On May 20, 2015, the famous American bicycle brand Specialized collaborated with Uber to launch the creative service “520 Bike Love Flash Delivery.” On this affection-filled day, more than 100 enthusiastic Shanghai citizens and major media outlets became messengers of love, riding Specialized (Torch) bicycles to deliver roses and love letters to the people of Shanghai.
A hundred Specialized (Torch) bicycles are ready for action
Love riders don their Specialized helmets and mount their bikes, ready to set off
The premium American bicycle brand Specialized was founded in 1974. Its founder, Mike Sinyard, is an avid cycling enthusiast. Because its logo resembles a lightning bolt, it is affectionately referred to as “Torch” by enthusiasts in China.
For over 40 years, Specialized (Torch) has been dedicated to providing cyclists with the most professional products and services. This collaboration with Uber, another American brand, aims to offer people healthier, faster, and more environmentally friendly modes of transport. Leveraging a strong community culture, it seeks to bring people closer together, infuse the city with warmth and human connection, bathe the urban landscape in love and compassion, and foster a trendy lifestyle full of endless possibilities.
The ranks of love riders also include sporty women
Early on the morning of May 20, nearly 200 “Love Pedalers” completed one hour of training and preparation before selecting suitable Specialized (Torch) bicycles. They then headed to major streets across Shanghai, ready to embark on the sacred mission of spreading love throughout the city. All participating riders downloaded the Uber driver app and logged in via temporary “driver” accounts, enabling them to receive “love letter” requests from users within a 2-kilometer radius. Each love rider was equipped with 10 roses and 10 love letters. Over the course of the three-hour event, they delivered these roses and letters to over a thousand citizens who requested a ride.
Love riders hand roses and love letters to Uber users
Among the most popular was the Specialized (Torch) Fatboy fat-tire bike. Despite its chunky tires, it rides incredibly smoothly and easily navigates any obstacles or rough roads. Even delicate ladies can handle it with ease, not to mention its cool design, which has won the hearts of trend-conscious fashionistas.
Foreign female rider on a Fatboy fat-tire bike
The versatile city bike also received an enthusiastic response. With its vibrant colors, stylish design, and comfortable, free-riding feel, it has become a great commuting companion.
Among the love-delivering riders, many were not regular cyclists. Ms. Zhang, a media professional, said that her memories of cycling date back to her childhood. Nowadays, the city is dominated by congested traffic, making cycling a rare occurrence. However, as a healthy and eco-friendly mode of transportation, she hopes it will gain more attention. She also plans to buy a bicycle and start riding herself, with choosing a cool and safe bike being her top priority. Throughout the love delivery ride, she fell in love with the Specialized (Torch) women’s city bike, the Vita Elite. In addition to its beautiful color, its overall geometry is designed specifically for the female body, and it offers excellent shock absorption for superior comfort.
She also called on everyone to reduce car usage and restore the city to its most authentic form.