Kickstarter Bike Mount Turns Bicycles Electric

What's This?

By Anita Li2013-07-30 04:12:11 UTC

For cyclists who want to ride faster, but are reluctant to buy a pricey e-bike, the Rubbee bicycle mount may be a happy medium.

Once attached, the device converts your regular bicycle into electric bike that moves at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour (25 kilometers per hour). What's more, there's no need to pedal, as power is controlled with the throttle.

Rubbee includes a "motor, bioelectronics and batteries in a single unit," with no tools or wires required for attachment, its creators say in a video on Kickstarter. Users simply mount the device on, and then release its handle and disconnect the throttle to take it off.

Rubbee's creators say e-bikes are not ideal because they're heavy and expensive, and if purchased, force users to ditch their old bikes. Similarly, conversion kits are cumbersome, and installing them requires advanced skills, they add.

So far, the device has raised more than £41,000 (US$63,000) of its £63,000 (US$96,700) goal on Kickstarter. The funds will go towards scaling up production.

Would you use the Rubbee bike mount? Tell us in the comments, below.

Image: Kickstarter, Rubbee

Topics: bicycle, bike, Gadgets, Health & Fitness, kickstarter, Lifestyle