Martin Pinsonnault,
Canadian born, living in Switzerland. Extensive knowledge of the bicycle travel sector (multiple trips using trailers in France, Switzerland, USA, Denmark, Scotland, etc.). Touring bikes, folding bikes... up to the day when I tried an e-bike, it's just like comparing ping-pong to tennis, it opens up to greater possibilities, distance and enjoyment go hand-in-hand.
The dictionaries which have a reputation for being right about everything are wrong about one thing: cycling is not a means of locomotion. It’s a dream in motion.
PEDALING... to travel, to get away.
But time passes, night falls, the spot is sublime! Where can I stop, eat and sleep? The first Airbnb or hotel is 20 leagues away, in a much less charming area. Moreover, it is expensive and not very inviting.
Noting that some of my cycling trips have been complicated and frustrating, the idea of setting up my own camp was born.
How to be sheltered, have a minimum of hassle, whether second taught about the weather being dry or not and be able to settle down in the best of spots?
Massive expansion of travel by bicycle, with an exponential acceleration since the Covid period
→ The trend: a great desire to travel the World and in different ways.
The European Market is ready: with Germans, Swiss and French (to name a few) buying close to 5M e-bikes in the last 2 years,
THE GOAL
Allowing people to setup camp somewhere temporarily with rudimentary means.
The RyB : Ride your Bed
Portable shelter (trailer) towed by an e-bike, dismountable and weatherproof, to be set up in the open air for sleeping (solo).
→ Quick and easy assembly
→ Comfortable and spacious interior
→ Technical and functional innovations
→ Brilliant options (solar panel, shower)
HOW CAN THAT BE
Thanks to its two-part design, the traveller can decide at any time to leave the upper «cabin» part in storage and continue only with the lower «box» part.
The box element becomes a practical trailer, closed and secured by locks, for more regular use.
→ Easy transport and storage
LET'S TALK MONEY
Through CampCycle Sàrl I invested over 150'000 CHF so far... over 1'000 engineering hours, 3 RyB prototypes on hand and over 50K CHF on hand in parts and tools. The reviews for the RyB at two Trade Shows this year (Le Mans + Lyon) exceeding my expectations. Now is the time to go forward and accelerate in order to meet the orders for the season.
The RyB will sell for between 4K-5K EUR depending on the options (solar panel, shower, spare wheel). The product is made out of 85% of European parts and is the smallest and lightest when compared to other caravans for e-bikes. It is a durable product made of all stainless steel, aluminium honeycomb, and carbon.
It is designed to be light (48Kg), small (90 L x 70 w - daytime) to be manageable on the cycling paths, and resistant to extreme heat ( the tarp (top part at night) is made out of boat cover material). A product built to last.
The RyB (Ride your Bed) consists of two parts: a top (the sleeping quarters) and the bottom a trailer (cargo) on which it sits. The top part makes for 380 liter in daytime use and deploys to 1800 liter at night-time offering a one-person sleeping area of 208 (L) x 87 (W) x 120 (H). It is the lightest, the most compact in the Market. Our competitors range from 54kg to 92kg with the lightest model being 210cm long during day travel while the RyB stands at 90cm (L) x 70 (W) and weighs 48kg!
HOW MUCH ?
CampCycle Sàrl needs 150'000 CHF to go forward in leaps and bounds
WHY ?
→ To fund the purchase of parts for the first 20 models
→ To provide funds to participate at Trade Shows and Cycling Events
→ To launch a marketing campaign in specialised magazines and on the Web
THE RISKS
→ it starts breaking apart ... originally built for the Swiss Market, not a chance. Quality throughout and just in case there is a 24 hr to 48 hr parts replacement program for the European Market.
→ Cyclists prefer renting one to buying one RyBs , not a problem. Discussions are taking place with e-bike renters and large bike shops to rent them across France (to start with) with renters cycling to pick-up points.