New lightweight e-bike and more locations

With new Swissrider and three more locations into the new year: Thömus launches the new Swissrider, probably the nimblest e-bike ever. The launch took place in Santa Monica (USA), where Thömus has a new location and is entering a new market through a partnership. At the same time, Thömus is strengthening its presence in its home market with new locations in Lenzburg and the Principality of Liechtenstein.

The Swissrider with its modern design and its light weight of 11.5 kilos is the bike for daily use. Its basis is the ultra-light carbon frame and the drive technology from maxon, which has also proven itself in NASA’s Mars Rover. In the summer, Thömus launched the Lightrider E Ultimate, the first e-mountain bike with Swiss drive specialists maxon.
For Thomas Binggeli, CEO and test rider at Thömus, the new development is a milestone: “The Swissrider is an e-bike for life. Light enough that it can be carried up the stairs and hung on the train without effort, yet with enough power to ride with ease.” Only a discreetly integrated control element on the top tube suggests that there is more power in the bike.
The Swissrider is available now in dark red, sand and black starting at CHF 4,750 and is designed as a bike for all situations – with mudguard, luggage rack, the light integrated into the frame and the fast road tires. The Swissrider is also available with wider gravel tires, with straight handlebars or with racing handlebars. As with every Thömus bike, components and equipment are freely selectable and configurable.

Thömus goes USA

Thömus also developed the Swissrider at its headquarters in Oberried, where Binggeli started his bike production on his parents’ farm. But he presented it on the occasion of the opening of his new location in a good location in Santa Monica, California.
“In the USA, velomobility has huge potential, and Swiss precision is in demand there. I am delighted about the partnership with Bernardo Gonzalez,” says Binggeli. He offers the entire Thömus range in a franchise and assembles the bikes there individually. Gonzalez has already successfully opened up new markets in partnerships with Nespresso or Technogym.
“Switzerland is a technology and design center, especially for bicycles and e-bikes,” says Bernardo Gonzalez, explaining why he wanted to partner with Thömus. “When Thömu Binggeli explained his vision to me, it was clear that this would be a success story in California.”

Also present in Santa Monica was former NASA CTO Thomas Zurbuchen, who is very familiar with maxon’s drive technology through a wealth of experience from various Mars missions. The CEO of maxon Group, Eugen Elmiger was also present at the presentation of the new Swissrider. “We are convinced that light e-bike drives have a lot of potential in urban life. The Swissrider relies on sleek design, super-light construction and electric tailwind from maxon. A promising package for this market.”

Two new locations

Thömus is also strengthening its presence in its home market. Since the beginning of the year, there have been additional locations in Lenzburg as well as in the Principality of Liechtenstein – currently in Triesen, and from April in Schaan.

Der Swissrider – als Road, City oder Gravel Version
Thömu Binggeli im Gespräch mit Thomas Zurbuchen

About Thömus

For more than 30 years Thömus has been an independent producer of technically high-quality bikes – and thus trumps even in the middle of the bicycle boom with fast delivery times. “Swiss made to fascinate” is the motto of the company with 120 employees. Thömus produces in its own factory in Thörishaus near Bern with creativity, innovation and passion. Whether mountain bike, road bike or city bike – the high-quality Thömus bikes are available with electric assistance and without motor. Because everyone’s anatomy is different, as are their needs, there is no “one bike” at Thömus. Each bike is built individually according to the customer’s wishes. The community and its feedback is important to Thömus. Bike fans of all ages and strengths meet at many events for joint activities and exchanges. The experiences of customers and athletes flow directly back into the further development of the models.

About Bernardo Gonzalez

Born in Mexico City in 1973, Bernardo Gonzalez founded his first company (cement trading) at the age of 21, which he successfully resold seven years later. He took over a food services company that grew to become the largest of its kind in Mexico. Nespresso – which he brought to Mexico – was the first time he came into direct contact with a Swiss company. Gonzalez founded Cascada Fund, took over the trading company for Technogym distribution and founded Spinciti. He holds master’s degrees in entrepreneurship from Babson University Boston and in economics from Monterey Tech, was also a finance professor there, and attended two executive programs at Stanford.

Thömus takes over 2-Rad-Center Hartmann in Lenzburg

In a succession arrangement, Thömus AG will take over the traditional company 2-Rad-Center Hartmann in Lenzburg from January 2023, opening its first store with workshop in the Aargau region. All employees will be retained.

René and Anita Hartmann have been running the family business most recently. Regarding the succession plan, they say: “Finding a Swiss solution was very important to us. With Swissness, personal advice, quality and a wide range of services, Thömus stands for the same values that 2-Rad-Center Hartmann has lived by for the past almost 60 years.”

In addition to modern premises, a spacious workshop also belongs to the specialist dealer established in the region. With this acquisition, Thömus continues its expansion throughout Switzerland and makes Velo Hightech from Bern also easily accessible for the Aargau region in the future.

“Swissness is in our DNA,” says Thomas Binggeli, CEO and test driver at Thömus. “We rely on Swiss development, Swiss production and our community. It is central for us to bring our proven service close to our customers.”

It’s not just selling bikes. The community is a particularly important point for Thömus, a philosophy. Velo fans of all ages and strengths meet at various events for joint activities. The customer experiences gathered in the process flow directly back into the further development of the models.

The acquisition is effective as of 2023. From February 1, the premises in Lenzburg will also visually appear under the Thömus flag. Of course, bikes of all brands will continue to be repaired and serviced.

CONTACT:
Daniel Uebersax, CMO und COO Thömus AG
079 734 60 96 | [email protected]


ABOUT THÖMUS:
In 1991, the then 17-year-old Thomas Binggeli founded “Thömus Veloshop” on his parents’ farm in Oberried near Köniz (BE), where the headquarters are still located today. Since the step from bicycle dealer to bicycle developer in 1998, the company stands for bicycle high-tech from Switzerland. Cross country overall World Cup winner Alessandra Keller and Olympic medalist Mathias Flückiger have also been relying on this for several years. Whether gravel bike, racing bike, mountain bike or e-bike – all Thömus bikes have one thing in common: they are developed, designed and built here in Switzerland exactly according to the wishes and needs of the customers. This means that the shortest possible delivery times can be offered – completely “Swiss made to fascinate”.


ABOUT HARTMANN:
After about 40 years in the family business, 20 of them as owner and managing director, René Hartmann has decided to focus, together with his family, on the sports and health practice, which he has built up over the last 30 years in parallel with the bicycle business.