BICLOU, EPISODE 35 - Jean-Claude Marquet's great passion is traveling by bike, all over the world.
Each year, this retiree, almost 81 years old, goes on a “randopote” with his friends.
"My bike is my doctor and my shrink, I have the niac when I pedal" he sums up simply.
So of course, he was suggested several times to invest in an electric bicycle.
"It's no, 80 years old is too young" answers Jean-Claude.
But to us, he said yes, to test a high-tech electric bike for an afternoon.
This bike is the Angell Bike.
Presented as "the safest in the world", it is the creation of Jules Trecco and Marc Simoncini, the founder of Meetic, today at the head of the investment fund Jaïna Capital.
Find all the episodes of Biclou, the video series of the “Parisian” on the bike.
A bike with a screen that can be controlled with a smartphone
To unlock this bike, you can use your smartphone.
"It doesn't surprise me, we use the cell phone for everything now" comments Jean-Claude, amused.
The Angell Bike has a small built-in display which offers a lot of features: speed control, GPS, weather and even access to Spotify.
But the novelty that interests Jean-Claude is above all these integrated indicators, which are activated on the handlebars and at the rear of the battery: “It's true that that's good”.
After a few laps of the wheel, Jean-Claude already has several comments to make about this bike.
He is amazed and very amused by the quality of the electric assistance: "It's crazy, when I push that first alone".
So much so that he even has a fear: "I'm going to get lazy with this bike".
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But when you reach rue de Rivoli, a red message appears on the screen… "An error has occurred, disconnect the battery for 10 seconds, then reconnect it".
When you do so, the bike's anti-theft alarm starts to sound loudly ...
The problem is in fact due to a bad Bluetooth connection between the phone (which belongs to the journalist, pedaling a little further) and Jean-Claude's “smart bike”.
We put the phone in the pocket of the retiree, and everything is resolved.
"Hello, it's Marc Simoncini"
After two hours of testing, including a hell of a climb on rue Saint-Jacques, easily swallowed by Jean-Claude and his engine, we arrive in front of the Panthéon.
It's time for a little break for a video call between Jean-Claude and Marc Simoncini, who created the Angell Bike.
"We talk to each other, eh" suggests Jean-Claude.
"Did the ride go well?"
»Asks Marc Simoncini.
Once the presentations are made, the two men discuss the characteristics of the bike.
Jean-Claude regrets that the level of electric assistance is not systematically displayed on the screen - "or else it is written too small".
But Jean-Claude also assures him that he greatly appreciates the lightness and the visual aspect of the bicycle (the work of designer Ora-ïto)
“It costs € 2,860,” explains Marc Simoncini.
And he is eligible for the aid scheme for the purchase of an electric bicycle issued by Ile-de-France-Mobilités for an amount of € 500 ”.
But for that price, Jean-Claude would prefer a bike that allows him to travel "on which I can mostly put my saddlebags".
In total, some 2,000 Angell bikes have been in circulation since September 2020. A figure below the targets announced when the bike was launched in September.
Every Sunday, find a new episode of Biclou on the “Parisien” Facebook page.
