Civilized Cycles Are Not Your Grandma’s Bike

This summer, while you’re visiting the newly opened Michigan Central Station , you may be wondering what the mobility experts are up to next door at Newlab , located in the former Book Depository . We had the opportunity to catch up with one entrepreneur — Zachary Schieffelin, who founded and runs Civilized Cycles — last fall during the Detroit Auto Show.

In Schieffelin’s view, mobility is a science. His fascination with motors and wheels began as a child. His background in business and auto mechanics led him to become passionate about sustainability and alternative transportation.

A decade ago, Schieffelin conceptualized Civilized’s Model 1 e-bike while running Vespa Soho, a boutique Vespa scooter dealership in New York. Through his customer base, he discovered the need for gas-free vehicles. They wanted something comfortable, efficient, and capable of carrying cargo.

Vespa Soho shifted focus from gas-powered scooters and started selling electric motorcycles and bikes as well as Dutch cargo and cruiser bikes. Thus, Schieffelin began imagining what an e-bike could be. His goal was to create something functional, aesthetically pleasing, and easily accessible to everyone.

In 2016, he sold the business to focus solely on e-bikes. Everything was ready for production in early 2020. However, three months later, COVID-19 hit the U.S., and everything halted, leading to manufacturing obstacles. Civilized Cycles eventually found its way to Detroit a few years later, renting out its manufacturing space at Detroit Bikes .

“What’s really great about it is there’s a community of bicycle folks who care about bicycles and we’re all pulling in the same direction in the broadest sense, but we all have very different products so we’re not stepping on each other’s toes. It’s a pretty cool collaboration,” Schieffelin said.

The Model 1 is a sleek e-bike that’s like a hybrid of a cargo bike and moped. It’s powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with 10.5 amp-hours at 48 volts that has integrated USB ports for charging phones. Speeds range from 20 to 28 mph with pedal assist and throttle options. It also has built-in front and rear lights and hydraulic disc brakes.

Its patent panniers, or bike bags, created by a team of designers who worked at Nike and NASA, are one of the Model 1’s most unique features. Its panniers have a hard shell and are expandable, water-resistant, and built-in. Panniers tend to be detachable. The pain of constantly removing them with every destination stop is well known to cyclists. Model 1’s panniers eliminate that worry. Their integrated locking system ensures that personal belongings are secure when parked, like a trunk on a car.

“You just want to get around comfortably and do stuff — that’s the hole in the market. Everything that’s designed in this bike is all about what is the person who’s used to driving a car, what is their experience, what is their expectation, what are the things that they’re used to,” Schieffelin said.

Unlike a traditional bicycle, where you need to stay vigilant when riding on the road to dodge potholes, the Model 1 offers a carlike experience due to its advanced suspension technology. It autonomously levels the road’s surface for you, allowing you to simply “operate” the bicycle.

In instances where you encounter a pothole or accidentally ride over a curb, you’ll hardly notice the impact, alleviating concerns about personal injury or bike damage.

The Model 1 is also equipped with a self-leveling rear suspension, which can carry two adults with ease and has a weight capacity of 400 pounds. Adjusting the suspension for a single rider is just as straightforward as it is for two people. You simply press a button located on the left handlebar while seated, then wait for an automated air pump to make the necessary adjustments tailored to your preferences. Schieffelin said the whole idea behind it is to have it feel as if you’re enjoying a leisurely moped ride with a friend, whereas passenger designs on cargo bikes either focus on families or resemble a pedicab.

Schieffelin on why suspension technology is such a big part of the Model 1: “To me, suspension is going to be an ever more important part of this equation as [e-bikes become] a mainstream thing that noncyclists do. Anything we can do to make it and reduce the barriers to entry and get people cycling is a win.”

People can purchase the Model 1 for $5,000 online on Civilized Cycles’ website or at various online retailers. The company is adding retail dealers in the Detroit area, but people can still take one out for a test ride through Detroit Bikes.

Learn more about Civilized Cycles at civilizedcycles.com . For more information about the Michigan Central campus, including upcoming events, go to michigancentral.com .

This story originally appeared in the July 2024 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our digital edition will be available on July 8.

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