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Ridekick Delivers a Kick in the Back of your Bicycle

E-bikes, or electric bicycles come in every shape, color and run the budget gamut.
The Ridekick gives your bicycle range and storage

Electric bikes, e-bikes have taken off fast and quickly these pas few years. From the quaint home conversions that gave birth to kits, to finally full-fledged companies offering complete solutions, the choice has grown exponentially. Ridekick has a neat trick up its sleeves that should please many.

On and Off Electric Assistance. If you remember the story published on Rinspeed’s intelligent Dock+Go system that bolts on the back of a Smart EV to either extend its range or give it more cargo, Ridekick does something similar for your bicycle.

Technically Speaking. Ridekick bolts on quickly in a few minutes to turn your regular bicycle into an electrically assisted one. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, Ridekick International founded by Mark Wanger in 2009, recently introduced its Ridekick power trailer that is designed and manufactured in northern Colorado. It is sold through independent bicycle dealers in the United States and can also be purchased directly online through the company’s website. This power trailer is the first commercially available electric-powered bicycle trailer that helps you tackle headwinds at speeds of up to 19 mph without pedaling. The pack bolts onto any bicycle but the real genius is that you are not stuck with that configuration. You can ditch it any time you want and go back to regular bicycling.

The 500-watt battery drives the electric motor pushing a conventional bicycle for 12 to 15 miles on a single charge. To add convenience to the package, the booster allows for up to 11 gallons of the lockable storage compartment, making commuting and running errands practical. Watch the video below to see how it works.

According to Wanger: “The vision of Ridekick is to provide an efficient way for people to enjoy bike riding as a mode of transportation and leave the car in the garage. Fifty percent of our trips by car are less than four miles from our home bases, and bicycling is the fun and healthy alternative to driving,”. The company is off to a good start also. Ridekick International was awarded the distinction of Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Brilliant Companies.

The idea of slapping on an electric motor on the back of your bicycle that can be removed whenever already makes a lot of sense for many. Since 50% of most car trips are less than 5 miles away from home, using your bike with a little help makes plenty of sense. At $699, this assisted electric boost pack won’t break your budget either. This is yet another intelligent way to save money, curb down on pollution and get health benefits, something our country desperately needs these days. We look forward to see how you make good use of Ridekick’s boost pack.

Automotive News

Comments

Aaron Turpen    June 21, 2012 - 7:47PM

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I have a dedicated electric bicycle, but a friend has a much, much smaller kit that straps on the front post above the forks and acts as an assist. He's rigged a plug to it so he can use the rechargeable batteries from his power drill in it. I wonder how they get around the physics of a trailer pushing a bicycle and going of-kilter? I don't live far from Fort Collins. I should go check this out.

I'd think the idea of a trailer like this would work much better as an ICE unit to provide longer distance for an EV. Several companies have fronted the idea.

Nicolas Zart    June 22, 2012 - 1:28PM

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Rinespeed did the Dock+Go, same kind of idea for the Smart EV. What I liked about that was the added storage. Wanger makes a good point of it for groceries around the corner, sort of thing.

What your friend has reminds me of the old French Solex moped. It was more like a heavier duty bicycle with a small one cylinder engine system that could be raised and lowered on the front wheel. I always wondered why no one took that designed and turned it into an electric version.

Aaron Turpen    June 22, 2012 - 3:56PM

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There are some, actually. That's what he's got. It's an e-assist that can be lifted off the wheel when you aren't using it. He just didn't like the short range of the battery and the fact that it had to either be completely removed from the bike or the whole bike hauled to a plug for recharging. So he rigged it up to use the batteries from his DeWalt. :)