Electric bicycles are gaining global traction as a versatile means of personal mobility and sport. New models are hitting the market every week, and it just keeps on going. Often, e-MTB and road cyclists transport their e-bikes using car-mounted racks due to their sport-centric use. However, given that e-bikes, especially those designed for an active lifestyle, often have added weight from the motor and battery, hoisting them onto roof racks can be a hard task.
The Roof Rack has an arm powered by a hydraulic system to lift the bike
Recognizing the trend, manufacturers are designing racks that can handle heavier bikes. The challenge remains, though, to safely lift these e-bikes, some weighing up to 30 kilograms, to roof level without risking injury.
Here’s where Pender, a German company, is offering an innovative solution: a user-friendly roof rack system designed to tackle the challenges of loading and unloading heavy e-bikes. Its unique design includes a telescoping arm that reaches ground level, fitted with a hook that latches onto the e-bike’s headtube and seatpost.
This arm is part of a hydraulic system that effortlessly lifts the bike to roof level. Once there, users simply secure the bike’s wheels onto wheel trays, with a safety lock ensuring the bike remains secure and won’t suddenly descend. This lock can be manually released when it’s time to bring the bike back down.
The Pender e-bike rack has a wide range of compatibility, accepting bikes with wheelbases from 90 to 130 centimeters and maximum loads of up to 30 kilograms. However, the rack itself weighs 11.8 kilograms, so installation might require some assistance.
Despite its innovative solution, Pender’s roof rack does come with a hefty price tag of around 748 Euros ($820 USD). Yet, for those seeking a safer, easier method of transporting their e-bikes, it could be a worthy investment. With pre-orders already open, it’s clear that Pender is pioneering a whole new era of e-bike transportation.
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