Oregon-based Nomad Cycles wants to change that with its Kickstarter, which launched today. Its two ebike models are the DoubleDown and the KickBack, and both are priced at $5,500. Each have frames that are handmade from chromoly steel—a material that’s favored by bike makers for its durability and shock-absorbing properties—and feature modular, fully repairable motors made by CYC, which makes mountain bike motors.
Each model will come with either a 750-watt or a 1,000-watt motor (1,000-watt motors are legal in Oregon, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Virginia, Florida, and Mississippi). The batteries also have fully aluminum, waterproof cases, which are necessary in the Oregon rain.
“When [an ebike’s] motor is no longer supported and it breaks down, the whole bike becomes trash in a landfill,” says Nomad Cycles owner Brad Davis. “Even the tip-top brands only commit to maintaining repair parts for motor models for 5 to 7 years.” Building an electric bike with Right to Repair front and center should dramatically extend the life of your ride—and make electric bikes even more popular. —Adrienne So
Sling Has New Subscription Options
Sling TV is solving one of the most vexing problems for noncommittal cord-cutters with new Day Pass, Weekend Pass, and Week Pass options. While many people want to stream traditional TV networks with ads, others want to catch a big game or series every so often. Until now, they’ve been locked into buying a month of streaming service to catch a live game unless they had access to cable TV or it was being broadcast over the air.
Sling’s $5 Day Pass, $10 Weekend Pass, and $15 Week Pass come with Sling Orange, which has ESPN (1, 2, and 3) plus TNT and TBS. For a buck a day, you can upgrade that to a sports package that includes MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, and ESPNU. This will be especially useful for sports fans of small-time and less successful teams. A fan of the Ohio State University would be able to watch their team play in the National Championship on ESPN with this pass.
But it’s probably even more useful for a diehard Michigan fan who wants to watch the ReliaQuest Bowl without strangers in a bar knowing they are watching the ReliaQuest Bowl, or an Iowa State fan who wants to catch the Pop-Tarts Bowl. —Martin Cizmar
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