CAMINADE LA GRANDE MOTTE is the first city bike from the emblematic French brand. Maybe you have already saw it on their Twitter account or on one picture showing their workspace. Well the prototype is not one anymore. Starting from a request from the French city La Grande Motte based in the south of France, this curved bike is designed by a team composed by CAMINADE and the French colour designer Jean-Gabriel Causse.
CAMINADE LA GRANDE MOTTE, is fully inspired by the city giving its name to this city bike. What is so particular to La Grande Motte ? This city, developed and designed starting 1960 by Jean Balladur, designer, is a seaside resort with a typical architecture inspired mainly by Teotihuacan pyramid in Mexico and modern architecture in Brasil. It results in curved shape for building and street furniture. I invite you to discover more about this architecture : http://www.lagrandemotte.com/Menu/Decouvrir/Une-architecture-exceptionnelle (use the arrow to slide from one to another picture).
This rounded steel city bike, made of cromo4130, is 100% handmade in France directly at the headquarters of Caminade Bikes (South West of France close to Perpignan).
How does Caminade manage to obtain a stiff frame design around one beam ? The rear of the frame, i cannot call it "rear triangle", is built with the same steel tubes used on the Caminade ONE4ALL swing arm (diameter of 16mm). The unique front tube, beam, and the seatube are a same and unique steel tube obtained by a process of rolled welded. Its thickness is 2,5mm, 3 times more that what is use on Caminade steel bikes.
The headtube has a diameter of 44mm and is 150mm to host the steel beam on a longer length. Identical process used to connect the rear and the front of the bike, the welding is made on a large aera to ensure a significant stifness to the CAMINADE LA GRANDE MOTTE. The method use to weld the bike is by fillet brazing , the advantage is not to overheat the tube so it prevents to loose the original characteristic of the steel.
CAMINADE LA GRANDE MOTTE is available with 2 complete bikes and 1 frameset (frame + aluminium fork as an option).
- LA GRANDE MOTTE ELECTRIQUE is set up with a Zehus engine, made in Italy. What is so specific to the ZEHUS engine made in Italy ? It is what we call an "All in One". The rear hub which is 180mm diameter and 120mm wide for 3kgs, contains all the system. Yes, the engine (250w) and the battery (160w) fits in it. No cable ! And the little extra...it can regenerate while you ride and do not use the engine ! Infinite power ??? well depending how you use it, you can recharge it on an electric plug.
There is no display, but if you really wish to manage your speed, your battery, the status of your engine (diagnosis), lock the bike so no one can ride it, mobility stats and other social functions....ZEHUS has developed a phone apps to manage all this thanks to Bluetooth technology (iOS and android supported).
- LA GRANDE MOTTE AUTOMATIQUE is set up with the well known SRAM AUTOMATIX rear hub with 2 speeds. This hub has the particularity to work with a centrifugal clutch that changes the pace along with you. It delivers automatic two-speed shifting, no shifter required.
To conclude about the transmission system, both are using a CARBON GATE belt drive system. The bike design allow to remove the gate without opening the frame, you just need to slide the wheel a little bit on the front (horizontal dropout) to give play to the belt on the crankring and remove it by the rear. Very easy.
Both complete bikes are equipped with 26" wheels and Hutchinson Gotham tires (26x1.7 - reflective side), but if you choose to buy the frameset you ll be able to mount 700cc wheels with tinny tires. The seatpost has a diameter of 27,2 mm and features an integrated rear light with 6 led. For each bikes the front brake is an hydraulic disc brake system couple with a 160mm rotor and the rear brake works by back pedalling. The handlebar is a Baramind BAM CITY designed to absorb a maximum of vibrations.
LA GRANDE MOTTE AUTOMATIQUE - sram automatix : 2499 euros
LA GRANDE MOTTE ELECTRIQUE - zehus electric engine : 3999 euros
Available worldwide, please contact Caminade for an accurate price in your currency and to know all shipment details.
Caminade Website for the LA GRANDE MOTTE : http://caminade.eu/velo.urbain.la.grande.motte
Caminade on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/caminadebikes/
ZEHUS ENGINE
Helping when you need it and recharging the battery where your body can deliver it
- 250 watts engine / dist 60km
- Total Weight 3kgs
- Switches on/off automatically
- Can be recharge on plug if necessary
- No user interface needed
- No wires needed
- Can be connected to a smartphone (bluetooth).
- 180 mm diameter and 120 mm width.
- http://www.zehus.it/#TECH
