SUV E-BIKE:
WORK ROUTE WITH PERFECT MIX OF FUN, TRAINING AND TEST TRACK
Felix Schäfermeier grins conspicuously wide when he talks about two things: He is addicted to coffee and has a heart that beats for cycling... In his childhood he comes from BMX to mountain biking before sitting on a road bike for the first time at the age of 16. Just two years later, he wins the U19 Road World Cup in Luxembourg in 2006. The victory is his chance to join a Continental team, where he rides the 2007 and 2008 seasons as a professional. From 2009 to 2012 he swaps the road bike again for the mountain bike, with which he still competes in numerous races until the end of his career. In the meantime, he only rides "for fun" - mostly gravel or enduro, but every now and again he still takes part in a race. For example in 2017, where he took 3rd place in the Enduro classification of the Swiss Epic. A darn fast man, who does not care which bike he rides. The important thing is that it rolls well and that every now and again a good coffee on the ride is consumed.
After completing his studies, his professional career led him without any major detours to Schwalbe, where he has been working since 2014. He initially help a position in liaison management, which forms the interface between World Tour teams, product development and production. There, Felix accompanied the pros on numerous races and then passed on their input, which was then taken up as valuable feedback in product design. For the past three years, he has worked as a product manager responsible for the 'non-rubber' area. Felix is responsible for product developed away from Schwalbe tires and classic tubes. His hobbyhorse is the Aerothan tube, the production and development of which he manages.
Felix's commute combines the best of all worlds and is the product of countless rides on his gravel bike. His commuting season lasts from March to October, which he likes to add more days without a car whenever the weather and mood permit. While the snoozing fraction still turns around three times in the morning, Felix already has syrupy crema flowing out of the portafilter before he leaves his house in Olpe...
We quickly leave the city, ride along Lake Bigge and continue along a former railroad line that has been converted into a bike path. This is followed by a long climb over forest service roads, which lets the fatigue leave the body and leads over numerous ridges in the further course. Again and again, harmless but all the more beautiful single trails mix in with the gravel sections. It is impossible for Felix to pedal dutifully in the direction of the company here... - in the manual he surfs through puddles with his pannier on his bike and is as happy as the little boy who stood at the starting gate on his BMX back then. He passes the milk machine, where he likes to buy a liter of milk for his cappuccino after work on his way home. The next port of call is Blockhaus. There, a magnificent view awaits in all directions and on a clear day, the Siebengebirge as well as the Cologne Bay and the Bergisches Land can be easily recognized. We quickly take a photo for the Whatsapp group with our work colleagues before a long gravel road leads down into the valley. Now only the final opponent awaits. A short but all the more crisp stitch leads up to the company building, where a well-deserved shower awaits Felix before he heads to his desk.
Its 24 km working route is the perfect mix of fun, training and test track and, with just under 500 meters of altitude, a thoroughly sporty start to the day. Almost every type of surface is represented and at the moment it is ideal to test how the AL GROUNDER behaves in muddy conditions. Felix is currently testing this SUV tire in a long-term test to provide valuable feedback to his colleagues in product development. At 60 mm, the tire is quite wide and thus offers very good traction. It rolls very quietly and is still easy to drive even on moderate terrain. And of course Felix has treated his tires to a few Aerothan tubes. After all, who wants to be held up by a puncture on the way to work?
SUV-BIKES: EIGHT TIRES FOR EVERY USE
From asphalt to offroad, from everyday to adventure: Schwalbe's tire range is as diverse as the SUV bikes. Stefan Franken, Product Manager Tour and E-Bike, explains which SUV tire fits which bike.