Innovation of the week

Sweat is the bane of every bike commuter, so wouldn’t it be nice if your ride required less pedal power? Enter the Kickstarter-backed Smart Wheel, an attachable electric motor that transforms any bicycle into an easy-riding machine. The lightweight device “fits snugly around the spokes of the wheel,” said Dara Kerr in CNET.com, and helps users reach speeds up to 20 mph. The batteries automatically recharge when going downhill. By aiding uphill climbs, said inventor Niko Klansek of New York City–based FlyKly bikes, the Smart Wheel makes it possible to commute by bike—without breaking a sweat. “We want to make our cities more livable,’’ he says.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up