Interview with Peter Denk: Specialized engineer donates money for the "Last Generation"

The Freiburg-based bicycle designer Peter Denk is regarded as a technical visionary, carbon pioneer and expert in the development of mountain bike kinematics. For three decades, Denk has been designing bikes for the world's biggest brands, including Cannondale and Scott, and has been working exclusively for Specialized since 2014.

He recently made headlines by donating at least 300,000 euros to the so-called "Last Generation". But he doesn't think their actions are good at all. In an interview with BIKE, he explains why there is currently no better alternative for him in the fight against climate change.

BIKE: Peter, you donated a total of 300,000 euros to the so-called "Last Generation". How did people react to the campaign?

PETER DENK: Many of my friends said: Oh dear, now you're going to get a lot of hate mail. But it wasn't like that. I got a lot of encouragement. Apparently many people think like me: they don't like what the last generation is doing either, but no one can think of anything better.

But there was probably no shortage of hate mail, was there?

I got them too, especially via Facebook. Interestingly, all but a few of the hate comments were fake accounts: no photo, no friends, no data. So some nerds or fossil lobbyists.

The climate stickers are also part of the so-called "last generation". You yourself say that you condemn such sticker campaigns, yet you finance them. How does that make sense?

Because the Last Generation is raising awareness of climate change, that's my point. This is an act of desperation. We have climate change and instead of reducing our CO2 emissions, we are increasing them. 2022 was the year with the highest emissions ever*. How sick is that? Soon there will be no turning back. It's going to be catastrophic: The food supply for the population in Europe will completely collapse. I can't get my head round why we are still representing the interests of oil sheikhs.

Because many people make good money from it, perhaps?

That's right. The cheapest energies by far are solar and wind. Why don't we make Germany the world market leader in sustainable technology? It would be no problem if the politicians said, let's do it this way, that's it!

Let's go back to the climate stickers. Can climate stickers be used to initiate climate change?

Of course not. But it is food for thought. Look at us, we're talking about it now. There is a total lack of activity in relation to the task at hand. That means we're heading straight for the worst case scenario. But the parties are afraid of not being elected if they are the only party to deliver this inconvenient truth. The only solution is for the major parties to tackle it together. The CDU must finally take what it likes to call homeland security seriously.

Some claim that the climate stickers harm parties that emphasise climate protection.

It is clear that climate-conscious parties are now attracting a lot of hatred. However, the conservative parties must finally stop pursuing a policy that brings oil companies billions in profits in the short term, but is extremely damaging to our economy and society in the medium term. There is no oil in Germany.

You've been working in the bike industry for years - are there any areas where bike manufacturers could be pioneers?

In general, they are already part of the solution to the problem: travelling by e-bike or bicycle is progress in itself. Nevertheless, we also have to ensure that our production is CO2-neutral in the future. There will come a point in five years at the latest when there will be alternatives in bike shops. Then you will have a choice: there is brand X bike and brand Y bike. I like both more or less - but bike X is sustainably produced. Sustainable products will boom. I suspect there will be a revival of aluminium frames made from recycled aluminium. And, of course, we need green carbon fibre produced using solar, wind and hydropower as soon as possible.

Many new products on the market sound like greenwashing. Wouldn't it be better to use products that have already been purchased for longer - like the US bike brand Trek, which refurbishes old bikes?

In my eyes, this is a misconception. The petroleum lobby wants to use these arguments for doing without to put us off sustainability.

I can't understand that, a bike that I use for 30 years will always be more sustainable than if I buy a new bike every five years.

Yes, it will always be better, but you won't be able to stop climate change. We have to change our energy supply. We have to produce this wheel, whether it takes five years or 30, with green energy.

You are considered a visionary in the bike industry and generally have a lot of ideas. Does it appeal to you to go into politics?

No. My job is to work as an engineer, to finance certain things, perhaps to provide food for thought. Why are we running into this catastrophe with our eyes wide open? And why are we representing the interests of oil companies and oil sheikhs?

Yet we have a Green Minister for Economic Affairs, Robert Habeck.

That's right. Unfortunately, politics is influenced by hundreds of oil lobbyists. Electric cars, heat pumps and so on - the same untrue counter-arguments are always put forward. The gas lobby has spent an absurd amount of money on a campaign against heat pumps. It's the richest industry in the world and now we want to challenge their business model.

Back to the bicycle industry: what needs to change?

I think the next step in the bicycle industry will be to use recycled aluminium and sustainable energy. A lot is happening with bicycle tyres, and if we can also produce gear components using CO2-free energy, that would be a big step forward.

Last question: You are one of the most successful bike designers. How does it hurt Peter Denk when he donates 300,000 euros?

Anyone who thinks I'm paying that out of petty cash is mistaken. 300,000 euros is a lot of money for me. That's my personal savings. But I see it as absolutely necessary and as an investment in the future, including that of my son.

* Note: In 2022, carbon dioxide emissions in Germany fell by 15 million tonnes or around 1.9% to 666 million tonnes compared to 2021. Compared to 1990, carbon dioxide emissions have fallen by 36.8 %. However, a new global record was set. Source: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/daten/klima/treibhausgas-emissionen-in-deutschland/kohlendioxid-emissionen#kohlendioxid-emissionen-2022