DOWNTOWN Feature

Petrol in the blood, electricity in the legs – Why life sometimes doesn’t give us a choice


Stereotypes. They are hard to avoid. Especially against blondes. And step-throughs. So when we headed out on a ride with the HNF-NICOLAI UD3 (a step-through) and Paulina (a blonde), we smashed stereotype bingo. For this issue of Downtown, here is a story about being born with petrol coursing through your veins, unconventional ebikes, craftsmanship, picking kids over a career and why the idea of choice in our lives might be false.

Go and check DOWNTOWN for the full story!

HNF Nicolai UD3 Damen E Bike Tiefeinsteiger 002 810x540
Note: this is no run-of-the-mill story and may prompt feelings of envy – along the lines of “Damn, I wouldn’t mind a girlfriend like this!”


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Words & Photos: Robin Schmitt

About the Author

Robin Schmitt
CEO & Founder

Robin is one of the two founders of 41 Publishing, a visionary and go-getter. While he now enjoys every second on the bike – whenever his busy schedule allows – he used to race against the clock at enduro events and a few Downhill World Cups. Besides that, Robin practises kung fu and Zen meditation, plays the cello, loves classic cars, travels abroad and still reviews numerous bikes himself. Progressive ideas, new projects and major challenges – Robin loves exploring undiscovered potential and getting to the bottom of new trends.

GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine

GRAN FONDO is the first independent premium magazine for road and gravel bikes with a holistic lifestyle approach. We write for visionaries and adventurers, for creative minds and tech enthusiasts who see cycling as part of their way of life. Instead of obsessing over watts and marginal gains, our editorial team looks at the bigger picture: high-end bikes, global trends and technological milestones, all evaluated with a firm grounding in real-world use.

Since 2016, GRAN FONDO has stood for journalistic depth and full transparency in the drop-bar segment. Our awards are recognized worldwide as a benchmark for riders, retailers, and the industry alike. In our in-depth reviews and comparison tests, years of testing expertise flow into practical, independent product analysis.

GRAN FONDO is published in both German and English, reaching an international audience.