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“The bicycle is a statement and is increasingly becoming a status symbol,” says Sören Zieher.
He founded the Vpace Bikes brand in Ravensburg six years ago and made customization according to customer requirements his credo.
His main focus is on high-quality children's and adult bikes.
And the sporting challenge, which is why he does not have an electric tailwind on his bikes.
“We can create the right bike for everyone - depending on budget, taste and needs,” promises Zieher.
"Regardless of whether it is mainly used for commuting, a sporting hobby or family outings."
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Its frames are developed in-house and manufactured in Asia.
Gears, handlebars, saddles, mudguards or other components can be selected from their favorite brands and thus put together their dream bike according to their own taste.
Zieher cannot currently complain about a lack of demand.
On the contrary: At the beginning of the fourth quarter, he had already exceeded his actual sales target for 2020 by 25 percent.
“I need more space and more employees,” he says.
And he currently has to accept delivery bottlenecks.
But for “optimal set-ups”, his customers are willing to wait two to four months, according to Zieher.
Will mountain biking be the new way of skiing?
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The situation is very similar for David Assfalg and his business partner Robert Krauss.
It's going well for them too, very well in fact.
The Propain company, which they founded in 2012 - in Vogt, a rural community on the outskirts of the Allgäu - relied on the production of individual bicycles from the beginning and has specialized entirely in the mountain bike sector.
Assfalg makes no secret of the fact that they were literally overrun by customers last year - also due to Corona.
"However, the pandemic only accounts for part of the increased demand," he says.
Will mountain biking eventually overtake even skiing?
Assfalg can well imagine that.
At least this special form of popular sport is becoming increasingly popular, especially in the Alps, he emphasizes.
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In Tyrol, for example, a number of operators have already upgraded their mountain railways so that they can also transport bicycles, and there are numerous slopes that are perfectly prepared for downhill mountain bikers.
Made to measure: Propain Bicycles is all about individual mountain bikes
Source: dpa-tmn
The bicycle manufacturer from Vogt, which has now grown to 70 employees, also develops the frames itself in the sizes that suit its customers and has them produced in Asia.
The customers choose which color the desired unique item should have, which brakes, suspensions or pedals it should be equipped with.
And Propain is also bursting at the seams at the moment.
The old assembly hall is no longer sufficient.
The new, 2,000 square meter hall, which is to be inaugurated in March, is already too small from the current perspective.
Another hall is planned for autumn 2021.
The whole bike doesn't always have to be individual
Any cyclist doesn't know that: You actually have a lot of fun on your bike. But it pinches and pinches - especially when you sit in the saddle for a long time.
And the fun can quickly be over.
But it doesn't need to be.
"Individual saddles not only play a central role when buying a new one, the old bike can also be retrofitted without any problems," says Ergon spokesman Lothar Schiffner.
The manufacturer of bicycle contact points has already committed itself to the best possible ergonomics when cycling.
"Extensive scientific studies show that a strict gender segregation between men and women is essential, especially when it comes to the saddle," emphasizes Schiffner.
Differences in size should also be taken into account when choosing an optimal saddle.
“And by measuring the sit bone distance, the correct saddle width can be determined,” says Schiffner.
Many Ergon saddles are available in different widths so that all seat width ranges can be covered.
Calm points of contact
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Another topic: As a cyclist you don't want to complain about sensitivity disorders, tingling, numbness or abnormal sensations in your hands and fingers after longer tours - which unfortunately happens again and again.
“Every hand is different too.
That is why our handles are adapted to different hand shapes and sizes, ”says the Ergon spokesman.
The different disciplines played a decisive role not only with saddles, but also with grips.
Individual contact: the handles on the bike can be quickly exchanged and adapted to personal needs
Source: dpa-tmn
Especially with all-mountain and enduro riders on long, rough descents, the long tensing of the gripping muscles could lead to a blood congestion.
That is why Schiffner recommends using grips whose application and function-oriented texture fields and special rubber compound absorbs shocks and vibrations better, improves the direct driving experience and puts significantly less strain on the holding muscles of the hand.
The bike adapts to the users
Series production and individual bodies go hand in hand at the recumbent bike manufacturer HP-Velotechnik from the Hessian town of Kriftel.
"We are a manufacturer with a modular system," says spokesman Alexander Kraft.
For example, with the Gekko fxs, which has been specially designed for children and people with small stature, there are hardly any limits to individual equipment requirements.
In addition, the tricycle with two front-steered wheels can be adjusted to body sizes from 1.15 to 1.80 meters in a few simple steps.
"The wide range of accessories makes this trike the perfect platform for adjustments in the therapy area - for example with the innovative guide handle for companions or a five-point belt system," says Kraft.
Special wheels for smaller people and children: The Gekko fxs can be adjusted to different sizes
Source: dpa-tmn
Another highlight is a StVZO-compliant indicator, which also enables people with handicaps to correctly indicate turning.
The Gekko fxs has received an aid number from the health insurance companies and can therefore in many cases be subsidized by the health insurance fund as a therapy bike for children or even billed in full.
"All of our bikes can be upgraded to e-bikes with several different motors," says Alexander Kraft.
The rear wheel hub motor from Neodrives has a reverse gear, the Shimano Systems Steps E5000, in combination with a fully automatic eight-speed gear hub, invites you to relax and drive without having to worry about shifting.
The customer's wish in focus: Some providers specialize in building individual bicycles
Source: dpa-tmn