HURRICANE — While riding the Virgin River trails in St. George, a father and daughter came up with an idea that would lead to many failures and eventually a rousing success.
Riley White, a mechanical engineering graduate from Brigham Young University, noticed that he and his daughter were being passed on the trail by people riding electric bicycles.
“When we got back to the parking lot, I started to wonder, ‘How are they gonna get those things onto the rack?’” White said.
Bikes are heavy — e-bikes even heavier — and contemporary bicycle racks and car carriers are operated manually.
E-bikes reportedly allow those with disabilities, or who are elderly, the ability to easily ride all the trails that Southern Utah has to offer. But having to manually lift approximately 80 pounds seems counterintuitive to the goal of accessibility, said White.
“I knew there had to be a solution if there wasn’t anything out on the market yet,” he said.
After three months of intensive research, Riley stumbled upon an existing product that partially addressed the issues. It worked but had some drawbacks. It relied on the vehicle’s electricity as a power source, making it less compatible with modern vehicles and varying power capacities.
The Whites, wife Chelsey, and kids Eva and Ellie, along with a small army, spent two years developing and refining the bike rack prototype. The rack, designed for 2-inch hitch receivers, boasts a unique lifting mechanism powered by a battery pack.
The design allows for a quick and efficient lift, making it easy for users to transport their e-bikes without the need for excessive physical effort. Other bike racks are made of steel. The White’s is made of sustainable aluminum which keeps the overall rack weight to a minimum.
The product was launched through Kickstarter, with two versions available: the deluxe, which includes an adapter for use with an electric drill, and the basic, which relies solely on the battery-powered lift mechanism.
Future plans include exploring compatibility with electric motorcycles and considering adaptations for off-road wheelchairs. The Kickstarter campaign is live now and has a fundraising goal of $50,000.
The Whites noted that the funds will be crucial for scaling up production and refining manufacturing methods to provide an affordable and efficient product to a wider audience. To help with the Load ‘n’ Lift Kickstarter campaign, click here to visit their website.
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