September 12, 2023 - (Vista, CA) Stromer, a pioneer in Swiss e-bike technology, is proud to announce a new partnership with Friiway to offer premium e-bike subscriptions around California’s San Francisco Bay Area.
Together, Stromer and Friiway imagine a future where e-bikes become an integral part of everyday life, not only as a means of transportation but as a catalyst for positive change. Through the new e-bike subscription service, they aim to reshape urban landscapes, reduce carbon footprints, and build a sense of togetherness that transcends city limits.
“Stromer is extremely happy to partner with Friiway for this first-of-its-kind program in the U.S. market,” says Matti Rajakylä, Stromer’s general manager for North America. “Leasing has been a great success for us in Europe, making our top-of-the-line e-bikes available to more commuters. On top of that, many employers are now taking advantage of this model to support their employees towards healthier, more affordable, and more sustainable ways of commuting. We’re excited to expand these opportunities in the United States.”
Founded in 2023, Friiway is the first service in the U.S. to offer subscriptions of premium e-bikes, like Stromer’s ST2 Pinion, and do this through partnerships with local retailers. The bikes are available on a month-to-month basis without the committing upfront cost of purchase. Moreover, insurance and maintenance are built in.
Every Friiway bike is covered for theft and damage, and if you need repairs or a tune up, your local Friiway retailer will take care of it. To future proof your experience, you can apply 15 percent of subscription to a bike purchase at your local Friiway retailer.
“Local service is essential to support e-bikes as vehicles that replace cars, and local business is also crucial for building a vibrant cycling culture and community,” says Brett Thurber, co-founder of Friiway, “When developing Friiway we decided that working with local bike shops would be fundamental.”
Friiway has partnered with The New Wheel as the brick-and-mortar customer service hub. The New Wheel is an award-winning retailer serving the Bay Area e-bike community for over ten years, with three locations: San Francisco, Oakland, and Marin.
Subscribe and Ride – How it Works
A Friiway subscription is the easiest way to start riding. It’s like a lease, but removes the commitment and adds services like insurance and maintenance.
Step 1: Pick Your Bike
Browse the Friiway website (friiway.com) or head to your local Friiway retailer for a test ride.
Step 2: Pick Your Plan
Choose your subscription plan: month-to-month, 6 months or 12 months. Not sure? No worries. You can always extend your Friiway subscription.
Step 3: New Bike Day
On new bike day, your Friiway retailer will give you a full orientation and make sure you have what you need to enjoy the ride.
Step 4: Ride Worry Frii
Your subscription comes standard with maintenance, insurance, and the ability to apply 15 percent of the cost towards a new e-bike at your retailer.
Available through Friiway, the Stromer ST2 Pinion was developed to take you places comfortably, safely and dynamically. With the 6-speed gearbox from Pinion, Gates Carbon Belt Drive, and individually adjustable stem, this model is your perfect commuting partner for your everyday life. The ST2 Pinion will be available for pick up starting in mid-September.
“Every so often, something changes your perspective on what’s possible. E-bikes do just that. They bring places and people closer together, flatten hills, make you feel good, and do it all at a fraction of the cost to your wallet and our planet than the leading alternative,” says Joe Connors, Friiway co-founder. “For the e-bike curious, hesitation stems from poor infrastructure, upfront cost, and the commitment required to try it in their own lives. At Friiway, we’re here to cure that curiosity by making high-quality e-bikes affordable and flexible for first-time riders.”
For more information visit Friiway here and New Wheel here.
About Friiway
Friiway was founded in 2023 by Joe Connors and Brett Thurber to help catalyze the adoption of quality electric bicycles in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Joe was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and was inspired by how small and flat his hometown became after buying an electric bike in 2021. When the opportunity presented itself, Joe decided it was time to turn his personal mission of getting everyone he knew on an e-bike into a professional one.
Brett was born in San Francisco and has been inspired and daunted by the hills of his hometown since his first time on two-wheels. After college in 2010, Brett founded The New Wheel selling exclusively electric bikes. The New Wheel now has four locations and has been a National Bicycle Dealers Association Retailer Excellence Award Winner for 6 consecutive years. When not riding electric bicycles Brett is thinking about electric bicycles.
About Stromer
Founded in 2010 and based in Oberwangen, Switzerland, the company is shaping the future of mobility with its Speed Pedelecs. myStromer AG produces all its e-bikes at the Oberwangen site and is the market leader in the Speed Pedelec category (fast e-bikes up to 28 mph). The company employs around 140 people, has two subsidiaries (USA and Netherlands) and sells its S-Pedelecs in 23 countries. Since 2021, the Spanish brand Desiknio has enhanced the product range with high-quality urban bikes (up to 20 mph). With its high-end products, Stromer offers commuters a contemporary mobility solution. This can be confirmed by the 245 million miles traveled on Stromers. Stromer is #HereToChange. For more information visit here.
