October 18, 2010
Fort Collins, Colorado – Ridekick International, a Colorado based start-up, introduced its company and product to the bicycle industry at the Interbike International Trade Expo 2010 this past September in Las Vegas.
Ridekick International introduced Ridekick, the first commercially available electric-powered bike booster which blends the design of an electric bike and a bike trailer. Ridekick lets a bicyclist ride through town, over hills, and through head winds at non-pedaling speeds up to 19 miles per hour. The Ridekick easily attaches to most bikes in minutes and can be unhitched in seconds for traditional riding. With cargo space that can hold up to three grocery bags, the rider can pedal to the store and leave the car at home. The 500 watt battery-driven motor boosts the rider for an average of 12 miles on a single charge. Ridekick is versatile and affordable; it allows the rider to get around town, whether on the morning commute or running weekend errands, for only two cents per battery charge.
Ridekick International was formed by Mark Wanger and Ken Schrader in 2009. Wanger became interested in taking the sweat out of his bicycling while commuting to local sustainability efforts in Fort Collins.
“The vision of Ridekick was to provide an affordable way for people to enjoy bike riding and leave their cars in the garage. Fifty percent of our trips are less than four miles, and bicycling is the fun and healthy alternative to driving,” said Wanger.
During the five days of the Interbike Outdoor Demo and indoor Trade Expo, Ridekick International provided hundreds of demo-rides to tradeshow participants.
“The feedback was very positive. People were excited that they could take a Ridekick, attach it to their own bike, get a boost, and experience the benefits of an e-bike at an affordable cost,” said Schrader.
Wanger added, “In addition to providing great benefits to riders, people said the Ridekick experience was fun.”
Ridekick International currently has a fleet of boosters being tested by riders and plans to ship Ridekicks to dealers in target markets this coming Spring.
Ridekick International is located in Fort Collins, Colorado, a bicycle friendly community, and is a member of the Rocky Mountain Innovation Initiative dedicated to helping new, clean energy companies become great businesses. Ridekick is also a member of Bikes Belong which is sponsored by the U.S. bicycle industry and has the goal of putting more people on bicycles more often.
For more information and to read independent reviews on Ridekick, please visit the Ridekick website at www.ridekick.com.
For other inquiries, please contact Chelsey Walker, Marketing Specialist, at info@ridekick.com or 877-974-4440.
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