When brand founder Aston Zhu was feeling lost and adrift in 2004, he embarked on a journey from Detroit to Los Angeles in search of hope. As Aston traveled across the country, he saw the beauty of nature and heard locals' stories.
Aston encountered a car accident survivor early on in his journey. He discovered she had developed severe PTSD and was no longer able to drive. As a mother, she required a way of transportation that was both safer than a motorcycle and faster than a bike.
One young man impressed him throughout the rest of his journey. He told Aston that he wished he could earn enough money to purchase a convenient and efficient way of transportation, but he was far from being able to afford a car
At the end of the trip, Aston came across an old man along a beach. The man wished to recreate a romantic moment from his past when he rode a bike with his wife. But his age prevented him from riding his bike. He expressed his desire for the bike's pedals to be assisted in some way
This journey inspired him, and he developed the desire to launch an ebike brand to serve people like the ones he met along the way.