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Years spent slogging along by car and train have a tendency to weigh heavily on the soul, filling many dull riders with dreams of trading mundane efficiency for the vigorous commute of a windswept bicycle ride. If you dream of embracing such lifestyle but question whether your fitness levels can endure it, then Evelo’s Omni Wheel might be just the device you’re looking for: the after-market add-on straps to most bike frames, endowing them with electric power.
Sure, you can probably build your e-bike, but that takes a respectable amount of time and effort, and the result may come out looking less than elegant. Omni Wheel will cost you about $999, but it’s minimalistic and affixes to whichever bike frame you select. Plus, it’s also quite affordable when considering the average electric bike costs well above $1,000.
Omni Wheel is an all-in-one solution, encasing the motor, battery, and controller within a single wheel that’s attached in place of the front wheel, allowing you to decide how heavy of a vehicle you’re willing to ride (depending on your choice of frame). This is especially important, considering the Omni itself weighs about 20 pounds.
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Setting up the device takes approximately 30 minutes and doesn’t require any specialized knowledge. The throttle is controlled from a handle-mounted display linked to the device itself and accelerates by pressing up, then stops by pressing down. The display also showcases your approximate speed, as well as the remaining battery life.
Speaking of batteries, Omni uses a 24-V 8.7-Ah battery that sustains a 15- to 25-mile journey or an extended-range 24-V 14.5-Ah battery that goes up to 25−40 miles. Both options reach a top speed of 17 miles per hour and feature a 350-W 24-V motor. The batteries are charged by inserting a proprietary three-pronged charger into a charging port located within the metal hubcap.
And as you’ve undoubtedly realized, Omni’s weight distribution and forward-drive subtly change the way your bike handles. The additional 20 pounds of front-loaded weight makes it harder to pull off the level of agile swerving you are used to doing in a crowded urban environment. Also, the lack of spokes makes it much more susceptible to drag from crosswinds unable to pass through the wheel.
The consensus agrees that Omni still handles like a normal bike, regardless of how heavy it may be. Head on over to Omni.evelo for more information.
Source: Omni.evelo.com
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