EUROBIKE 2014 FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, GERMANY PART I

Europe is E-Bike crazy right now, so I decided that EuroBike would be a good place to see the latest in E-Bike technology.   I tried to find a local ride by asking around the bike shops, no luck.  The train was all day but the bus for $27 to Munich then $15 to Friedrichshafen, seemed like the best option.

WHY AM I SO CRAZY ABOUT ELECTRIC BIKES?

A recent study on the environment impact of e-bikes vs other forms of transportation found that e-bikes are about:

• 18 times more energy efficient than an SUV
• 13 times more energy efficient than a sedan
• 6 times more energy efficient than rail transit
• and, of about equal impact to the environment as a conventional bicycle.

FROM E-BIKES WIKIPEDIA

I took the night bus and arrived in Munich about 7am.  I didn’t have a map to my “SMART STAY HOSTEL”.  I asked the Kebab guy, (the only shop open) for the wifi password, NO!  Some of the buses had wifi, so as the buses arrived I would stand next to them, I finally got connected and my got directions to my hostel. It was only a 1.5 mile walk. I’ve never been to Munich (photo tour)  so I came a day early, to have a look around.  I needed to buy my ticket to Friedrichshafen where EuroBike is being hosted.  I spent nearly the whole day buying bus tickets and walking around, aimlessly.  I went to rent a bike, when I finally found the location, I was told they had gone out of business.  Maybe they should remove their advertisements from the hostel?

I had to visit 3 different ticket sellers at 2 different locations to get all the bus tickets I needed.  In some ways Germany is not very easy to navigate.  Something that was super cool were the luxury buses, (once you got a ticket), they were super nice.

I didn’t have a room for the first night.  So the tourist office hooked me up an apartment at the campground.  I had emailed the campground the week before, but I never got a response.  The room (with bathroom down the hall) was $80 and I had to pay to use the WIFI.  The more I attempted to use the internet the more I realized there’s “a lock” on it in Germany.  I got free WIFI in nearly every country I visited.  Now I’m in Europe’s economic powerhouse-Germany and you must pay to play!

This time I rented a bike at the bus station, when I arrived.  Missing basket, broken lights and a squeaky chain, Oh how I miss not having my own bike.

I finally get there and what do I see?

You can ride in a Zeppelin for 200 euro ($265) for 1/2 hour, You can save 5 euro it’s only 395 euro for an hour.  i actually thought about it for a minute? Whens the next time you’ll be able to ride in a Zeppelin,  I may have to come back and give it a try, maybe when I retire.

My friend, Meghan from Portland works for NUTCASE BIKE HELMETS and she got me a one-day pass, that also allowed me to buy 3 more days.

NOW FOR THE BIKE PHOTO SHOW AND THE AMAZING NEW STUFF FOR BIKES

 The fashion show was amazing. Sample Videos: #1,   #2,   #3   I thought it was a top event at EuroBike.  The lead dancer in the 2nd video is great!

THERE WAS SOME BIKE HISTORY ON DISPLAY

 

The test area for the electric bikes was packed.  No one was wearing a helmet (I was), we were “testing” electric bikes, watch out.  There was probably 50-75 bikes on the track at once.  The Stromer Electric Bike was the 2014 EuroBike Gold Medal Winner. I had to try it, super fast! and fun!

I went over and tried the Raleigh Electric Bike, nearly the same specs, but 1/2 the price.  I liked that it wasn’t all business, there was lots of activities going on.  There was a organization from Amsterdam, that recycles the frames from abandoned bicycles.

I went to 3 days of EuroBike, it was alot.  I’ve got some more photos and stories. So yep, Part II is where I will wrap up the rest of EuroBike.  I will post the photo links in the next blog post.

UNTIL THEN

JEFF