Paralympic handcycling gold medallist Alex Zanardi has collaborated to the project launched by Visit Elba, the local tourism board
Visit Elba has recently presented the first prototype of a power-assisted pedal handbike specifically designed for a tourist destination. Paralympic handcycling gold medallist Alex Zanardi has provided his support to the project. The first four handbikes #Elba4All will be at the Island guests’ disposal, also free of charge, from next autumn.
Set few kilometres away from the Tuscany’s coast in Italy, Elba Island is establishing itself as the „open-air gym” of choice for outdoor sports’ passionate. Its temperate, dry climate makes the island an ideal destination for those cycling professionals and amateurs who want to get back into shape in spring or continue training in autumn and winter. But it is also a place-to-be for anyone – including bike-tourists, families as well as people with special needs – who like enjoying Elba’s beautiful, natural landscape and views over the sea along the island’s 400 km of trails.
“We want all our guests to fully experience Elba Island”, says Claudio Della Lucia, coordinator of Visit Elba, the local tourism board. “Hence the project #Elba4All for a power-assisted pedal handbike that will allow people with disabilities, or who just want to experience a different point of view from the bicycle, to easily tour our island”.
“The design and production of this handbike are 100% Italian”, continues Della Lucia, “and we are happy that paracycling champion Alex Zanardi has supported us on this project. We expect that the first four bikes will be available from September; they will be free of charge for people with reduced mobility”.
#Elba4All handbike has been road-tested by Alex Zanardi, who has reached Elba Island to train for the next World Championships and the Olympics competitions. Paracyclists Pierpaolo Addesi, bronze medal in the category MC5 at the 2018 World Championships, Giancarlo Masini, bronze medal in the MC1 category at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, and Fabio Anobile, bronze medal in the MC3 category at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, have joined Zanardi in his training sessions.
Alex Zanardi says: „#Elba4All is a common sense initiative in which I eagerly got involved by my friends of Visit Elba. Their goal is to make this wonderful island, which has so many things to discover and experience, accessible to people with di disabilities. This bicycle is meant as both sports and recreational aid. It allows cyclists to take on the challenging hills of the island’s routes, with great satisfaction and to the best of their abilities, or to benefit from a higher level of pedal assistance in order to pleasantly stroll without limits thanks to the great autonomy of the batteries”.
#Elba4all, the first model of a power-assisted pedal handbike made to measure in a tourist destination
Manufactured by the Italian company CGDE, the power-assisted pedal handbike #Elba4All is specifically designed and adapted to fully enjoy Elba Island’s roads and outdoor routes. It is characterized by:
• an engine produced by the Italian company Polini with a power of 250W and equipped with a double 500W battery that guarantees an autonomy of over 220 km, making it possible to go around the entire island;
• a frame designed and produced entirely in Italy, respectively by Blacklinerr and CGDE, suitable for the large variety of terrains and slopes on Elba and which ensures extreme safety and comfort in all circumstances, even with slopes of up to 20%, not only for professionals but also bicycle lovers;
• an inclusive design that makes the handbike accessible to all guests, both disabled and not;
• a lower driving position compared to mountain bikes that guarantees an unusual and original point of view when exploring nature.
Available on Elba Island from September
From September four e-handbikes #Elba4all will be available on the island. They will be free of charge for people with disabilities and with a free donation for guests without disabilities. The funds raised through the donations will go to a non-profit organization that will be communicated when the models are presented on the Island of Elba.
