Inventor looks to patent electric bike

Local inventor Timothy Carolin’s latest

project is pushing the limits of what’s possible on

downhill-specific mountain bikes by adding uphill power.

Carolin has created a front-wheel drive

system that electrically powers a mountain bike up a trail while

still allowing riders to take on rough-and-tough descents. It’s a

design he hopes will catch on with exreme cyclists, bike shops and,

ultimately, bike manufacturers.

While electric-powered bikes have been

around for some time, Carolin says his version is unique because

it’s adaptable to any bike and can easily be removed for aggressive

descents.

“This allows anyone to turn any

mountain bike into an electric bike,” Carolin said during a recent

demonstration.

Theoretically, a cyclist could ride up

a trail powered by the electric motor, then remove the batteries

and motor, put them in a backpack and descend as on a regular bike.

Carolin has the prototype mounted to his full-suspension downhill

bike and says it adds about 10 pounds to the frame when in use.

The kit uses a model-airplane motor

that attaches to the front fork and two battery packs strapped to

the bike’s frame. The right-hand handle bar grip has the

throttle.

Carolin says his invention’s power

stands out from other electric options on the market.

“This has more torque and goes at a

pretty high speed,” he noted.

The motor will power a bike up

45-degree hills with ease, Carolin says, and will run for about 30

miles between charges. When a rider pedals with the front-wheel

motor, “it’s like a mountain goat with two-wheel drive.”

“This is a trail specific design,” he

said. “It’s the Montana version of an electric bike.”

Carolin is a former builder with Pine

Ridge Custom Homes. He recently returned from Hawaii with hopes of

finding investors to help launch the electric bike business.

Aside from use with mountain bikes, he

says the kit is ideal for commuting around town since the motor is

easily removed to prevent theft. He also said he’d like to see the

city invest in commuter bikes using his electric motor and rent

them to tourists for a modest fee.

While there are no hard numbers on what

the electric kit will cost, Carolin estimates its retail value at

somewhere between $2,000 and $3,000.

To learn more, contact Carolin via

e-mail at electricrogueagent@yahoo.com.