In the city or in the sticks: the ways in which we choose to move around are changing drastically and so is our attitude to mobility. When it comes to our choice of vehicle, more conscious, considered decisions are the new norm – but, truthfully, we’re just as stoked on the route.
Yells of ‘you are what you eat’ have largely melted away, and those who truly want to live a conscious lifestyle are thinking much broader than just what’s on their plate or where their clothes were made. While, of course, these are commendable, those elements don’t cut it any longer. Time is ticking and the vision of a sustainable lifestyle has noticeably swelled to include how we move. This is mobility as pop culture, and mobility choices that speak volumes for your character. Your style GPS just got another dimension.
On a societal level, the tide is changing for mobility in fairly earth-shattering ways as innovative e-mobility concepts collide with the transportation dinosaurs. But not everything that glitters is gold and not everything new is great… Conversations about the future of transportation are dominated by rational arguments because, after all, numbers and stats about range, utilization and acceleration rates are easier to compare. But that’s only half the truth: for us, the concept of ‘being on the go’ is a lifestyle choice. Mobility is so central to our lives that it cannot be reduced to an easily digestible graph or spreadsheet. The reason this issue goes by the name ‘Riding time is living time’ demonstrates just how fundamental our choice of mobility is when it comes to our quality of life.
The Highlights
- The best ebike – 19 of the most exciting ebike concepts tested
- Porsche Taycan Cross Tourismo on test – A new era?
- Good to know – 11 ebike key trends
- Bratwurst and blueberry smoothies – A gastro safari in the sticks
- Kill the pace, not the vibe – Crew love over membership fees
- Speed dating – You are the limiting factor
- Work-ride balance – How to boss your home office and bike life
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All the bikes in this issue
Ampler Stout | Brompton M6L Cloud Blue | Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty LE | Canyon Commuter:ON 7 | Diamant Juna Deluxe+ | FEDDZ E-Moped | FLYER Upstreet6 7.10 HS | Haibike Trekking 9 | Kalkhoff Endeavour 5.B Excite+ | MERIDA eBIG.TOUR 700 EQ | MERIDA eONE SIXTY 10K | Moustache Samedi 27 Xroad FS 7 | Movea Modo 20” | Riese & Müller Homage GT Rohloff HS | Riese & Müller Packster 70 Vario | Riese & Müller Roadster Touring | Schindelhauer Arthur VI/IX | Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0 EQ | VanMoof X3
What’s this issue got in store?
For this issue we’ve carried out the most extensive and informative group test with 19 bikes for 2021 getting the full treatment. What difference does their range actually make? Are these slick tech features just for show or are they adding genuine value? What makes my bike safe enough for the city?
A new driving experience, possibly benchmark performance and an almost schizophrenic versatility – with their latest electric car, Porsche aim to push boundaries and inspire a (sub)urban target group with an affinity for the outdoors. Can they deliver? We tested the € 190,000 Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo in everyday life, on the racetrack and off-road, offer some future-oriented insights and tell you whether society is ready for electric cars.
Ebikes are experiencing radical change, while simultaneously becoming a status symbol. Digital integration is making life easier and bikes more exciting than they’ve ever been! We’ve put together the most important ebike trends of 2021 for you here
In our three-part product special HYPE THIS, we present you some truly indulgent, impeccably well-made items to enrich your life, your next trip away, your next social engagement or just the next few hours.
Why is it that any conversation about good food so often ends up straying into life’s big questions? We sat down with restauranteur Frederic Jung in Germany’s tranquil village of Bad Tabarz to chat about fusion cuisine in the sticks but quickly moved onto the rural vs urban debate, alternative lifestyles, and how to find balance.
There’s a new generation of athletes in Dresden. Sure, they’re clad in running shoes and a touch of lycra, but they’re explicitly distanced from your standard athletics club, spreading a confetti-strewn, smoke-bombing community spirit in what is traditionally an individual sport. We caught up with René Claussnitzer and Jan Lau, the founders of PACE KILLERS, to find out why, even for ardent non-runners, pacing across our city streets might be just the thing.
Ever tried speed dating? Felt that familiar tingle of excitement that comes from having no idea what to expect? Are you going to hit it off? What happens if you don’t? Can you walk out? Nope, not today – definitely, not today. I’m strapped to a chair. The deafening noise makes any attempt to converse futile. Speed dating, what are you doing to me?
Many of us may have had some fairly major life shifts recently, in which the words home office and working from home have muscled into our daily vocab. Now the norm and not the exception, working from home admittedly comes with certain drawbacks but also offers masses of opportunity to become a better person and, most importantly, work on a more palatable work-ride balance.
Excited? These (and many more) stories are just a few clicks away. If you have already installed our free app, you can download the latest DOWNTOWN issue directly there. If not, first install the app of one of our magazines from the App Store (iPhone / iPad) or the Play Store (Android smartphones & tablets) and then load the latest issue within the app. Then you can sit back and enjoy the new issue (ideal with a cold beer or delicious coffee)! Also, check out the DOWNTOWN Website directly for regular updates and new content!
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Words: Benjamin Topf Photos: DOWNTOWN crew
