There’s a very certain aesthetic associated with people who are very into cycling.
Even the most fashionable and style-conscious bikers seem to be unable to avoid a bit of lycra here, and a shiny new Arc’teryx rain jacket there. It’s practical, we city-dwellers understand. The same is true when it comes to the bike itself, there’s seemingly a significant lack of variety.
Other than my childhood training-wheel clad pink and purple bicycle (which had metallic, shiny tassels on the handlebars), I’m yet to see a genuinely pretty, let alone hi-tech and highly functional bike model in my adult life, especially when it comes to e-bikes. As such, there’s certainly room for a design-led e-bike manufacturer who employs expert craftsmanship for an unbeatable performance and a good-looking ride. Enter: Cowboy.
The Belgian e-bike company has been making a name for itself since its inception by start-up entrepreneur Adrien Roose back in 2016. Having won the Eurobike award the same year that their first bike launched, the Red Dot bicycle design award a year later in 2018 and the Red Dot Best of the Best award for product design in 2019 and 2021, it’s fair to say my expectations were already high.
Last month, the brand launched the addition of AdaptivePower technology to their bikes, as well as a variety of new colourways including light blue, lilac, pastel pink and sand. AdaptivePower is the moniker Cowboy has used for the bike’s innovative, gearless and intuitive power technology - but more on that later.
My first reaction to seeing the dusty rose pink and matte black Cowboy 4 ST rolled gracefully towards me was simple. My god, now that’s a beautiful bike. A far cry from the aggressively clunky e-bikes that you’ll see scattered across London streets, blown over in the wind and sadly – more often than not – adorned with baskets which are used as rubbish bins by the general public after a boozy night out, the Cowboy is certainly a valiant and noble steed.
The second thought that entered my enraptured brain after gazing upon the bike’s streamlined frame was this: where on earth is the battery? This was no small bike, and I wasn’t sure I had space in my flat near enough to a plug socket to charge it – which I know is a turn-off for owners of competitor e-bikes such as VanMoof. Yet below the saddle and slotted neatly into the seat tube, the Cowboy is powered by an incredibly sleek and removable vertical battery.
The wheels are a whopping 25.5 inches, and the gears are nowhere to be seen – adding to the bike’s overall clean finish. I was immediately fascinated and couldn’t wait to get this barbie-core dream on the road.
Keep scrolling for an in-depth look at the Cowboy 4’s key specifications, user-friendliness and an idea of how it rides in an urban cityscape.
Buy now - £2,690, Cowboy
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Key specifications
Wheel Size: 27.5 inches
Tire Size: 44-50mm (width) x 584 (diameter)
Weight: 19.2kg / 42.33 lbs (including battery)
Maximum load for (optional) luggage rack: 27kg
Lithium-ion battery:
Weight – 2.4kg,
Range – up to 70km,
Charge time – 3.5h
Life – 500 cycles
Charger – 36V
Motor: Custom Cowboy design, rear hub motor – 250W power and 45Nm torque
Speed: up to 25km/h (20mph)
Gear ratio: 57 front/21 back = 2.7:1
User friendliness
In order to get going on the Cowboy 4 ST, you have to download the app. I’m always slightly weary when technology requires companion apps, as I find them to be glitchy and difficult to use. Rest-assured, this was not the case with Cowboy. After you’ve logged into your account, you’re met with a homepage that resembles a cross between Strava, Google Maps and Uber. The app knows exactly where you and your bike are, thanks to in-built GPS tracking.
You can either unlock the bike by sliding the battery in and out using the battery key, or simply by holding down the big red unlock button which appears on the app.
You can also easily switch between full power, eco mode and turn off e-assist altogether with the touch of a button. Due to the fact that the gear changing mechanism is built-in, there are neither cumbersome gears on the bike itself, nor any confusing gear change options within the app.
What’s more, your phone locks into a built-in platform between the handlebars for the easiest of access. The only additional accessory required is the Quad Lock smartphone case. As a result, the app is just as sleek and sophisticated as the bike itself – making it entirely user friendly for even the most technophobic cyclists.
Most importantly, you’ll get consistent notifications regarding battery levels, and exactly how many more kilometres you’ll be able to ride. This allows you to plan for cumbersome journeys home on low-battery life, during which you can save the e-assist for those steep and aggressive hills.
Features and accessories
Let’s get into the gears of Cowboy’s PowerAdapt technology. An in-built software which senses the changes in your environment in order provide the right boost, PowerAdapt allows you to go with the flow and focus on riding – which elevates your performance and keeps you focused. The bike truly thinks for itself and allows you to cycle through the city with incredible ease for a more intuitive ride – whether you’re taking home a heavy backpack after work, going on a leisurely ride or attacking some monstrous hills. What’s also pretty cool is that existing Cowboy owners can access PowerAdapt via an in-app update which takes 30 seconds. Mind-blowing.
Perhaps the most unique feature on this bike, PowerAdapt aside, is the wireless phone charging. That’s right, while your smartphone is locked into place with your QuadLock case, the wireless charger that is built into the platform automatically switches on. Even though you can power on your Cowboy without a smartphone (by unlocking and replacing the battery), you can also charge up your phone for a fully app-assisted ride.
The Cowboy 4 ST also comes with an accessories box, filled with extra reflective lights and a rechargeable LED that attaches to the handlebars – even though the in-built LED lights flash bright when breaking. I also opted for the matching, matte black helmet, which I thought was a lovely touch.
General ride
Before I wax lyrical about how smooth, speedy and all-round delightful the ride is on a Cowboy 4 ST, I think it’s necessary to make clear just what kind of a boost you’re getting with this e-bike. As previously mentioned, thanks to Cowboy’s AdaptivePower technology, the ride is wonderfully intuitive and simple. However, cycling with a Cowboy is not all about the electric motor. For the e-bike newbies – it’s definitely not like riding a manual bike, but it is also a far cry from a glorified moped with pedals.
The Cowboy 4 ST provides a healthy amount of resistance, so you still feel as though you’re getting an active workout during your daily commute. Don’t get me wrong, after a 45-minute cycle across the city, I didn’t feel gross and sweaty – but I still felt like I had engaged in a significant amount of exercise.
This low-level natural push-back paired with the bike’s almost subhuman ability to adapt to, and cut through, heavy wind is simply a marvel. I consistently felt like I was cycling at top speed with ease, yet my heart rate was steadily climbing – though I’m not sure whether that was due to the pure excitement and joy that the Cowboy 4 ST generally elicits.
Verdict
Move over VanMoof and Ribble, for we think the Cowboy 4 ST is set to become the iPhone of the e-bike world.
