(Photos © J. Maus)
Here are the products and bikes that caught my eye today (I’m splitting this into three parts)…
Everyone’s been talking about e-bikes, and there’s a dizzying array of bikes and products for that growing market; but the Ridekick electric-assist trailer stands out from the crowd. The idea with the Ridekick is to put the battery in a trailer instead of on your bike. The added benefits are that you get some added cargo space and you can attach it to any bike. The battery drives the wheels of the trailer and the power goes right to your rear axle. Ridekick uses a cheaper lead acid battery which makes this system considerably cheaper than others (MSRP $549). The lead acid battery is also heavier, but with the weight just inches from the ground, it actually improves the stability of the trailer and doesn’t have the same negative impacts as having it attached to your frame or a rear rack. The whole unit weighs 39 pounds.
Another interesting approach to giving your bike an electric boost comes from Hidden Power. It’s a super lightweight (just 5.7 pounds) kit that attaches to your frame and drives a small wheel, that then drives your bike’s wheel. Power comes from a 330W motor and a compact lithium battery. Hidden Power won a Gold Award at Eurobike and made its U.S. debut here at Interbike.
Cycle Dog is a company based in the Portland area that has experienced huge growth in their one and a half years in business. Since they debuted back in July 2009 the company has amassed 350 dealers and four distributors. Founder Lanette Noble estimates they’ve used about 20,000 used inner tubes.
Modrobes is a new bike fashion brand based in Toronto. Their clothing is made from 91% recycled plastic soda bottles. The material is water resistant, breathable and quite stretchy. Their jackets, shirts and hoodies are cut specifically for cycling and they have men’s and women’s models. The blue polka-dot hoodie (with reflective dots) on the right retails for about $125.
Light & Motion debuted their new VIS 360 commuter light system at Interbike. The lights mount to your helmet and offer 360 degrees of visibility. For $169 you get 120 lumens of combined brightness between the front and rear lights. Run time is 2.5 hours and you can recharge them via USB!
Montague is mostly known for their US Army-issue “Paratrooper” folding mountain bike, but now the Boston-based company is trying to bolster their civilian offerings with the new “Boston” commuter bike. Montague has mastered the full-size folding concept and their bike folds quickly and compactly while maintaining the ride characteristics of a full-size bike. An added bonus is their “Clix” quick releases which let you undo your wheel with one flip of the lever. A singlespeed Boston sells for $769 and the 8-speed internal version goes for $1,000.
More notes and photos coming soon… Get a sneak peek at the photos in the gallery.