Here is what François Doré, general director of Hermès Horizons, has to say about their new carbon fiber bicycles, which were handmade in France for Hermés by Time: “The idea was to create a real bicycle that people would use for pleasure’s sake, not as a decorative object. It had to be light, comfortable, slightly retro, but with modern technology.”
Did they achieve this relatively modest goal? Absolutely. The Le Flâneur d'Hermès is a lovely piece of machinery, and at just 24 pounds, it's a lot more manageable than the average retro cruiser. Hydraulic disc brakes and a belt drive add the perfect modern touches, while taurillon leather details keep the Hermés spirit intact. But does all of this engineering and elegance come at a price? Mon dieu, does it ever. Try 8,100 Euros, which translates to roughly $11,000. Yikes.
Of course if the eight-speed Le Flâneur d'Hermès isn't enough bike for you, there's always the Le Flâneur Sportif, a 12-speed "urban racing bike" due out in January. Bring your black card.
Look for Le Flâneur d'Hermès at Hermés stores in November.
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