BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
A new entrant to the wheel lock market has arrived via Kickstarter.
Quick Caps, created by Bristol engineer Curtis Dorrington, are locks that secure the quick release lever on bicycle wheels, pitched as a ‘fit and forget’ mechanism to discourage thieves from pinching bike wheels.
Using patented double locking internal mechanisms, Quick Caps are weather proof and has just over two weeks left on Kickstarter. At time of writing, it is almost half way to its £15,000 target.
Dorrington said: "I like the thought of quick release wheels, although when I wanted to leave my bike outside I would always have to use two locks or on the frequent occasions I would forget my extra lock, I found myself taking off the front wheel and locking it to my frame.
"One year ago the problem was solved… it was so simple, but it was not pretty.
"I began serious market research to see if this was a good solution so I applied for a job with Sustrans who build and maintain all of the cycle tracks in the UK. I got the job and with my prototype locks I started getting a lot of positive feedback.
"With summer over and the Sustrans job finished for the season, it was time to get back to work which would pay the bills. I began work as a quality inspector for the aerospace industry and took a course to learn CAD, realising the necessity for quality and intuitive design I refined the product and with the assistance of some amazing companies based locally Quick Caps was complete."
There are more details on Kickstarter and at www.quick-caps.com.
