldi was never challenged in the 6-lap women’s competition, winning comfortably over Justine Tonso of France in second at 1:15 back, with Nathalie Schneitter of Switzerland in third, another 10 seconds in arrears. It was Switzerland’s third world title at the 2022 MTB Worlds.

Taubik E-Bikes Now Available in Canada

Taubik has arrived in Canada, featuring different models from folding, stepthrough, mountain and fat bikes, all designed with quality aluminum frames and brand-name components at affordable prices.

Taubik is the brainchild of Gord Fawcett, and the company name comes from the word “tau” meaning torque in physics. Fawcett owns and operates several businesses in Ontario that are complimentary to e-bike distribution.

Current Taubik models include the new Blackburn step-through, the

entry-level Innsbruck step-through, the Bolt 2.0 folding model, the Westride 4.0 for trail riding, the Peak full suspension e-bike and the Soho 2.0 “Grocery Getter”.

All new models arriving feature hydraulic brakes — except the Innsbruck, which is designed for the price-conscious buyer. Taubik’s goal is to offer models in every category, with an emphasis on the step-through and folding markets.

All Taubik e-bikes feature rear hub-motor drive systems, with Bafang Electric on the Blackburn, and Sutto (sister company of Bafang) on the Bolt 2.0 and Peak mountain-bike models, while the Innsbruck is equipped with Jiabo’s rear-hub motor.

Taubik’s e-bikes are available exclusively at authorized dealers. For more information please visit www.taubik.com

Porsche eBike Performance GmbH Launched

Porsche AG continued its expansion into the e-bike segment, establishing Porsche eBike Performance GmbH as a joint venture with Dutch company Ponooc Investment B.V.

Following its acquisition of Fazua GmbH in June, the new venture based in Ottobrunn (near Munich) will develop powerful e-drive systems under the Porsche brand name in addition to distributing systems to e-bike manufacturers worldwide. Fazua will now be merged into Porsche eBike Performance GmbH.

Porsche’s Stuttgart-based P2 eBike GmbH plans to launch a new generation of Porsche e-bikes by 2025. In March 2021, the company launched the Porsche eBike Sport and the Porsche eBike Cross.

Jan Becker, the former CEO of Porsche Lifestyle GmbH & Co. KG, takes over as chairman of the management of Porsche eBike Performance GmbH. His counterpart at P2 eBike GmbH will be Moritz

The new Galerie Moustache a 10 Ans also celebrates the company’s French “Art de Vivre”.

Porsche expands its e-bike footprint. por S che

TQ-Group Unveils New Harmonic Pin-Ring eBike Drive Systems

The big news behind Trek’s new Fuel EXe eMTB is its compact and lightweight HPR50 drive system with patented harmonic pin-ring technology pioneered by the TQ-Group, a multi award-winning German robotics manufacturer.

enEWs

Failenschmid, who is also the Managing Director at Focus Bikes.

Independent of the joint venture activities, Porsche is continuing to work with its long-standing partner, Rotwild, on its current e-bike models.

In addition, Porsche Digital GmbH offers a platform for cycling-related digital services under the Cyklær brand. The multi-award-winning Cyklær Bike was developed together with Fazua and Greyp Bikes, a Croatian e-bike manufacturer.

TQ’s novel harmonic pin-ring concept, first introduced back in 2012, does away with cogs, belts and planetary gears in favour of a more refined system that includes an elliptical wave generator and two gears — internal and external — that sit on a central axis and are connected by a flexible pin-ring transmitter.

The unique e-drive system can achieve the required reduction between the RPM of the rider and the motor in just one step, with a reduction ratio that is about 1/3 of other systems, which need several steps.

With 50Nm of torque, the HPR50 motor boasts a torque density of 82Nm/dm³, touted as the highest e-bike torque density on the market.

Claimed as the smallest, lightest and quietest e-drive system in its class, the HPR50 tips the scales at just 1,800g, and it pairs with a 360Wh high-density battery that uses 50% less space for a 3.9kg package.

Integrated into the frame, the TQ display provides battery status, riding mode and available range. With ANT+, you can connect your smartphone or bike computer.

Porsche acquired a majority stake in Greyp back in Nov. 2021, while Porsche Ventures has held a stake of around 10% in the Croatian company since 2018. It invested in Greyp at the same time that it invested in its sister company, Rimac Automobili.

Timeless eBikes Launched in Canada and USA

In 2018, Ruff Cycles Inc. was established by Ruff Cycles GmbH to build the brand in North America. Following four successful years, the company is now operating under Timeless eBikes LLC in the USA and Timeless eBikes Corp. in Canada, to better serve their customers in both countries.

“I’m happy to add that these two new corporations will continue to be headed by Daniel “Dan” Gelinas, our partner and friend since we embarked on this electrifying journey,” commented Pero Desnica, CEO and founder of Ruff Cycles GmbH in Regensburg, Germany.

Established in 2012 with a vision for bold, iconic and unconventional bikes built with true craftsmanship, Ruff Cycles has grown its passion to become a hip-hop street culture lifestyle brand around the globe.

The Remote allows you to switch between the three power-assist modes without taking your hands off the handlebars, and a walk mode is also available. For longer rides a lightweight 160Wh Range Extender fits into any standard bottle cage.

The HPR50 tucks neatly behind the front chainring, similar to a regular bike. Its small size allows for a traditional 135mm Q-factor delivering the same comfortable riding position as a non-electric bike, according to Trek.

Thanks to the HPR50’s integrated freewheel, the Fuel EXe can be pedalled like a bike as no internal components run when the drive is switched off.

With roots in the aerospace and robotics sectors, TQ’s harmonic pin-ring precision systems have been used in the aviation, medical and space industries.

The release of TQ’s powerful HPR 120S, which delivers 120Nm of torque, means we can expect to see more from this innovative company in the world of e-bikes.

Giant Shell Oil Set to Launch eBikes via New Shell RIDE Subsidiary

While not yet officially announced, Shell Oil has entered the e-mobility market, following the release of two e-scooters. Shell is soon set to launch new e-bikes as well under its new Shell RIDE subsidiary via its licensee Lotus, reports Zag Daily.

With three models planned for the US market, the Shell RIDE SR-3B,

TQ-Group’s new HPR50 motor with harmonic pin-ring tech is the smallest, lightest and quietest e-drive system in its class.

A new breed of eMTBs that look, feel and sound like normal bikes but take you farther.

High Performance Commuting Made Simple.

The Stromer ST3: A thrilling ride with elite performance + dynamics. Now with Pinion gearbox, a durable belt drive and optional ABS. Arriving at your Stromer retailer in August, 2022.

#HereToChange: stromerbike.com

Interview: Mike Layton toronto city councillor

cycling, Bike Lanes, Activeto, eBikes and ecargo Bikes

Mike Layton is Toronto City Councillor for Ward 11, UniversityRosedale. Among his many accomplishments, he has been one of the strongest voices for cycling in Canada’s largest city. From protected bike lanes on iconic Yonge St. to making the city’s ActiveTO routes permanent, Layton is bullish on growing cycling’s footprint in Toronto and beyond. The son of the late legendary NDP leader Jack Layton and MP Olivia Chow, both avid riders and cycling advocates, Layton also championed affordable housing, the arts, Aboriginal issues, public transit, renewable energy projects, etc. We caught up with him for his take on the cycling boom and what lies ahead in these challenging times that have been good for two wheels in Toronto and around the globe.

Cycling’s in your blood as your parents were keen advocates and owned many bikes. What was it like growing up then as cycling was not as popular as it is today?

Mike Layton: I like to say that I grew up on the back of a tandem bike… Dad was always manoeuvring us through the uncertain cycling landscape at that time. Riding in traffic was always an issue — I remember riding down Shuter St. and feeling relief when hitting the Martin Goodman Trail. We’ve come a long way since those days.

You have a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies, so cycling must really hit home. Prior to the pandemic, were you seeing a change in the acceptance of cycling?

ML: While it’s been a surprisingly slower process than we’d have liked, we’ve seen a major shift in the last couple of years — not just with the number of people out on bikes but with the quality of the infrastructure as well. The debate is less about a fringe group enjoying a pastime or hobby, and more about a legitimate way of getting around the city — a welcome shift in public discourse. Yet it’s not a mindset shared by everyone, as bike lanes have been put in and come out later. We still have a long way to go, but we’ve taken some good steps in the right direction.

In 2020, Toronto saw a record 40km of new bike lanes. And in Dec. 2021, seven ActiveTO cycling routes became permanent — that had to feel good.

ML: Yes, for sure… the University St. bike lane wasn’t in the original plan. Councillor Joe Cressy and I pushed for it and

made some strategic moves, so I’m glad it made it. Yorkville wasn’t in either, and we had to do a lot of local manoeuvring to ensure it got in. I was quite happy with helping to shape some of the outcomes within my Ward 11 and beyond.

Protected bike lanes on iconic Yonge St. are another coup for Toronto even if a long time coming… your thoughts?

ML: Yonge St. came a bit later — and yes, it’s another great step forward. We were also trying to get a section of Yonge south of College passed. The approval of Yonge St. was like an ActiveTO 2.0… yet it’s a challenge, and I was hoping for a little more time for the report coming next year, but the Mayor’s office moved it forward. It’s never a good time to debate bike lanes in January — summer is always better.

What’s your take on e-bikes as they’re surging around the world… and how do we kickstart e-bike and e-cargo bike incentives across Canada?

ML: We made a request for incentives in Transform TO, our climate plan, to develop a program for rebates for e-bikes and bicycles, but that report hasn’t come back yet — we expect that it will be next term.

In Dec. 2021, Toronto also approved a provincial pilot for e-cargo bikes weighing more than 120kg aimed at commercial users… were you involved?

ML: That was my initiative, which was initially put forward for the city to purchase e-cargo bikes for maintenance. I introduced it because I saw a tweet from Don Iverson (Mayor of Edmonton), and they’re not going to eat my lunch on bicycles, so I stole the idea. Other programs were brought forward to facilitate the commercial use of e-cargo bikes like this pilot. What do you ride, and have you tried an e-bike?

ML: We own a Nihola e-cargo bike and it’s great… it’s our only vehicle, as we don’t own a car. This is actually our third cargo bike and the first two were non-electric. We bought the Nihola from a friend, and Curbside Cycle added the e-drive system — it has really increased our range, so we love it.

Thanks for your time and your efforts to promote cycling.

ML: Thanks as well.

Layton announced that he won’t be seeking re-election in October’s municipal election for Ward 11 University-Rosedale where he has been in office since 2010. We join the cycling community in thanking him for his dedicated service and contributions over the years.

Mike Layton and family’s Nihola e-cargo bike… “we don’t own a car.”

Mike Layton is one of the strongest cycling voices in Canada’s largest city. photo

toronto’s High Park controversy: Police vs cyclists enEWs

SR-4B and SR-5B e-bikes are designed for commuters. The SR-5B is Shell’s high-end model featuring 27.5″ fat tires, a 500-watt rear hub motor, a 48-volt removable battery and a top speed of 45kph (28mph) or 32kph (20mph) via a throttle. The SRP of the SR-3B at launch will be $1,199 US, while the two upper models will each retail for $1,899.99 US.

Toronto’s High Park became a focus of controversy in July as police descended on the park to monitor cyclists. Over 60 tickets were issued according to a report on CTV.ca. Many cyclists felt harassed while police stated they were responding to complaints.

David Shellnutt, a personal injury lawyer and cycling advocate who runs @TheBikingLawyer, a popular social media channel, sent an open letter to Mayor John Tory in an attempt to bring down the temperature and find solutions as cyclists voiced concerns.

There were further claims that a man, reported to be an off-duty Toronto Police Services (TPS) officer, assaulted a female cyclist, while another rider was allegedly hit by a TPS SUV. No charges were laid in both incidents. Mayor Tory responded with, “I support the work the Toronto Police are doing.”

Cycle Toronto, a local advocacy group, quickly waded in. A protest ride on Aug. 11 organized by Shellnutt saw approximately 400 riders. An open statement from Shellnutt, Lanrick Bennett Jr. (Bicycle Mayor of Toronto), and Jess Spieker from Friends and Families for Safe Streets, called for municipal leadership to implement infrastructure changes to reduce danger and conflicts for park users, end/review the targeting of cyclists, investigate other incidents, and refocus traffic safety enforcement against dangerous driving.

But incidents continued as police began ticketing cyclists on Shaw St., while a Kitchener man was arrested for two hit-and-run incidents that saw a pedestrian killed and a cyclist injured.

Another hit-and-run in High Park saw Marcel Zierfuss, a former top-level rider for Canada, the victim of verbal abuse. The driver then veered into Zierfuss and eventually braked suddenly in front of him, forcing a rear-end crash, a damaged bike and a bloody nose. Zierfuss said that for the first time he no longer felt safe riding in the city.

Shell’s jump into the micromobility sector follows its commitment to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050. The new Shell RIDE initiative has been spearheaded by Rahul Malhotra, Shell’s Head of Group Brand Strategy and Stewardship.

Canadian Cargo Cycle Conference: Opening the Mobility Toolbox

Our Greenway, in partnership with Coop Carbone, held its inaugural virtual meeting, Canadian Cargo Cycle Conference: Opening the Mobility Toolbox on September 20. The conference featured four sessions with 14 presenters structured around current programming, policy challenges, barriers to implementation, and the future state of micromobility in Canada for both commercial and family use.

Cries of a double standard arose when more videos surfaced showing Toronto bicycle cops failing to obey stop signs and stop lights, while cyclists in High Park and on Shaw St. were targeted for similar alleged infractions.

Shellnutt was adamant against the double standard, but supports the Idaho Stop, as it allows cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs, whereby they can safely bike through efficiently and at low risk — just like the Toronto bike cops did.

In mid-September, Shellnutt sent another open letter to Tory and Chief Ramer of the Toronto Police Services Board requesting the revocation of tickets previously issued in High Park and Shaw St., a thorough review of the merits of enacting the Idaho Stop, the diversion of available funds to Cycle Toronto to assist with safe cycling videos, and the promotion of safe cycling via their social media platforms.

Presenters included politicians such as Jessica McIlroy (Deputy Mayor and City Councillor of North Vancouver) and Kate Berniaz (Director Climate Action/ Active Transportation at BC Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation) along with representatives from private businesses such as Ben Morris (CEO and founder of Coaster Cycles) and Richard Armitage (Director at Manchester Bikes in the UK).

The successful conference pointed to the need for good data, focussed regulations, better guidelines and information, standardized e-vehicles, better communication tools, incentives for both the business and private sectors, and better cycling infrastructure that is networked.

The project hopes to advance cycle logistics awareness in Canada, and North America as a whole, with an emphasis on how to scale micromobility.

More controversy between motorists and cyclists.

Police in High Park monitoring and ticketing cyclists.

FUEL EXe

Small, light, quiet and natural.

Evolved to break the mold, bridge the gap, and elevate your ride with quiet assist that all but disappears in the woods. Fuel EXe is and the culmination of your every desire on singletrack. It’s an e-mountain bike that empowers you to do more, without interrupting the way you experience nature. Just as a mountain bike should.

It’s your best trail ride ever, with extra Fuel in the tank.

canada’s Bewegen Bike-sharing Introduces BeWagen ecargo Bike, now in nine countries

By jAck cRAckER

The new BeWagen with a load capacity up to 80kg (175lbs) is

The new BeWagen longtail cargo-bike, with a load capacity of up to 80kg (175lbs) for carrying children

groceries, meets evolving needs for more versatile transportation options in the expanding bike-share marketplace.

Founded in 2013 with a vision to bring cutting-edge options for active mobility, and sustainable transportation solutions to cities around the world, Bewegen is now the only Canadian bike-share company following the recent sale of PBSC Urban Solutions, owner of Montréal’s BIXI, to American giant Lyft.

With a range of self-service e-vehicles compatible with turnkey docking technology and designed according to customer needs, Bewegen’s e-bikes feature their proprietary Dyname electric motor, a 48V high-efficiency lithium-ion battery with a range up to 60km (40 miles), GPS, digital screen to monitor speed, distance travelled, battery level and more.

Services include customizable branding, design and production of complete bike-sharing systems, urban planning, system operation and maintenance, along with other options.

“We launched the new BeWagen from our booth in the expo at the recent Velo-city conference in Ljubljana,” said Jacques Dutil, Business Development at Bewegen. “Interest in our system quickly developed in Europe where cycling is more mainstream, and the company name Bewegen means ‘to move, exercise, shift’ in Dutch.”

Bewegen’s footprint in Europe includes systems in Portugal, Scotland, the UK, Germany and Estonia they’re even in Costa Rica. The company has made recent inroads into the USA and Canada with plans to expand across North America.

“We are indeed well-positioned internationally and have plans to maintain this development. Bewegen is constantly expanding, and we also wish to further develop North America beyond the systems we already have in the USA and Canada,” commented Tania Lacelle, Bewegen Brand Manager.

Based in Saint-Georges, Québec, Bewegen Technologies is the brainchild of Raymond Dutil, who operated Procycle for 40 years and acquired Rocky Mountain Bicycles along the way.

The company worked with Michelle Dallaire to design and create e-bikes, which resulted in their proprietary Dyname motor and e-drive system — both the heart of Rocky’s Powerplay e-bikes and Bewegen’s e-bike share system as well.

For more information, please visit www.bewegen.com.

Bewegen Technologies, a Québec-based bike-sharing company, currently with 30 systems in nine countries, recently introduced the BeWagen to its line of BeMotion e-bike share operations.

or

a welcome addition to Bewegen’s bike-sharing operations.

Bewegen launched their latest addition, the BeWagen, at Velo-city in Ljubljana.

Bewegen’s BeMotion e-bike… the company hopes to expand in Europe and across both Canada and the USA. photo S : courte S y of bewegen

WINTER

30th Eurobike Sees Successful Debut in Frankfurt

The 30th Eurobike saw a successful debut in Frankfurt with more than 1,500 companies exhibiting and 33,780 trade visitors. This was a marked increase over 2021 but still short of 2019 when almost 40,000 visitors attended. A total of 1,177 media representatives from 34 countries took in the 2022 show.

New Great Lakes Cycling & Walking CAN-USA Tourism Partnership

In mid-September, Trans Canada Trail, steward of the longest recreational trail network in the world, the Waterfront Regeneration Trust (WRT) in Ontario, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a binational Great Lakes tourism destination opportunity by 2024.

Coinciding with the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the initiative paves the way for crossborder trail tourism, the use and enjoyment of the greenways, waterways and communities of Windsor, Ont., and Detroit, Mich., the border cities on the Detroit River, considered the heart of the Great Lakes and a gateway to each country.

The binational partnership builds on greenway systems started first in Windsor in the 1960s and ‘70s, and in southeast Michigan in the ‘90s, in response to increasing public demand for access to the waterfront and active modes of transportation.

Messingschlager USA Has Exclusive US Rights to KTM Bike Industries

Following Eurobike, KTM Bike Industries announced that Messingschlager USA, based in Ames, Iowa, has acquired exclusive distribution rights for the brand in the US market.

Messingschlager recently purchased Cycle Force Group and its subsidiaries, including North America Cycles, which will be KTM’s sole distribution point in the USA.

Models will be offered at a variety of price points. Premium e-bikes are manufactured in Europe, other e-bikes are manufactured exclusively in Austria, while bicycles retailing under $1,300 are produced in southeast Asia.

Messe Frankfurt’s 140,000 square metres of halls and outdoor exhibition areas were bustling as beautiful weather saw the outdoor Demo Areas busy for test rides and other events.

The Cargo Area brought together over 50 cargo bike exhibitors. With two conferences, an exhibitor party and a cargo bike race, the area also featured for the first time a lounge and its own stage for an audience of 50 visitors.

The final two public festival days were taken in by 27,370 bicycle enthusiasts for test rides in the Demo Area, bicycle races and action-packed shows.

Prominent Eurobike visitors included Germany’s Federal Minister of Transport Dr. Volker Wissing, Hesse’s Minister of Economics Tarek Al-Wazir and State Secretary of Transport Jens Deutschendorf.

With cycling booming in Frankfurt, next year’s show is slated for June 21-25 and will dovetail with the National Cycling Congress at the same venue from June 20-21.

Next year, for the first time, Eurobike will also offer the option for tech companies to book a booth for the first three days only (June 21-23) in the new Supplier Area in Hall 9.

The apex of KTM’s e-bike range is their Macina Prowler Exonic, an enduro e-bike that features a Bosch Gen 4 smart system and SRAM’s XX Eagle SL AXS drivetrain.

KTM Manufacturing began in 1938 and started producing bicycles in 1964. KTM bikes will hit the US market in November 2022 with full availability and assortment by spring 2023. For more information, visit www.nacycles.com

Largest Ever GPS Bicycle vs Climate Change

An Anglo-Italian pair of cyclists undertook a 4,500-mile cycling adventure with their dog, through seven countries, and created the largest GPS drawing ever made — a 600mile wide bicycle across Europe — all to draw attention to the scale of climate breakdown.

The couple, Daniel Rayneau-Kirkhope and Arianna Casiraghi, gave up their jobs as physics researchers and began their journey in the summer of 2019 but ran into problems including a knee injury and COVID-19. The actual cycling took about four months overall.

The journey has earned them three world records: the largest GPS drawing ever made, the biggest GPS image drawn only by cycling, and the biggest bicycle ever drawn.

30th annual Eurobike debut in Frankfurt was a success.

Lots of testing amidst beautiful weather in the Demo Areas.

Velec Inc. celebrates Expansion with new $6 Million eBike Factory Headquarters in Québec

By BEnjAMIn sAdAVoy

Velec Inc., the Québec-based company that has been designing and selling e-bikes since 2005, recently hosted a soirée for about 100 guests to celebrate the opening of its new head office at its custom-built commercial building in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, about one hour east of Montréal.

Following exponential growth that resulted in a drastic increase in sales, accelerated by the recent e-bike boom, the company’s Verdun office was no longer suitable. Founder Michel Leblanc, a dynamic Québec business leader, took his vision for Velec Inc. to the next level.

Following an investment of around $6 million, without provincial funding assistance, the concept of their new home took shape, as the 28,000-square-foot facility was finished in 2021 and became operational at the beginning of 2022.

Like most bicycles in the North American market, Velec’s e-bikes are manufactured and assembled in China. While the company oversees the design, manufacturing and quality control process, Leblanc hopes to bring more of the manufacturing process, including frames and batteries, to Québec.

Included in Leblanc’s plans are a future research and innovation centre for electric bicycles, and with this in mind, the company has the possibility of an additional 17,000 square feet of space at their new head office.

With about 15 full-time employees and a strong foothold in Québec, and a total of about 300 dealers across Canada,

Velec Inc. plans to expand its footprint in other provinces and into the USA as well.

All nine models in their line-up are urban e-bikes with retail prices ranging from $2,000 to just over $4,000. The Citi Family series includes three models with a sleek, ultralight design, integrated battery and a discreet rear-wheel motor; the A2 Family features more entry-level, step-through models, with powerful rear-hub motors as well; the R48 Family

Velec celebrates their expansion and new factory headquarters with a soirée for about 100 guests.

Velec Inc.’s founder and owner, Michel Leblanc.

photo S b enjamin Sadavoy

offers two upscale, step-through models with more powerful mid-drive 450W motors; the Folding Bikes include two stylish models with 350W and 500W motor options.

“After 17 years it’s a dream come true,” said Leblanc, whose background is in IT and telecommunications. “The popularity of e-bikes as a leisure activity and as a means of transportation is expanding in Québec and around the world, and we’re excited to be part of this great cycling adventure.”

To date, Velec Inc. claims over 100,000 e-bikes have been sold, and as sales continue to rise each year, the company’s move is timely as e-bike popularity shows no signs of slowing down.

The new building includes a presentation and showroom, offices for administration, sales and marketing, as well as a workshop for technical support and maintenance and repairs, distribution and warehouse space.

The facility even boasts a recreational and fitness room for employees.

The future looks bright for this innovative Québec-based Canadian entrepreneurial company that sees the estimated $35 billion global e-bike market as an opportunity to be explored for years to come.

For more information, please visit www.velec.ca

Velec’s new $6 million custom-built 28,000 square foot factory.

Velec’s popular Citi Family line of e-bikes on display.

State-of-the-art storage capacity built with expansion in mind.

Bosch eBike Systems 2023

Bosch innovations for 2023 include a new expanded ABS system for safer braking in all e-bike categories, along with eBike Alarm, Cargo mode, Auto mode, Hill Stop and more features to further support their Smart System Flow app introduced last year.

Developed in close cooperation with Magura, the new ABS plays a central role via their Smart System to deliver safer braking on different surfaces for all e-bike categories.

Wheel speed sensors monitor the speed of the wheels to help prevent locking of the front wheel by controlling braking pressure to improve stability and steerability, particularly on slippery surfaces.

Plus, the new rear wheel lift control reduces the possibility of unwanted lifting of the rear wheel in the event of extreme overbraking of the front wheel, reducing the likelihood of being ejected over the handlebars.

New ABS Cargo was specifically designed to meet the requirements and demands of e-cargo bikes to enable faster, safer and more accurate braking when doing regular tasks such as shopping or dropping off kids at daycare.

Developed in collaboration with eMTB athletes, Bosch’s

new ABS Trail system makes braking on difficult terrain easier for newcomers, casual bikers and trail enthusiasts alike. The new braking system helps riders refine their technique and performance on trails.

The Bosch Kiox 300 display unit can be utilized to retrieve information about braking behaviour to help analyze habits, such as braking distance and braking time on different surfaces, to help improve overall performance.

Also new for 2023, the Cargo Line drive unit, with a torque of up to 85Nm, is now available with the Smart System for more options and natural support in all riding situations.

Developed specifically for this drive unit, the new Cargo Mode offers support of up to 400% of the power output to ensure smooth starting and acceleration even when carrying a full load.

Another new integrated feature is the Hill Hold function that automatically prevents your e-bike from rolling backwards or downhill when pushing it uphill.

Auto mode is also new via the Smart System — it automatically provides support based on the environmental conditions, i.e., if there are headwinds or uphill gradients, you don’t have to switch riding support levels.

The new anti-theft protection eBike Alarm works in conjunction with the new ConnectModule, and the eBike Lock introduced last year with the Smart System. The new alarm

For 2023, Bosch focuses on sustainable and safe mobility with more features to support their Smart System Flow app introduced last year.

Bosch eBike Smart System with new Flow App features for 2023.

New anti-theft protection.

warns you in the event of an attempted theft, as it allows the position of your e-bike to be determined and thus ensures more secure parking. Also new for 2023, Bosch’s Performance Line and Performance Line Speed drive units are now available on e-bikes with the Smart System. In addition, the PowerTubes 500 and 625 and the PowerPacks 545 and 725 offer optimal energy content.

For longer transport distances, the PowerPack 725 battery delivers the highest energy content of all Bosch battery units to enable particularly long-range rides, even with a heavy load.

Finally, the new System Controller and Mini Remote control units for 2023 are ideal for sporty riding and offer a minimalist and clean look.

Bosch Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition New Drive Unit for eMTB Racing

Bosch’s new Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition was developed with professional athletes and features a new Race mode that offers up to 400% of direct support so riders can maximize performance up to the power-assist cut-off at 32kph (20 mph).

Bosch’s new Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition.

New ABS Cargo was specifically designed to meet the requirements and demands of e-cargo bikes.

According to Bosch, only riders with precise riding skills can control the direct response and power of Race mode. With 85Nm of torque, the CX Race Limited Edition offers maximum power for acceleration in all situations, whether after tight corners, hairpin turns or obstacles — which can be a decisive competitive advantage. Even at cadences over 120rpm, the powerful motor provides explosive support.

At 6.1 pounds, the new drive unit is the lightest drive in the entire Bosch portfolio. The familiar Extended Boost of the eMTB mode has also received an upgrade, and this extra thrust concept has been further extended in Race mode so that large boulders, roots or steps can be skillfully, and more easily, overcome. In addition, Race mode can be adjusted in the eBike Flow app to change the strength of support, dynamics, maximum speed and maximum torque.

Bosch’s new revolutionary ABS Trail for e-mountain bike athletes.

The Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition unfolds its full potential in demanding eMTB races.

In recent years, Bosch eBike Systems has played a decisive role in eMTB racing, as evidenced by more than 60 podium finishes in eMTB races around the world this season alone. The company has also been instrumental in creating the right framework for professional races such as the Enduro World Series (EWS-E).

Mountain biking is deeply rooted in the DNA of Bosch eBike Systems. The Performance Line CX was the first e-bike drive specifically made for eMTBs in 2014, and the 2018 eMTB mode continues the tradition.

Shimano’s all-new EP6 series brings the same natural feel & performance of the high-end EP8 platform to a mid-level price point.

Shimano for 2023

For 2023, Shimano expands its EP platform along with new features and functions, including the introduction of two new eMTB-specific Deore XT Di2 drivetrains plus the new CUES Di2 for lifestyle e-bike platforms. In addition, the company has partnered with Blubrake for a new Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).

The all-new EP600 series drive unit delivers the same natural ride feel and performance of its higher-end EP8 platform but at a mid-level price point. Featuring 85Nm of torque and a continuous rated power of 250 watts, it has a total weight of 3kg and power assist up to 28mph (45kph) for US Class 3-rated e-bikes.

For 2023, the proven EP8 drive unit receives updates and expanded capabilities with the introduction of the latest EP801 version featuring 250 watts, 85Nm of torque, assist up to 28mph (45kph) for US Class 3 e-bikes, and a total weight of 2.7kg.

In collaboration with the all-new EP6 and updated EP801, Shimano is introducing two new e-bike-specific Deore XT Di2 drivetrains to unlock its Free Shift and Auto Shift with Manual Override technologies, for expanded functionality and an enhanced eMTB riding experience.

Free Shift is an all-new shifting mode for eMTB that allows riders to make gear changes without pedalling, as the new XT Di2 system prompts the EP drive unit to simultaneously advance the drivetrain at the chainring.

The new Auto Shift with Manual Override automatically shifts gears for you. Utilizing Shimano’s Linkglide drivetrain technology paired with Di2, the system can make predictive gear changes based on your speed and cadence, inspiring a smooth, uninterrupted ride experience.

In addition, the E6 and EP8 series both include CAN accessory ports, delivering future-proof compatibility. Other features include the all-new Fine Tune Mode on the E-Tube

The new e-bikespecific CUES Di2 for top-tier lifestyle drivetrains.

Project app for power profile customization.

Also new for 2023 is the CUES Di2 drivetrain, which brings top-tier shifting technology and long-lasting, smooth shifting Linkglide durability to lifestyle e-bikes.

The new CUES Di2 groupset also includes the new automatic shifting mode, Auto Shift with Manual Override, as well as Free Shift to deliver smooth, fast and decisive shifting, for a continuously comfortable cadence.

Shimano’s new Anti-lock Braking System by Blubrake enhances e-bike safety to help reduce common causes of e-bike accidents.

Shimano’s new ABS by Blubrake enhances e-bike safety to reduce common causes of accidents by helping riders retain bike stability and stop safely on wet or dry pavement and rough surfaces, all by keeping both wheels on the road and rolling.

A speed sensor on the front wheel monitors wheel rotation and activates the ABS if the wheel slows beyond what is expected for the bike’s speed. When ABS is activated, the system applies modulated braking force on the front wheel, which can reduce the chances of the front wheel locking up and/or prevent the rear wheel from lifting to lower the risk of a rider going over the handlebars.

Compatible with a wide range of Shimano brakes and e-bike styles, the new ABS can be installed on bikes with wheel sizes ranging from 16 to 29 inches.

Yamaha 2023

For the 2023 season, Yamaha unveiled its new PWseries S2 drive unit that’s much lighter, compact, and more powerful than its popular PWseries ST launched in 2018.

Yamaha’s new PWseries S2 drive is lightweight and compact.

Developed on the principle that “less is more”, the PWseries S2 delivers a torque of 75Nm and has an overall weight of only 2.85kg, making its torque-to-weight ratio among the best in its category. The 250W motor has five power support modes and a maximum speed of 25kph.

The PWseries S2 also features a 22.8mm shorter bottom bracket, which improves efficiency and feel, while the new ISIS bottom bracket interface offers increased rigidity. Fully compatible with a double front chainring, this new drive unit opens up new possibilities to bike manufacturers for sport and trail use.

With automatic assistance mode and Zero Cadence technology, the PWseries S2 offers an intuitive experience for daily commuting, hiking countryside, and mountain bike excursions.

Also new is a Display B unit that’s simple, durable and aimed at recreational cyclists who appreciate a “ready to ride” design.

Yamaha’s new reliable Display B with “ready to ride” design.

In addition, Yamaha is relocating production of the PWseries drive units from Japan to its MBK Industrie factory in Saint-Quentin, France. The decision to relocate not only contributes to the company’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, but also reduces the cost of transport and lead times while offering greater flexibility in deliveries.

Holder of ISO 14001 certifications, for environmental protection, and ISO 9001, for quality improvement, MBK Industrie offers the highest levels of service to its European customers.

Shimano’s new Deore XT Di2 drivetrain systems feature Free Shift technology and Auto Shift with Manual Override.

Bafang for 2023

Bafang Electric has unveiled a number of new products as part of a robust campaign to address the huge increase in the popularity of cycling across many segments.

The new lightweight M820 drive delivers a convincing 75Nm at 250W rated power at either 25kph, 32kph or 45kph.

The compact motor is protected by a magnesium housing for superior heat conduction, ultra-lightweight, exceptional corrosion resistance and vibration reduction.

A newly designed stator and rotor in the heart of the motor increase performance, while the narrow Q-factor and a newly developed ISIS standard crank arm transfer the rider’s strength more directly and linearly from the hips and legs to the pedals.

Great for eMTBs and e-road bikes, another great feature of the M820 is the “Rocky” boost function, delivering a push feeling for a continuous set period.

The M410 is an impressive lightweight makeover of Bafang’s M400 midmounted motor with 700g (18%) shaved off, now at only 3.2kg.

To further push the efficiency of the power increase, the rotor and segmented stator were revised, along with a reduction of weight by a full 500 grams (18%) via a magnesium housing, bringing the weight to 2.9kg.

In addition, the software of the starting characteristics has been optimized to provide a smoother and more controllable start. And thanks to the high sensitivity of the torque sensor, the M510 can pick up the right amount of power according to the rider’s pedalling force to dial in the appropriate assistance.

Bafang’s new intelligent 3-speed automatic gear hub weighs only 1.7kg. And with a powerful 80Nm of torque, it can be supported by both chainand belt-driven motors.

Bafang’s M620 e-drive powers heavy e-cargo bikes and heavy-duty tricycles.

This quiet, discreet, and precise automatic gear hub is particularly suitable for e-trekking, e-city and e-cargo bikes (reduction ratios of 1:1, 1:1.36 and 1:1.65, respectively). Plus, it can be used without any electric assistance on standard pedalling bicycles.

With almost identical 250W motor performance and a powerful 80Nm of torque, the M410 is a real all-rounder that’s multi-talented in all e-bike categories including eMTB, e-trekking and e-cargo bikes.

Also revamped is the new M510 with the same strong torque as its predecessor (the M500), but the overall torque curve is higher than the previous model for better performance.

Low maintenance and high performance, the new 3-speed automatic gear hub has precise shift points (25km and 32km) according to the wheel speed, thanks to Bafang’s exquisite clutch mechanism.

Due to the powerful design of this innovative 3-speed gear hub, it can only be integrated with applications equipped with disc or V brakes.

To meet the growth in the heavy-duty e-cargo bike sector, Bafang’s new 3-speed automatic transmission, with integrated differential mesh series and reverse gear, is also an ideal system solution.

Bafang Electric’s booth at Eurobike 2022 in Frankfurt.

The new lightweight M820 drive delivers 75Nm of torque.

Their powerhouse mid-engine M620, with a maximum torque of 160Nm and 750W or even 1000W rated power output, is ready to handle the heaviest loads on even the steepest incline. The system’s dual-sensor design delivers extremely sensitive responsiveness to give riders full control at all times.

In use with logistics companies across the globe, the M620 offers a great solution for powering “heavy e-cargo bikes”, especially for use on chain- or belt-driven heavy-duty tricycles.

Finally, the new Bafang IOT system consists of a module, the Bafang Go+ app and Cloud to deliver a new level of e-bike connectivity and interaction. The IOT housing is small, versatile and flexible according to the manufacturer’s frame specifications.

Using the Bafang Go+ app (currently downloadable in Chinese and English for iOS and Android), riders can control, customize, personalize and continuously synchronize and configure their e-bike in an intelligent and safe manner with minimal effort via Bluetooth.

Mahle X20 Drive System Wins Eurobike Award

Mahle Smart Bike’s X20 drive system won the new Innovators Prize in the Components category at Eurobike 2022 in Frankfurt, Germany in July.

A jury consisting of experts from the cycling industry, media, and outside of the industry, awarded the innovative e-drive system that claims to be the lightest on the market, weighing only 3.2kg.

The impressive M410 is a real allrounder for all e-bike categories.

Also new is Bafang’s IOT connectivity system.

New

Available information includes activity records, ride data, engine, display and battery information or status, anti-theft technology, remote-control bike unlocking, current GPS position, warning of irregularities, and fault messages (failure notice).

The system helps cyclists to analyze their riding data, behaviour and habits and store

their “bike profiles” on the cloud. Manufacturers and dealers can work with such “bike profiles” to precisely meet the wishes, demands and expectations of their customers.

At 3.2kg, the X20 system claims to be the lightest drive system

The drive delivers 23Nm of torque directly to the rear wheel, which is comparable to that of a mid-drive motor with 55Nm of torque.

Mahle also showcased its full range of smart accessories at Eurobike, such as the new e185 range extender, a great solution for more robust cycling adventures. Their new active battery charger is even faster and claims to be a better solution than other chargers.

“We are proud and pleased to present the innovative X20 which rings in a new era, because we are combining a lightweight design with aesthetics and customization,” says Jochen Sommer, Head of Mahle SmartBike Systems, a division of the automotive supplier from Stuttgart.

Mahle’s innovative X20 e-drive system.

intelligent 3-speed automatic gear hub with a powerful 80Nm of torque.

Mahle Group celebrates at Eurobike 2022.

on the market.

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Trek Fuel EXe 9.8 XT

Trek’s new Fuel EXe dual suspension eMTB ushers in a new HPR50 e-drive system with patented harmonic pin-ring technology from TQ Group, a German robotics company. The system forgoes planetary gears and cogs, while utilizing two circular gears that interact via a flexible pin-ring transmitter to deliver 50Nm of torque. Paired with a high-density 360Wh battery, the entire system weighs 3.9kg, the smallest and lightest in its class. The OCLV mountain carbon frame features RockShox suspension, including a 140mm Super Deluxe Select+ rear shock and 150mm Lyrik Select+ front fork. Equipped with a Shimano XT drivetrain and hydraulic brakes, and rolling on 29-inch Bontrager Line 30 wheels, the new Trek Central app allows customization. The SRP is $11,199.

Bulls Copperhead Evo AM 4 750

Bulls’ new Copperhead Evo AM 4 750 is a race-ready eMTB that’s spec’d with a top-of-the-line build kit. Powered by a Bosch Performance Line CX Smart System drive unit with 85Nm of torque to make light work of climbs, the 750Wh battery will keep you smiling for hours. Built with a 29” front and 27.5” rear, the Ryde Disc 30 wheels offer optimal speed and manoeuvrability, while the Suntour SR Durolux36 RC2 Boost 29 fork and RS19 TRIAir 3CR rear shock feature 150mm of suspension, coupled with a 30.9mm Limotec A1-Z dropper post to help soak up big hits on descents. Equipped with a 12-speed Shimano XTR rear derailleur for flawless shifting under load, the 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes round out this premium package. The SRP is $9,399.

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Moustache Samedi 29 Trail 4

The Samedi 29 Trail 4 by Moustache is the perfect all-round eMTB, whether for climbing up mountains or bombing down descents. The powerful Bosch Performance Line CX motor with 85Nm of torque pairs with a seamlessly integrated PowerTube 625W battery for endless smiles. The hydroformed aluminum frame is made up of varying tube thicknesses and is reinforced in high-stress areas to ensure a balanced geometry and a stable, reliable ride. The RockShox 35 Gold RL front shock and their very own Magic Grip Control rear shock, both with 150mm of travel, optimize handling. Equipped with a Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes, along with Maxxis Assegai 29” tires, you’ll be sending it over all terrain. The SRP is $7,999.

Tern NBD S5i

The new NBD S5i is Tern’s first step-through e-bike featuring an ultra-low 6061 aluminum comfort-minded frame design for easy mounting and dismounting. Plus, it’s easily foldable when you want to pack it away. Centred around a Bosch Performance line motor with 65Nm of torque, a 500Wh battery, and assistance up to 32kph, other comfort features include ergonomic grips, swept-back handlebars, a suspension seatpost, and wide 20 x 2.15” Schwalbe Big Apple tires. With a 5-speed internal Shimano Nexus gear hub, coupled with a Gates belt drive system for minimal maintenance, the NBD S5i is rounded out by Magura MT4 hydraulic disc brakes. Arrives in spring 2023. The SRP is $6,725.

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Stromer ST3 Pinion Stromer’s ST3, featuring Pinion’s Smart.Shift technology, marks a first for the renowned Swiss brand. The 9-speed C-Line Pinion gearbox offers reliable and precise shifting from a standstill or under load with a gear ratio range of 568%. The silent Gates carbon belt drive, is also low-maintenance. Powered by a SYNO Drive II 500W rear hub motor with 44Nm of torque and removable Lithium-ion 48V, 814Wh battery with up to 150km range, the OMNI display and controller keep you smartly connected. Rolling on 27.5” Pirelli Cycl-E ST tires, the stopping power is via Stromer HD942 brakes by TRP with an ABS upgrade option. Includes a Roxim Z4E Pro headlight and taillight, aluminum fenders, and a Racktime rear rack. The SRP is $11,399.

Ruff Cycles Lil’Missy

The new Lil’Missy is Ruff Cycles’ first e-bike targeted at women. This is not your traditional commuter e-bike, exuding attitude and style while also providing a functional and reliable ride. This eye-catching, compact build features either a Bosch Active Line motor with 40Nm of torque or their Performance Line CX motor with 85Nm of torque, along with the choice of a 400Wh or 500Wh battery. This intuitive Bosch system works with a 7-speed derailleur system and hydraulic disc brakes to provide a dependable and safe ride. Large, cushy Tyron tires also deliver a stable and comfortable riding experience. The handcrafted, step-through steel frame comes in a myriad of trendy colours to suit your mood. The SRP is $5,895.

Slane Midtown

Slane welcomes the Midtown to its new mid-drive urban segment. Powered by a Truckrun 250-watt motor, and a sleek integrated battery, it delivers linear power for an exceptionally smooth ride. Featuring five power-assist levels and pedal- and thumb throttle-assist, the handlebar display helps monitor your progress. The 7-speed Shimano gearing provides reliable shifting, and the upgraded Suntour XCT front suspension smooths out the trail. Whether for commuting or a leisurely ride around the neighbourhood, Slane’s Midtown does it all in style. The beautifully designed frame is available in black or white, and the Midtown XT (Cross Terrain) version is available in metallic blue or orange. For either model the MSRP is $2,749.99.

Serial 1 SWITCH/MTN

The new Serial 1 SWITCH/MTN is a very capable eMTB hardtail that is built around a powerful 250W Brose S Mag motor with 90Nm of torque and a compact, removable 529Wh battery. Equipped with a 1x12 speed SRAM SX Eagle drivetrain with e-bike-specific single-click trigger shifters, and an adjustable SR Suntour ZERON35 fork with 130mm of travel, the TranzX dropper seatpost adds to your comfort. Michelin E-Wild knobby 27.5 x 2.6” tires offer great traction, while TRP Slate T4 hydraulic disc brakes deliver stopping power. A proprietary BAF (Bright As F***) headlamp and high-visibility RAT (Rearward Awareness Technology) tail/brake lights round out this e-bike. The Serial 1 mobile app offers additional features. The SRP is $4,499 US.

eAccEssoRIEs

Pirelli Angel Urban Tires

Pirelli’s all-new Angel Urban tires are named after their prizewinning motorcycle tires, as both styles are made for optimal speed and handling capabilities. Three cycling models are available: the Angel DT for the traditional urban cyclist, the Angel XT with a more aggressive tread pattern for easy off-road paths, and the Angel GT which is geared for e-bikes and those that wish to go further afield. All versions are certified for both traditional and electric bicycles and utilize a HyperBELT casing with a 5mm puncture-resistant layer, for safe, smooth riding on any road surface. They also employ the PROCompound Urban, a rubber formulation to help maximize grip and tire longevity in all-weather riding conditions. The SRP starts at $66.99/tire.

NiteRider Lumina Dual 1800

The new Lumina Dual 1800 front light by NiteRider features the all-new collimator lens which distributes a wide beam pattern for optimal coverage. Seven light levels — including two daylight flashing modes — provide suitable options for all times of day and types of riding. As the name suggests, the Lumina Dual 1800 has an 1800 lumen capacity when used in Boost Mode to provide exceptional lighting capabilities. When used in the 350 lumen Low Mode, it has a six-hour runtime, and an impressive 20-hour runtime when used in Walk Mode. The innovative Lock Mode ensures that no battery is wasted from accidental turn-on during transport or storage. Comes with a sturdy handlebar mount and weighs a mere 258g. A separate helmet mount can also be purchased. The SRP is $254.99.

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Bern Watts 2.0 Helmet with MIPS

The Bern Watts 2.0 is the perfect all-season riding helmet. The compass fit system allows for a secure, custom feel with just the simple twist of a dial. The integrated brim helps shield eyes from the sun and other elements, while an increased number of vents allow for ample airflow and cooling. The Watts 2.0 can be customized with a Bern click-mount light that easily clicks into the back of the helmet for added visibility. It can be further customized with the winter sport bundle for cold weather riding or other snow sports. Most importantly, this helmet is equipped with multi-directional impact protection (MIPS), which is designed to protect the brain against rotational impact. This lightweight and versatile helmet comes in an array of fashionable colours. The SRP is $144.99.

Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump

Lezyne is known for their inventive and reliable tools, and their brand-new Pocket Drive Pump is no different. This handy, travelsized pump fits easily in your jersey back pocket. However, don’t let the compact size fool you — this pump can easily inflate your tires to an unprecedented 160psi. It’s compatible with both Presta and Schrader valves and has an integrated valve core tool. The Pocket Drive pump is constructed from durable CNC-machined aluminum and has rebuildable parts, making for years of reliable service. This pump is going to be your new favourite tool when the inevitable dreaded flat tire calls. The SRP is $44.95.

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Historic First-Ever Montréal cargo Bike crit kicks

olympic stadium

Hosted by Allo

Vélo

The obstacle course added some welcome challenges for riders to navigate. That winning feeling…

All smiles at the finish of the historic first-ever Montréal Cargo Bike Crit on Aug. 21 at Olympic Stadium.

Montréal off at

Cargo bike fans were stoked to see the historic Montréal Cargo Bike Crit kick off at Olympic Stadium on Aug. 21 during the Jackalope Festival that weekend — the first-ever in Canada, and as far as we know in North America.

Hosted by Allo Vélo Inc., which operates two retail bicycle shops, one in Montréal and one in Vancouver, the inaugural event featured three categories, including non-electric and e-cargo bikes, 2-wheelers, as well as 3-wheelers on a 500m course.

“We had some challenges, of course,” said Lamar Timmins, Allo Vélo’s owner. “But overall, it was great to see it come together and get the event off the ground. About 20 participants signed up, and more would have been better for sure, but everyone had a great time.”

Participants were revved up and all smiles, receiving a nice swag bag with T-shirt, hat, etc. from the event sponsors. “Plus, we had great prizes from Ortlieb, Abus, Schwalbe, Wera and Sweet Protection, and nice trophies as well for the winners,” shared Timmins.

During a travelling stint in Europe, Timmins had participated in some great cargo bike crit races in Berlin, Germany, with as many as 50 participants, and he was keen to bring that excitement to Canada. Teaming up with the Jackalope Festival had benefits with a known event and crowds on hand, but they were also the new kids on the block.

“It was a great experience and we learned a lot, but it seems best to host future events on our own going forward for better control,” commented Timmins. “Our team did a great job, from having to set up the course last minute to keeping us on schedule once things got underway.”

The non-electric category was the busiest with enough entrants to hold qualifiers and finals. The 3-wheel e-cargo bike category became a demonstration event for fun only using units that Allo Velo supplied, as no participants had signed up for this category.

“People loved the obstacle course we set up where they had to load and unload items like foam noodles, empty beer cases, etc. during the race. After the event, we heard from many people who wished they had known about it — so we plan to work better with the local community going forward,” added Timmins.

Plans going forward include a Halloween cargo-bike event, along with more fun gatherings aimed at building a larger Montréal Cargo Bike Crit event next year.

Riders up… the heats get underway in the non e-cargo bike category.

Race action at the inaugural Montreal Cargo Bike Crit…

The winners celebrate great prizes and trophies… photo S courte S y of a llo vélo inc.

Toronto’s Curbside Cycle is a pioneer at creating a niche urban cycling specialty market that few can rival.

curbside cycle’s Eric kamphof talks shop

By BEnjAMIn sAdAVoy

Toronto’s Curbside Cycle has been at the forefront of the cycling mobility movement in Canada and North America for 30 years. With humble roots, unbridled passion and a pioneer spirit, they were the first to import unique European brands including cargo bikes over two decades ago, en route to creating a niche urban specialty market that few can rival. We caught up with Eric Kamphof, Curbside’s General Manager, for a look at the bike shop’s past, present and future.

Please give us a brief history of Curbside Cycle.

Eric Kamphof: Curbside was started by Don Watterson back in 1992 — at least we’re pretty sure that was the year. Unfortunately Don passed away in 2017, but his legacy lives on. It started as a semi-legal tent on the side of a curb, dedicated to Toronto’s highly contrarian Annex neighbourhood that has always been famous for its collective urbanism. The original Curbside tent won the hearts of the Annex, and we grew from there to our first brick-and-mortar

location. This advanced to our current location on Bloor St. W, where we really began to find our feet.

Curbside was one of the first bike shops to import unique brands from Europe… how did this come about, and were they well-received?

EK: I came to the store in 2002 and instantly fell in love. The clientele were all city cyclists and split between the sexes. Customers who bought a hybrid bike for city riding needed endless repairs, as these bikes weren’t really city bikes.

My background is Dutch, and we got this crazy idea that maybe we should import Dutch city bikes. But we had to travel there and buy a container of bikes — which was risky as hell, as we were mostly a used bike store. Yet our welleducated and well-travelled Annex customers saw exactly what we were doing, and we sold that container within a month or two. Soon after, we started developing the portfolio of leader brands we have today.

EK: Our story is probably different than most bike stores because our e-bike story begins with cargo bikes. Research in Holland shows that e-bikes on their own tend to serve distances greater than 7.5km, and most of our customers live within 7.5km of work and daily errands; but with a cargo bike, even short distances are facilitated by e-assist.

We started importing cargo bikes back in 2007, just before the great recession hit as a massive shift in demographics was taking place. Back then, it was Curbside and Clever Cycles (in Portland, OR) who started importing cargo bikes, laying the groundwork for what we see today.

We began with Babboe from Holland, which was the first brand to figure out how to flat-pack cargo bikes, and this export-ready approach helped sell this new cycling category at reasonable prices. When we started importing the electric version of cargo bikes, it required very little explanation. Today, our chief e-assist market is still cargo bikes, but we do very well with stand-alone e-bikes as well.

ask for cargo bikes by name. The radical shift and increase in infrastructure has obviously helped as well. As awful as Covid has been, it has raised the consciousness for cycling. Talk about the demographic of your customers in general… and for e-bike and cargo bike sales.

EK: Great question. For cargo bikes, the demographic would be anyone “urban”, someone who lives a majority of their life within 7.5km of home (or 15km in the case of an e-assist). I would say 70% of our buyers are identified as a female parent. For e-bikes, it seems more tilted towards the recreational rider — not sure why. While studies from Holland show that e-bikes are really carving out a space in distances between 7.5km to 15km, we haven’t seen the same demographic here as yet, but we believe it’s coming.

Toronto has expanded its cycling infrastructure i.e., Bloor, Yonge, University with more coming — what’s your perspective?

photo S courte S y of curb S ide cycle

EK: We make a point of thoroughly investigating every brand we import. It needs to be torture-tested in its home market for us to consider importing it. We go to each market, see what brands are being used, observe the condition of bikes parked outside, visit factories, and find the companies that show the greatest leadership and who can support an export market. We started with Babboe and moved from there to Nihola (for a three-wheeled option). Our very first e-assist brand was Urban Arrow, then Bullitt, then Black Iron Horse and Winther, and finally Riese & Müller. Each of these offered different levels of stability and handling, and all offer the same impact-resistant safety for carrying kids. For regular e-bikes, we carry Brompton, GoCycle, Devinci, and Riese and Müller. How has the recent pandemic impacted things and the e-bike and cargo bike sectors of your business?

(top) Riese & Müller makes quality e-bikes and e-cargo bikes. (middle) Babboe was the first to flat-pack cargo bikes. (bottom) Urban Arrow was Curbside’s first e-assist cargo bike brand.

EK: Yep, it’s been pretty amazing, but we still need more bike lanes! Again, if e-bikes can offer a majority transportation tool to people whose ‘action radius’ is about 15km, then more bike lanes that reach deeper into the suburbs that connect downtown would really help reduce congestion and gridlock for commuters who live relatively close to downtown.

When did you launch Fourth Floor Distribution to provide your unique products to other bike shops across Canada?

EK: We launched Fourth Floor about the same time that we began importing European city bikes and cargo bikes back in 2007. Our mission was always to increase city cycling by offering the proper tools, and it seemed we had access to a wealth of quality European products not sold in North America.

What do you ride?

EK: Yeah, it’s been pretty crazy. Our revenues doubled in the last two years, but what we’re really happy to see is that our little experiment is working. People used to come into the store and look at a cargo bike with incredulity, but now they

EK: Like many bike shop people, I am guilty of owning too many bikes. But, for sake of context, I do own a Bullitt e-cargo bike, and it has changed the way I do everything. There’s a certain ergonomics that living in the city requires, and this bike has been a perfect fit. It elevates almost every task –plus, I have lots of fun!

Thanks for your time and all the best.

EK: Thanks as well.

When did Curbside first start selling e-bikes and e-cargo bikes?

What brands and types of e-bikes and e-cargo bikes do you currently stock?

Interview with Lamar timmins at Allo Vélo

By BEnjAMIn sAdAVoy

ecargo Bikes, coffee & VéloLifestyle success

Allo Vélo Inc. operates avant-garde bike shops that present a new-age vision for cycling as the smartest and coolest means of transportation. Importing unique, stylish and practical brands from Europe, its leading-edge bike shops embrace e-cargo bikes and combine the lifestyle of cycling with a boutique café atmosphere.

With two locations in Canada, starting in Montréal and expanding to Vancouver, it has quickly gained a reputation as “the cargo bike shop”. The company also distributes brands across the country, and owner Lamar Timmins shared his thoughts and vision with eBikes International, on their humble beginnings and plans ahead.

Please give us a brief history of Allo Vélo.

Lamar Timmins: Allo Vélo was conceived in late 2012, and we first opened in the neighbourhood of Saint Henri, Montréal in 2013.

The idea of Allo Vélo came about after spending time working in Munich, where I was exposed to a “foreign”

way of using the bicycle: commuting. Germany was where I used the bicycle as a means of getting around efficiently. I learned a lot about bike mechanics as well. When I returned to Montréal, I realized cycling culture was also changing and growing here.

My mother (Fiona) had a small commercial space available and helped by partnering with me to start Allo Vélo, a specialized bike shop importing unique brands from Europe. The café concept was inspired by my time in Australia.

We started with Gazelle, Vanmoof, Biria and LarryvsHarry. Admittedly, it was a slow start, because we weren’t operating along the traditional bike shop path, and we were in a very seasonal city for cycling.

What brands and types of e-bikes and e-cargo bikes do you currently stock?

LT: Allo Vélo has grown since then, and we’re now located in Griffintown (Montréal) where we offer rentals, a full-service repair shop, a café bar, and a lot more bike brands such as Triobike, Crème Cycles, Schindelhauer, Rondo, Muli Cycles, Black Iron Horse, Butchers & Bicycles, Veloe and Pelago. We also expanded west, opening a store in Vancouver in December 2020, in a nice retail space on Nanaimo Street. Our reputation has grown fast in B.C., and we are now known as the e-cargo bike shop of Vancouver.

Lamar Timmins is bullish on cycling and e-cargo bikes.

What made you choose Vancouver over other cities?

LT: I know Vancouver having spent time there. The climate favours cycling, which has always been popular out west. No one was promoting or selling cargo bikes, and we saw this as an opportunity for our more European-style mobility solutions.

Were e-cargo bikes always on your agenda of cycling products to import and sell?

LT: Yes, our history with e-cargo bikes has always been very strong. At first, we focused on 2-wheel Long John–style e-cargo bikes for their nimbleness, space-saving size, and speed. However, early on, a family showed us their Triobike Mono to see if we might offer them as well. I was immediately interested and went to Triobike’s headquarters in Denmark. Since then, their two-wheel and threewheel models have been our mainstay e-cargo bike brand across Canada.

Tell us about the reaction to e-bikes and e-cargo bikes as part of Allo Vélo’s offerings. And who are your customers?

LT: Selling e-cargo bikes in the early days was not easy, as most customers didn’t know what the product was, so it took a lot of effort and consistency. Our main customers are families, but many professionals as well. We offer a broad range of bicycles for different types of consumers, and as cycling grows in popularity more residents are motivated to bike. Today, our clients walk in already informed about what type of cargo bike they are looking for. The demand for the commercial use of cargo bikes has grown as well.

Montréal has a progressive cycling culture with initiatives like REV (Réseau express vélo)… tell us more.

LT: Thanks to Montréal’s mayor, Valérie Plante, the city has developed some of the best 4-season bicycle infrastructure in North America with efforts like the REV network. This project will be completed in three phases over the next few years. It is now at Phase 2, which will link important arteries throughout the downtown and neighbouring areas. This is one of the best ways to increase ridership among citizens.

Another example is that the City of Montréal is looking to electrify their fleet with EVs and e-cargo bikes. Montréal also piloted successful commercial projects like Colibri back in 2019, whereby delivery companies drop packages at hubs within the city and use fleets of e-cargo bikes for last-mile deliveries.

Many of this program’s member businesses are our clients.

You distribute Triobikes across Canada along with Fulpra, Gleam and other commercial brands… how is it going?

LT: We plan on increasing our portfolio of heavy-duty transport e-cargo bikes with brands like Fulpra and Gleam. Unlike Europe, there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of legislation and what is allowed or not on bike paths and city streets here. We will be testing unknown territory as we get into bigger e-cargo bikes as green mobility solutions are needed in the commercial sector.

Any plans to open more shops across Canada?

increased?

LT: As a business, we benefitted from the early stage of the pandemic, because as demand skyrocketed, we were fortunate to have all of the inventory necessary. In 2021, we suffered due to continued demand and lack of inventory. This year, demand has shown signs of slowing, probably because most stores have inventory and people are choosing to travel, or are scaling back due to inflation. Still, we expect the category of e-cargo bikes and commuter bikes to experience continued growth as people look for more affordable, efficient, practical and greener transportation solutions.

LT: We’ve talked about it, but just now we’re more focused on our current operations and developing the commercial side of the e-cargo bike business here. We’ll be announcing a cool cargo bike event coming soon to Montréal very shortly (the Montréal Cargo Bike Crit was successfully launched in Aug. 21; see p. 36).

What do you ride?

LT: I currently ride a Triobike e-cargo bike along with a Vanmoof F5, and Bombtrack Hook. No e-bike yet, but it’s on the list. And I would add that my mother is still part of the Allo Vélo team.

Thanks for your time and all the best going forward. LT: Thanks as well. We appreciate your interest in our bike shops.

How has the recent pandemic impacted interest in your products? Have sales

Triobike’s e-cargo bikes for families is Allo Velo’s and leading brand.

cycling cities on the Move

canada, UsA, International

As e-bikes continue to surge worldwide and cycling becomes more mainstream, eBikes International takes a closer look at three cities that are taking proactive steps when it comes to encouraging cycling and creating more livable and sustainable places. As more and more cities work to prioritize year-round cycling for people of all ages and abilities, efforts to build a culture of cycling in communities around the globe are coming together amidst the growing influence of e-bikes.

Québec

QUéBEC CITY – Population: 820,592

Following recent expansions, historic Québec City is full of ‘joie de vivre’ for cycling and will soon unveil its Cycling Plan for 2023-2027.

The city currently boasts a network of 388km that includes 143km of separated bike lanes (36.9%), 180km of bike lanes (46.4%) and 65km of marked/shared routes (16.7%).

Since the implementation of its “Vision des déplacements à vélo” for 2016-2020, the city has developed or upgraded nearly 89 cycling kilometres, which represents a total investment of approximately $25 million.

Other notable achievements include a 94.6% increase in bicycle traffic along Rue du Colisée thanks to new developments; in the borough of La Cité-Limoilou, at least 1 in 20 residents now use their bicycle to get to work or school every day; some 60 new bike racks have been installed near the network; on weekdays, approximately 22,000 bicycle trips are made by Québec City residents.

Since last year, the city can now boast a bike share àVélo program with 40 stations and 400 electric power-assisted bikes for short trips. The program is operated by the public transit service RTC (Réseau de transport de la Capitale).

While Québec City has no subway system, it operates Velobus, offering two bicycle racks per bus (no e-bikes), on five high-frequency bus lines (Métrobus 800, 801, 802, 804 and 807) between early May and late October.

The Québec-Lévis Ferry welcomes cyclists to discover and explore the other shore across the St. Lawrence River, and either shore of this ferry crossing leads to superb sections of the renowned Route Verte. There are also a number of bike rental companies, and other businesses that offer guided bicycle tours in Old Québec.

Québec City also boasts many cycling touring options, including the 50-kilometre Corridor du Littoral shoreline trail up to Montmorency Falls and the 55-kilometre Marie-Hélène-

For more experienced cyclists, a trip around Île d’Orléans is another exciting opportunity. An interactive map offers additional options that utilize Route Verte’s vast network of 4,000 kilometres of bike paths.

Québec City’s cycling agenda also coincides with the province’s Active Transportation Intervention Framework, a key component of its Sustainable Mobility Policy vision to be a North American leader in 21st-century sustainable and integrated mobility by 2030.

The new àVélo program boasts 40 stations and 400 electric power-assisted bikes.

Québec City offers many cycling touring options with access to Route Verte’s vast network of 4,000km of bike paths.

Prémont Bike Path that connects with Mont-Ste-Anne.

City is full of ‘joie de vivre’ for cycling with a fabulous 388km network of bike paths.

photo S : courte S y of Q uébec city

SEATTLE – Population 439,819

Seattle is fast becoming one of the USA’s leading cycling cities with its updated Bicycle Master Plan (BMP) that identifies projects and programs to be implemented from 2014 to 2033.

Currently, the city has a bicycle network of around 163 miles, which includes 75 miles of protected or separated bike lanes, along with bike lanes and neighbourhood greenways.

From 2016 to 2020, Seattle added over 45 miles to its bicycle network as well as 1,530 bike parking spots, completing its 9-year levy goal, including 55 bike spot safety improvements.

The city has a goal of building an additional 55–60 miles of All Ages and Abilities (AAA) bike infrastructure as part of its Implementation Plan 2021 to 2024, which is encompassed within the current $930 million Levy to Move Seattle program (2015–2024) that makes up about 30% of Seattle’s transportation budget.

A new funding package for the next 9-year cycle, 2025 to 2033, is being developed by the Seattle Transportation Plan which will replace the Levy to Move Seattle and is grounded in public feedback.

Prior to the pandemic, Seattle had seen cycling ridership grow by 18%, and the city hopes to quadruple it by 2030. The city was ranked 6th in the USA in terms of bike commuters per capita at 4.1%.

The Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board, created back in 1977 and composed of residents, advises the City on the concerns and needs of the growing bicycling community.

In June 2021, Seattle launched its first pilot zeroemissions last-mile delivery hub for urban logistics along with companies working in transportation, delivery logistics and food preparation. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is a partner on the project, which dovetails with a program to foster cargo bike use and a 2030 goal to achieve 30% zero-emission deliveries in the city.

Following the closing of Seattle’s Pronto bike-share system in 2017, a pilot program was established and Lime Bikes saw 1 million trips. But with a huge market to serve, Uber’s JUMP launched its red e-bikes in Nov. 2018, and Lyft is reported to be entering the market as well.

Seattle is fast becoming one of the USA’s leading cycling cities with plans for 55–60 miles of AAA bike infrastructure by 2024.

In 2021, Seattle launched its first pilot zeroemissions last-mile delivery hub for urban logistics.

Seattle launched Vision Zero in 2015, a long-term citywide initiative to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets. The next year, it completed the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Analysis (BPSA) to help identify roadway design and user behaviour that most correlated with collisions involving walkers or cyclists and develop a safety prioritization model to identify opportunities for spot and corridor improvement projects.

Seattle was one of the first U.S. cities to adopt a Climate Action Plan back in 2006, and in 2011 the city announced its goal to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Known as the “Emerald City” it’s the largest city in the state of Washington with one of the highest uptakes of electric vehicles in the USA.

Seattle saw 18% growth in cycling ridership pre-pandemic and hopes to quadruple it by 2030.

I nt ER n A t I on AL

BRUSSELS – Population 2,065,284

Brussels is en route to becoming one of Europe’s most robust cycling cities, showing continued growth of 20% even two years after the 2020 cycling boom, which saw an unparalleled 64% increase in ridership.

The city’s new award-winning Regional Mobility Plan (RMP) 2020-2030, dubbed Good Move, adopts a transversal approach with six central themes for integrated mobility solutions and a budget of €327.4 million for its Regional Roads Development Plan.

Elke Van den Brandt, Brussels Minister of Mobility, aspires to triple the use of bicycles by 2030 in the city. The current bicycle modal share is 4.14%, with an e-bike modal share of 3.04%. She received the international award for promoting cycling at the 2021 Velo-city conference in Lisbon. Studies show that 14.57% of the city’s residents ride their bicycles to work all or some of the time, and the counter along the Molenbeek canal cycle path broke the 1 million journeys mark in December 2021, a first for the Belgian capital.

Last year Brussels implemented a 30kph speed limit across the city as part of Good Move, reporting up to a 50% reduction in road fatalities.

In mid-August, a larger low-traffic area within the “Pentagon” city centre was established to improve the quality of life for residents as well as benefit tourists and visitors.

Brussels also launched a Cargo Bike project for residents and businesses, including incentives and instructions for faster, greener and more economical “last mile” inner city deliveries. The result was a 10-fold surge from one in a thousand to one in a hundred deliveries by bicycle, or about 6 million annually.

Annual events like Bike Brussels, held Mar 25-27 this year, promote cycling with fun rides, events, expos and information sessions on repair, routes, tourism, the environment and more.

In 2021, Belgium’s federal government launched its first-ever bicycle plan, titled Be Cyclist, to increase cycling in the country. The action plan includes 52 different measures aimed at stimulating and expanding the use of bicycles.

The F3 cycle highway bridge, which opened in April, connects Leuven to Brussels at a record cost of €32.5 million, representing the biggest cycling investment in Belgium’s history.

Belgium also boasts 2,700 kilometres of high-quality cycling highways that are built along railways, waterways and highways for inter-city cycling trips.

Brussels had a 20% growth in ridership even two years after the 2020 cycling boom which saw a 64% increase.

Annual events like Bike Brussels promote cycling.

Brussels established a larger low-traffic area within the “Pentagon” city centre.

The F3 cycle highway bridge was the biggest cycling investment in Belgium’s history.

photo S courte S y of city of bru SS el S

Conversion between bicycle and stroller is absolutely as easy as it looks on the videos.

Eurobike Award Winning

Electric Cargo Bike with the reliable and powerful Shimano STEPS 6100 mid-drive motor.

Whether you’re making a trip to work, the grocery store or around the neighborhood with the kids, we have a bike or trailer to suit your lifestyle.

eAdVEntUREs

canada, UsA, International

Check out these three amazing e-adventure destinations to add to your bucket list. Our ability to travel and go exploring once again means that your dream cycling vacation could be just around the corner. Whether you’re planning a post-pandemic excursion or seeking motivation for a new cycling adventure, we hope you find these selections inspiring.

NOVA SCOTIA’S BLUE ROUTE

Nova Scotia’s fabulous Blue Route is a 3,000km cycling network designed to connect communities across the province via designated cycling routes on secondary highways with paved shoulders, low-traffic volume roads, hard surfaced trails, and city streets.

Inspired in part by Québec’s Route Verte, the concept was initially conceived at the first annual Nova Scotia Bicycle Summit in Cape Breton back in 2006.

Over time it evolved, and in 2013 it became an action plan within Nova Scotia’s Sustainable Transportation Strategy “Choose How You Move” — now called Let’s Get Moving Nova Scotia.

The Blue Route officially launched in 2015 as a collaborative project between Bicycle Nova Scotia (BNS) and its many supporters.

In 2018, the Blue Route Hubs Project was initiated to help connect the existing network to Nova Scotia’s towns, municipalities and Mi’kmaq communities. By providing

consulting at no charge, and funding assistance as well, local communities can apply to build safe cycling routes for local riders of all ages and people with disabilities, which also provides easy access to local businesses and attractions for cycling tourists.

Working with municipalities such as Bridgewater, Lunenburg and Mahone Bay, along with cities and towns including Antigonish, Wolfville, Port Hawkesbury, New Glasgow, Middleton and Annapolis Royal, about 500km of the Blue Route have been completed, and the trails are open to e-bikes.

A full-time BNS Active Transportation Planner is tasked with providing planning services on the project and supporting project expenses, while the Director of Blue Route and Cycling Advocacy is furthering the recognition of the importance of cycling and active transportation in Nova Scotia.

In late 2019, a Bicycle Route Wayfinding Guide was created to help ensure a seamless rider experience. With a focus on the Blue Route and the many local trails that intersect with it, the guide is intended to be a useful tool for trail route managers across the province.

Notable destination trails that are part of the Blue Route include the Rum Runners Trail, 119km of off-road trails between Halifax and Lunenburg; the 110km Harvest Moon trail in the Annapolis Valley connecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Grand Pré to the historic seaside town of Annapolis Royal; and the 92km Celtic Shores Coastal Trail that stretches from Port Hastings to Inverness on the west coast of beautiful Cape Breton Island.

For more information on Nova Scotia’s Blue Route, please visit www.blueroute.ca

Nova Scotia’s Blue Route is a fabulous 3,000km cycling network.

Stellar coastal views and scenery such as Mahoney Bay.

CHEQUAMEGON TRAILS – WISCONSIN, USA

The Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) recently announced the approval of Class 1 e-bikes on many of the renowned mountain bike trails that it manages in the Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest, a 1,530,647acre U.S. National Forest in northern Wisconsin.

With over 130 miles in the mountain-bike trail system, and over 200+ miles of gravel routes, CAMBA also grooms 70+ miles of trails for winter riding, thus creating a proverbial adventure paradise.

The massive trail network includes the Bayfield and northern Sawyer County Forests, covering nearly a million acres for riding your mountain bike or your gravel bike. Trails are based in the towns of Bayfield, Cable, Hayward, Namakagon and Seeley.

CAMBA is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization with a vision to offer the premier off-road riding destination in the upper Midwest and host exceptional events and programs, while utilizing the trails to build community and drive economic enhancement.

In that light, the popular 40th edition of the Chequamegon MTB Festival will be held next year and once again will feature three events: the 40-mile Chequamegon 40; the 16-mile Short & Fat; and the Little Loggers for mountain bikers-in-training. The long-standing festival attracts top riders and enthusiasts from across the United States, including international participants.

The list of CAMBA trails where the use of Class 1 pedalassist e-bikes is permitted includes the Hayward Cluster: Hospital Trail, Hatchery Creek Trail, Makwa; Seeley Cluster: Makwa, Seeley Pass, FlowMama, Camp 38 Spur; Cable Cluster: Ojibwe, Sleigh Trail, Wild River Trail, Short & Fat,

Esker, Dirt Candy, Danky Dank; Mt. Ashwabay Cluster: All trails. Authorization for e-bike use on the remaining CAMBA trails is pending.

CAMBA plans to post appropriate signage indicating where the use of e-bikes is permitted and utilize its website and social media network to promote safe riding practices. Wisconsin allows Class 1 e-bikes on paved roads and pathways, but state regulations leave it up to land managers to designate the use of e-bikes on trails.

The renowned American Birkebeiner, the largest crosscountry skiing race in North America that debuted in 1973, features two premier events, a 50km skate and a 55km classic race from Cable to Hayward, that utilize some of CAMBA’s trails.

For more information, please visit www.cambatrails.org and www.cheqmtb.com

Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) has approved Class 1 e-bikes on many of the renowned MTB trails that it manages.

The popular Chequamegon MTB Festival is celebrating its 40th edition next year.

@cambatrail

I nt ER n A t I on AL

LAKE GARDA BIKE TRAIL

The creation of a stunning 140km bike trail around Lake Garda, Italy’s biggest lake, is underway and scheduled to be finished at the earliest by 2026.

This initiative is a collaboration between the regions of metropolitan Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige, and the romantic Veneto region.

One of the most spectacular, must-see experiences on the route is a 3km hanging cycle path section launched in July 2018, considered one of the most beautiful paths in Europe.

Located on the north-west side of Lake Garda’s stretched arm, the unique hanging “cycle path of dreams” connects the towns of Limone sul Garda and Capo Reamol, in a

spectacular natural setting, where steep cliffs rise from the sparkling blue lake water.

Built using the cantilever approach, whereby the path is anchored into the rocky cliff walls 50 metres above the water, it hangs off the side of the cliff line in such a way to make riders feel as if they’re suspended in mid-air.

Suitable for all levels of cyclists and all types of bicycles, including ebikes up to 25kph, the Lake Garda Bike Trail features wide bridges, night-time lighting and a low gradient. The picturesque fishing villages and rolling hills with cypresses that surround the lake have attracted famous painters and poets throughout the ages.

A great rest stop north of Limone sul Garda is the attractive beach at Spiaggia Sabbioni where you can enjoy the clear, turquoise water and panoramic views. The large and well-maintained green areas, free showers and a playground make it an ideal stop when travelling with kids.

Other attractions include the small town of Malcesine, the pearl of Lake Garda, with its charming cobbled roads, as well as the historic Castle Scaligero in the centre of Sirmione. Take the cable car up to the 1,760m high mountain Monte Baldo, a great destination for mountain bikers.

At the tip of the Sirmione peninsula on the southern shore are the fading remains of a large Roman villa, Grotte di Catullo. Finally, Isola Borghese is Lake Garda’s biggest island with a unique blend of nature and history.

Another great winding cycling path, Strada del Ponale, is located at the northernmost tip of Lake Garda, and takes you through tunnels while offering more spectacular views.

The Lake Garda Bike Trail is also situated beside the EuroVelo 7 (Sun Route) and the EuroVelo 8 (Mediterranean Route), for more fabulous cycling adventures. With files from EuroVelo.

The 3km must-see hanging “cycle path of dreams” is part of the 140km bike trail around Lake Garda in Italy.

The stunning village of Limone sul Garda on Lake Garda’s spectacular natural setting.

trek’s new dual sport+ 2

Delivers Quality and Affordability for Your eBike Commute

Trek’s new Dual Sport+ 2 urban e-bike highlights how owning an electric bike can be fun and efficient without needing to refinance your home to afford one. And as the name Dual Sport suggests, this bike is ready to take on your pavement/ gravel path or adventure of choice.

Capitalizing on the benefits of a rear-wheel hub drive, the Trek Dual Sport+ 2 is not only able to maintain a consumerfriendly price point, but the sub-40lb weight makes it one of the lightest on the market in its class.

The Hyena G2 rear-hub motor delivers 250 watts of power along with 40Nm of torque, which is enough to get you quickly off the line and up and over most of the climbs you will encounter on your ride.

With the battery discreetly concealed in the downtube, and the motor tucked neatly in the rear hub, it will fool even some of the more astute riders into believing it’s not an e-bike. A battery extender lets you double up and go exploring even farther. The bar-mounted controller display offers easy management of the 3-pedal assist modes, along with battery levels.

The frame is constructed with Trek’s Alpha Gold Aluminum with internally routed cables, giving this e-bike a sharp, clean appearance. The frame also comes with all the necessary mounts to add a rack and fenders of choice. Complete with lights, kickstand and bell, the Dual Sport+ 2 is available in four sizes in the traditional frame, and three sizes in the step-through Stagger model. Colour options include Hex Blue and Galactic Grey.

The attractive Dual Sport+ 2 is spec’d with quality, mid-range components including Shimano’s Altus 9-speed drivetrain with an 11–36 rear cassette. When combined with the single 42-tooth front ring, this e-bike has enough gear range for you to dial in your cadence and maximize the pedal assist on a variety of terrain, especially on the road.

The Promax hydraulic disc brakes (or Shimano, depending on availability) proved more-than-capable stopping power, while the Bontrager GR0 Expert 27.5 x 2.0 tires rolled smoothly on the road, offering just enough tread to hook up on gravel trails.

Trek’s new lightweight Dual Sport+ 2 is a go-anywhere e-bike.

photo S t rek b icycle S

Trek’s New Dual Sport+ 2 is an affordable e-bike that’s ready for any commute or urban adventure. Nice features like a battery extender let you go exploring even farther.

The Hyena G2 rear-hub motor delivers 250 watts of power along with 40Nm of torque… plenty of assist.

On the road, the Dual Sport+ 2 did not disappoint and got quickly up to speed for my daily commute, offering an easy, quiet cruise using the two highest assist levels. The bonus was that I could take a slightly longer route on gravel paths instead of my usual busier commute on paved roads, with a minimal time penalty.

Wearing casual clothes and running shoes was a nice touch over being Lycra-clad with clip-in pedals. The stiff, rigid frame cornered well at speed and, at my destination, I was pleased with how easy it was to pack the bike up the two flights of stairs.

Off-road, the Dual Sport+ 2’s stiff frame felt a bit rough, but the trade-off was that it could climb all but the steepest of gravel hills.

At about 48km into my ride, the green light on the display started flashing, meaning my pedal assist time would soon expire, which matched the quoted 55km battery range on a full charge.

The nice thing is that the Dual Sport+ 2 can be easily pedalled without assist, so I spun the last 2km of my ride using 100% human power.

Overall, Trek has delivered a good value package. It’s great to see that quality and affordability are now part of the e-bike equation by recognized brands.

The Trek Dual Sport+ 2 is an e-bike designed for many years of reliable riding while saving you some money to spend on your rest stop/coffee breaks.

The SRP is $3,049.99. For more information please visit www.trekbikes.com

Ruff cycles Biggie

Ruff Cycles Biggie is a Stylish and Fun Urban eBike

We were really looking forward to picking up the new Biggie urban e-bike by Ruff Cycles, a German-based company that launched in 2012 with the vision of creating products that have great style and are fun to ride.

Ruff’s flagship Ruffian e-bike took the world by storm with its cool looks and unique motorcycle styling. Their dealer network quickly expanded to more than 150 bike shops across Europe and North America.

I picked up the cool-looking Biggie from Timeless eBikes in Ottawa, Ont., the official distributor for Ruff Cycles in North America. They also have a U.S. office in Newark, Delaware.

Offered in several funky colour schemes, our test model was Midnight Black. The frame is a powder-coated steel construction with a very unique scrambler-motorcycleinspired look.

Powered by Bosch’s top-level Performance Line CX 250-watt motor featuring 85Nm of torque, the Biggie is also available with a Bosch Active Line 250W motor with 40Nm of torque. With four levels of assist — Eco, Tour, eMTB and Turbo — and a maximum pedal-assisted speed of 32kph, the Biggie is rated as a Class 1 e-bike in the USA and Europe.

Supporting the e-drive system is a removable 500Wh battery pack (with a 400Wh option also available) tucked away neatly beneath the long seat. To keep you rolling smoothly, an innovative and reliable Enviolo TR rear-hub

transmission features gearless shifting, a type of CVT shall we say, accessed via a grip-shift style shifter.

Featuring attractive white-wall wheels and cushy Tyron tires (26x3.0”), the Clarks hydraulic disc brakes deliver stable and modulated braking on both road and trail surfaces.

Our test model also featured Bosch’s Kiox on-board computer, available as an upgrade from the standard Purion model. Featuring anti-reflective Corning Gorilla glass that is shatter- and scratch-resistant, the compact Kiox clicks easily into place via the stem-mounted bracket by a magnet.

Along with standard riding data like speed, distance and battery/power-assist levels, the Kiox also features a navigation function for exploring. The unit connects via Bluetooth to your phone to access Bosch’s Smart System Flow app that offers lots of additional information, functions and customization options such as adjusting the assist modes, power output, etc.

You can also set the brightness manually or let the display automatically adjust brightness depending on ambient light. The Kiox features six buttons to control the various functions, along with a walk-assist button hidden on the back.

The Biggie really excels at cruising around town to destinations like the beach, ice cream shop, coffee house, and even when you’re bombing around with your daughter

Ruff Cycles’ stylish Biggie e-bike features Bosch’s Performance Line CX 250-watt motor with 85Nm of torque.

sitting with you on the long leather seat for school drop-offs and pickups. This was by far my 7-year-old’s favourite e-bike, and every evening it was super fun going for a ride with her sitting in front of me on the long seat bench.

There seemed to be little difference between the Tour and eMTB levels for pedal-assist, but the Turbo mode is very punchy and was my preferred mode when riding this e-bike. I also found it was best to ease up a bit on pedalling when shifting to lower or higher gearing, as under load it was not as easy.

Our test model also included optional Supernova front and rear lights controlled via the display unit. The waterproof light set featured bright and wide illumination for great visibility while delivering a safety factor, making it a recommended add-on.

Like most e-bikes, the Biggie is heavy, and at more than 70lbs it’s best to make sure the battery is fully charged. We found that the battery range was about 40km while using mostly Turbo mode with lots of stop-and-go. It took about 4 hours to fully charge the removable battery from empty.

The walk-assist is a nice feature for e-bikes and will come in handy from time to time. When transporting the Biggie by vehicle, it’s best to ensure that it fits your rack system.

The cool frame design and long leather seatbench are great for looks, but adjusting the seat height is not possible, and there could be challenges with leg extension depending

on your height, which also may affect your comfort on longer journeys. According to Ruff Cycles, the Biggie is “the ideal bike for riders between 175cm (5’ 7”) and 200cm (6’ 5”).”

A large assortment of other accessories is also available, including front/rear racks and fenders, a frame bag, mudguards, foot pegs, etc.

The Ruff Cycles Biggie is a cool e-bike that gets a lot of attention, is well-built and features high-quality components. It fills a unique niche in the e-bike marketplace, especially if you have a 7-year-old at home.

The SRP starts at $5,295 and as tested is $7,105 — for more information, please visit www.timeless-ebikes.com

Ruff Cycles Biggie is a cool e-bike that gets a lot of attention.

Bosch’s Kiox onboard computer is an upgrade option.

Smooth gearless shifting with the Enviolo TR rearhub transmission.

The removable battery pack tucks neatly away beneath the long leather seat.

triobike Mono E

Impressive Triobike Mono E Three-Wheel eCargo Bike is Designed for Families

We were stoked when the opportunity came up to test a Triobike Mono E three-wheel e-cargo bike, as it was the world’s first cargo-bike company to be safety tested by the Danish Consumer Agency in 2004.

Triobike was also the first in the world to introduce 5-point seat belts. With a three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, I was very excited to test this lightweight e-cargo bike with her for daily trips to the park, daycare and shopping.

The Canadian distributor Allo Velo Inc. has a VeloLifestyle Boutique retail store in Montréal where we picked up our test model. They also have a second store in Vancouver.

Powered by a 250-watt Brose Drive S motor with 90Nm of torque, a 508Wh battery, along with a Shimano Nexus internal 5-speed drivetrain, you’ll be ready for smooth and reliable riding.

The stylish display helps to keep track of the battery level, distance and speed, and you can also choose exactly how much assistance you want from the motor. All e-systems provided by Triobike comply with the European EN 15194 standard.

ergonomically designed seats with room to spare.

Built around a 7005 aluminum frame, the Triobike Mono E impresses from the start with its robust, attractive looks. The wiring is well integrated throughout, presenting an elegant e-cargo bike with beautiful curves.

With a spacious and sturdy 220-litre front box that has a maximum payload of 140kg and an overall max weight of 240kg, the Mono is ideal for daily trips with kids and gear. The durable external skin, made from ABS vacuum-formed plastic with rounded edges, is shockresistant, while the polyurethane foam-filled shell creates a strong and light construction for passenger protection.

The well-balanced, powerful and pleasant pedal-assist will easily get you up to speed, and we found that the first

The Mono is ideal for daily trips with kids and gear with a spacious and sturdy 220-litre front box.

Powered by a quiet and powerful 250watt Brose Drive S motor with 90Nm of torque.

A front stand is sold separately.

Powerful front and rear Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, safety lighting and more.

three gears were ample for most trips given the 25kph supported top speed. With 90Nm of torque and the smooth transmission, you can remain seated even when starting from a stationary position.

Two children can sit comfortably on the ergonomically designed seats while strapped in with well-harnessed seat belts, still leaving plenty of room for shopping items and other gear.

Equipped with powerful front and rear Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, the Mono also features a parking brake that locks the wheels when stationary, allowing for safe, relaxing and practical loading or unloading.

The Triobike Mono E is designed to lean into corners when turning for more comfort and stability, which is a great idea and could be increased even more for my riding style. Given Montréal’s somewhat bumpy roads, any kind of suspension is appreciated.

The Mono’s safety lighting is nicely integrated with a red light on the rear mudguard, and two yellow lights on each side of the two front wheels — all managed by the front display so you can turn the lights on and off.

The battery is securely hidden and protected from the elements under the front box, and it can be easily accessed by lifting the box from the rear. The additional space under the seat provides extra storage space as needed.

Several accessories are available, including the recommended soft-top hood that completely covers and protects the front box. Easy to install and retractable, the well-thought-out covering features front and rear windows and zippers, allowing you to keep an eye on things while protecting passengers on bad weather days.

A cautionary note: don’t overload the front of the box, as the Mono could become unbalanced when the driver is not seated. A front stand is sold separately as an option to remedy this.

The Triobike Mono is a great option for families looking for an e-cargo bike for everyday destinations and adventures. While three-wheelers may not be for everyone, the Mono completely passed the test for my daughter with two thumbs up.

The SRP is $8,990. For more information, please visit www.velolifestyle.com

Brompton’s Electric c-Line Explore

Makes Commuting the Best Part of Your Day

Brompton’s Electric C-Line Explore 6-spd is well built with quality components and quickly folds in seconds.

The storied Brompton folding bike company will soon celebrate its 50th anniversary, and their exciting electric bike lineup is a welcome addition to the renowned UK brand.

This was my first Brompton experience, and the folks at Curbside Cycle on Bloor St. W. in Toronto, the oldest and largest Brompton dealer in Canada, were very helpful and took their time to explain the controls as well as how to fold the bike.

Our test model was the Brompton Electric C-Line Explore 6-speed. My first impressions were that it’s very well built with quality components. The bike’s joints move with a fluidity that speaks to how well it’s constructed, and the paint was stunning with an orange clear lacquer that showed off the hand-brazed welds from this detail-oriented manufacturer.

Brompton’s unique solution to going electric includes a 250W front hub wheel motor, a built-in controller, and a 300Wh battery, with a range of 40-80km, that sits in a small battery bag which locks into a docking station attached to the front of the bike frame. The bag can easily be removed for charging mobile devices via a built-in USB port, which I happily discovered when my phone died on a train-ride home from work.

There’s also a pouch on the battery bag that holds the charger and an extension cable, or your lightweight jacket if you forget the charger at home.

The Explore features a combination of a Sturmey-Archer BWR 3-speed internal rear hub with traditional high and low external gears.

The power-assist controls are easy to operate with only two buttons, and the blue indication LEDs are bright enough to view even under the sun.

The motor gets you up to speed, smoothly. Soon after, I was cruising at the European maximum of 25kph — all Bromptons are set to this maximum speed globally.

The small-sized 16” wheels are ultra-responsive and may take a bit of getting used to, but soon you’ll be weaving around obstacles. The Brompton Explore is a lot of fun and excels in urban settings with bike lanes, city streets and separated paths.

Thanks in part to its full-size wheelbase, it’s engineered to behave much like a regular bike. Cruising at the top assisted speed level was no sweat and ideal for commuting. While you can pedal past the limit of the power assist, for me it wasn’t worth the effort.

I found that gear 2-low was ideal for getting underway. When the power-assist kicked in, I switched the external cassette to high and just enjoyed cruising along.

The internal gear 1 wasn’t really needed for my riding style, and with a top pedal-assist speed of 25kph, the internal gear 3 was only useful when the bike was pointed downhill.

With three pedal-assist power options, the sweet spot was Level 2, and the motor disengages when you surpass the top speed. The power re-engages smoothly as your speed dips, making for a comfortable commute.

The controller also operates the lights with standard on/ off options, as well as a very useful automatic setting. The Busch & Müller AVY headlight offers 40 lux that nicely lights up the road ahead. The Spanninga reflector is engineered to the German StVZO bicycle standard, so it’s not just bright but more importantly has a designed beam pattern.

The Brompton dual pivot calliper brakes haul the bike down from speed adequately, even if the v-brakes feel a little spongy. The Schwalbe Marathon Racer tires provide a zippy ride, but note the small 16x1-3/8” wheel size for an inner tube in case you get a flat tire.

The saddle felt great, but that comes down to personal

(l-r) Charge your mobile devices as well; a stunning look from a detail-oriented manufacturer; Sturmey-Archer BWR 3-speed internal rear hub pairs with external high/low gears and a 250W front hub wheel motor.

preference. You can choose between an extended or telescopic seatpost, and the Explore even has fenders for when the weather changes before the ride home. The grips are non-ergonomic rubber and feel fine while the cockpit is simple and intuitive with integrated shifter/brake levers and a bell. A Lezyne pump is also included.

There are lots of great optional accessories as well including a rear rack, a 20L City bag, a telescopic or titanium seatpost, lacquer colour options, a bell upgrade, a spare battery, ergonomic grips and more.

When I asked my wife if she wanted to take the Brompton to work, she was immediately concerned about locking it up outside all day. No worries, this e-bike quickly folds in seconds and comes to the office with you, or on transit.

Built for urban streets and all of the enjoyable hustle and bustle that comes with city life, the Brompton Electric C-Line Explore is so much fun to whip through congestion and get you to your destination. This e-bike will make your commute the best part of the day.

The SRP starts at $4,665. For more information, please visit www.curbsidecycle.com

The Brompton Explore will make your commute the best part of the day.

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