Idworx, for me the highlight of the "Fiets- en wandelbeurs 2013".
Yesterday, I visited what I would translate as the "Bike & Hike show" in Amsterdam. Racing bikes left aside, Holland is way more bicycle minded than Belgium is: lots and lots of people, lots and lots of trekking bikes and at least a handful of small brands which passionately produce very nice bicycles.
Technically speaking, Idworx is a German company. But Gerrit Gaastra definitely is Dutch, even though he lives in Bonn. He's the founder of Idworx and I watched him talk passionately about the Easy Rohler Evo and the new All Rohler.
Well, I learned a lot. But the most important thing I took home is that Idworx refuses to compromise. They always go for the best possible solution. For each and every detail.
Unlike most other brands, Idworx sees its bikes as a 'gesamtkonzept' (an overall idea) and goes as far as to have parts produced specifically and exclusively for their bikes. Just to make sure they offer you the best possible solution. Even when it's a stupid thing to do from a purely marketing point of view. Now, that is what I would call passion.
This picture shows you both the Easy Rohler (black) and the All Rohler (orange). Although Gerrit is no fan at all of the Gates carbon Belt drive, his bikes now are 'belt-ready'. This is actually the first Idworx I see equipped with a belt. Very nice.
Idworx seems to be interested in the all new belt drive system by Continental though. This system looks like the Gates Belt drive system but is different in the sense that it uses larger teeth and aramid instead of carbon. It would become available this year. Wonder whether we'll be seeing it on an Idworx. Factory-installed, I mean.