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The Copenhagen Wheel turns a regular bike into a hybrid bicycle.

(Photo courtesy of SENSEable City Lab)

Most of the cyclists I know seem to look down on electric bikes.

Yes, they realize there's a place for them, especially for those who have to pack a heavy load or for those with some physical limitations. But electric bikes are still electric bikes: big, heavy, clunky and not all that cool -- at least in the eyes of some.

But there may be a game-changer on the market: The Copenhagen Wheel. I first heard about the Copenhagen Wheel Saturday morning when my wife, Marlie, was checking her e-mail. A mutual friend, Martin Stabler (yes, he's the brother of Ocycler Dave Stabler), had sent her a YouTube video about this fascinating new product that's only been on the market for a couple of weeks.

What I think might make it appealing to some is that it's just a wheel -- not a whole bike -- and that it appears to fit just about any standard existing bicycle. It's been under development for about four years through a partnership between MIT and the city of Copenhagen and is now being sold online through a Boston-based company called

.

The Copenhagen Wheel replaces the rear wheel on your bike. At first glance, it looks more like some sort of illumination device that might be designed to help you be better seen by cross traffic. It's a bright red disc that sits within the circumference of your rear wheel. It works with both fixed and multispeed bikes. Inside the disc is the magic: a small motor, batteries, a torque sensor and the other equipment that makes it work.

The idea is that you store up energy while riding and then use it when you need an extra boost to climb a hill or just go a little faster. The wheel can be controlled and monitored through your smart phone, which attaches to a bracket on your handlebars. The literature and videos I've seen so far claim that it will help you go at least 20 mph and help you climb those hills with a little less effort.

That narrator of one of the videos I watched said it might appeal most to the commuter cyclist who doesn't want to work up too much of a sweat on his way into work. My guess is that if you have a couple bikes -- one for the road and one for commuting -- this might have some appeal. It's pricy -- $699 -- and weighs 13 pounds, but a lot cheaper than most e-bikes, and you apparently don't have to use it unless you decide to turn it on.

To be honest, I can't see myself buying one of these. One of my main reasons for cycling is to get a workout. But I have to say, this is one of the most interesting innovations in cycling that I've seen. Check out the links:

Boston Globe:

EdTech:

Autobloggreen:

-- John Killen