The made-in-Italy ebike that crossed the US coast to coast
Mobility — di Emanuele Rigitano
Ermes is an ebike made by Italian craftspeople that travelled more than 2,000 kilometres from Miami to San Francisco, braving storms and the desert.
The made-in-Italy ebike that crossed the US coast to coast
Ermes is an ebike made by Italian craftspeople that travelled more than 2,000 kilometres from Miami to San Francisco, braving storms and the desert.
A fully made-in-Italy ebike took on a long coast-to-coast journey across the United States to put the electric bicycle's qualities to the test.
Ermes, an ebike created by Italian designers and craftspeople for Mechane, was immediately put through its paces on a lengthy ride across the United States, performing admirably throughout. As the Mechane blog reports, "the frame withstood without any problems the stresses imposed by the various roads travelled."
The Ermes electric bicycle thus travelled 2,421 kilometres from Miami to San Francisco, crossing no fewer than eleven American states (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California).
The Ermes ebike's coast-to-coast journey across the United States
The first leg of the journey brought immediate challenges, with heavy rain and full-blown thunderstorms accompanying the Ermes ebike along the way. The heavy rain continued until the arrival in Orlando, up to just a few kilometres from the border with Alabama. Past New Orleans, where carnival was under way, the journey reached Texas, where the rain gave way to fine days and blue skies.
Water takes centre stage again, but this time in a kind gesture: no sooner had Gianpaolo Imbriani — the cyclist who tested the Ermes ebike — crossed the Texas border than a sheriff, after asking him to stop, reached into his patrol car, pulled out some bottles of water and offered them to him.
It was not the only offer of help during the journey; as well as curious onlookers, people also came forward offering him a lift on the more dangerous stretches to cycle during the storms.
Leaving behind the plains crossed as far as Texas, Ermes and Gianpaolo reach the Colorado Plateau, where in addition to the climbs they also encounter snowfall and strong winds. "But once you reach the plateau, your eyes are rewarded with endless landscapes and unspoilt nature — the blue of the sky meets the red of the earth and the rocks," writes the cyclist on his travel blog. It is in this area that you can visit the Grand Canyon and the Navajo Nation reservation.
Read also: 7 incredible ebike routes for a holiday steeped in history and nature
Arriving in Las Vegas, after leaving Arizona, Ermes begins to have some trouble with a few cables that need repairing. Shortly afterwards, a ride that takes Gianpaolo and his ebike through Death Valley, heading towards Los Angeles. Once the California coast is reached, the journey continues northwards to San Francisco: "Riding up the coast is a pleasure – long beaches, lush nature and the sound of the ocean accompanying every pedal stroke."
Read also: Sweden offers subsidies for people who buy an ebike
The Italian ebike made by craftspeople: the features of Ermes
Ermes is an ebike made entirely in Italy and hand-assembled in limited batches marked with serial numbers. It was recently presented in Milan as well, at a retailer of electric means of transport.
"The idea was to create an innovative vehicle that would stand out from everything the market had to offer. The guiding principles were the use of premium materials and the need to create a functional frame that would conceal all the components inside it while maintaining a sinuous and eye-catching design. The geometry is inspired by enduro riding, and the riding position is comfortable both on road and off-road," reads the text on Mechane's pages dedicated to the ebike.
Inserire un fanale così potente in uno spazio così piccolo non è stato semplice, ma grazie all’altissima efficienza del LED il risultato è un flusso luminoso di 2000 lumen, del tutto… instagram.com/p/BqrttTyFcuv/…
The motor is claimed to be the first ebike motor designed and built in Italy, according to the website: an output of 250 watts and a maximum speed of 25 kilometres per hour. The level of motor assistance can be varied from 1 to 5 via the handlebars.
The battery pack has a capacity of 500 watt-hours; it can be removed from the frame for charging from a home socket, or left in the frame and charged using the magnetic connector located on the underside.
The frame, covered with wooden liveries, is made of aluminium. There is enough space to add a second battery or to use it as a storage compartment. The liveries are made of veneered laminated wood and can be customised at the time of purchase, as well as being interchangeable.
The on-board computer display is integrated into the frame and can be managed via the controls on the handlebars. The light is also integrated into the frame: an LED optical unit producing 2,000 lumens, equivalent to a dipped-beam headlight on a car. A USB port can be fitted to the frame, allowing a smartphone to be charged while riding.