FIVE DAYS OF ADVENTURE – WITH THE i:SY P12 ZR FROM Füssen TO LAKE GARDA

An Alpine crossing on a compact bike! Is that possible? Normally, you see compact bikes at campsites or on the way to the bakery. But why does i:SY equip the Pinion MGU, a motor suitable for high mountain terrain? "Does the i:SY P12 perhaps have what it takes for bigger adventures?" I wonder. I have to test this! And thus, the idea of crossing the Alps on a compact bike was born.

KNOWLEDGE ISLAND: The new i:SY P12 features the revolutionary Pinion MGU, which offers a gear range of 600% – that is, the range between the largest and smallest gears – providing completely new possibilities. This has never been seen with belt drives before.

DAY 1: Füssen – FERNSTEINSEE
I set off in Füssen, the highest town in Bavaria, at 800 meters above sea level. From here, I plan to travel along the Via Claudia Augusta, an ancient Roman road, covering 400 kilometers to Lake Garda. After just the first 30 kilometers, I reach the first highlight of my tour. A breathtaking panorama unfolds before me. The Hochjoch lies ahead, and the imposing Thaneller rises behind me—I’m impressed and happily think, “This is exactly why I’m here.” So far, the tour with the i:SY P12 and the Pinion MGU feels like a leisurely ride, and I can enjoy the scenery even more thanks to the upright seating position.

MY FIRST SINGLETRAIL ... i:SY – YOU CAN DO IT! Suddenly, the path ends, and in front of me, a narrow trail winds steeply downwards. Roots and stones jut out from the ground. Here, the i:SY P12 has to show what it can do. A compact bike loaded with 25 kilograms of luggage distributed across the rack, front loader, and lowrider is unfortunately not exactly trail-friendly.

DAY 2: FERNSTEINSEE – RESCHENSEE
The second day starts with coffee, breaking down the tent, and off I go. Ahead of me are 800 meters of elevation gain. However, I am pleasantly surprised by the bike's agility, and bit by bit, I tackle the obstacles. The sun is blazing ... Before the tour, I was a bit worried: going into the mountains without a suspension fork and seat post—would that work? But my first interim conclusion on the second day: The six-centimetre-wide tyres absorb surprisingly well. So far, I haven’t missed the suspension fork. For those who still want a suspension fork, i:SY offers the Adventure model. But as long as there are no singletrails on the agenda, the bike rides excellently even without suspension. More important than suspension in the Alps, however, is something else: sunscreen! The blazing sun is merciless, and my display shows 43 degrees. Even though I apply sunscreen twice, I still get sunburned.

DAY 3: RESCHENSEE – MERAN
Another highlight along the Via Claudia Augusta is Lake Reschen. This reservoir was flooded around 1950 to serve as a basin for a hydroelectric power plant. In total, 677 hectares of land and two villages were submerged, displacing nearly 150 families. The old church tower still rises out of the water today and is referred to as the 'Atlantis of the Mountains.' Today, the tower is a landmark of the region. Legend has it that on cold winter nights, you can hear the bell of the tower tolling, even though it was removed decades ago.

Today also includes a brake test. The i:SY P12 is equipped with hydraulic disc brakes from Magura, optimised for use on e-bikes. But how quickly does the bike actually stop with 25 kilos of luggage and a 90-kilogram rider? I ride at 25 km/h and measure the braking distance, which I manage to shorten from five metres eighty to three metres fifty across three attempts. My conclusion: "If I can’t stop the bike in time, it surely isn’t because of these state-of-the-art brakes, but rather my skill."

DAY 4: MERAN – LAIFS
On the fourth day, I cycle through endless apple orchards. Apples of all kinds are grown here on an area as large as over 25,000 football fields. About eight percent of the entire European apple harvest comes from South Tyrol.

The flatter stretches offer a welcome recovery after the steep ascents of the last few days. This is also reflected in the battery performance: In the evening at the campsite, I assess my progress. After 78 kilometers, I still have 68% battery left. This is because I made sure to choose the assistance levels as economically as possible today—and it paid off. Good night!

I’m surprised by how much battery I have saved just by using the motor only when absolutely necessary. This shows that there isn’t a definitive answer to the question: "How far can I go on one battery charge?" It always depends. But it’s definitely worth riding as economically as possible.

DAY 5: LAIFS – RIVA DEL GARDA
The last day of my journey begins with a detour to Trento. A real Italian coffee at the baroque Neptune Fountain in the cathedral square is just what I need to recharge. Trento is worth stopping by not only for the delicious coffee but also for its picturesque streets, the Italian way of life, and its historic old town that transports you back in time. After this cultural highlight, I make my way to the final stretch. Suddenly, the breathtaking Lake Garda appears behind a mountain ridge.

The i:SY P12 was a reliable companion throughout the entire tour, thus answering the question itself: An Alpine crossing on a compact bike – with the i:SY P12, it’s possible!