SAN FRANCISCO (BRAIN) — Volata Cycles, which received boatloads of media attention last year with the launch of its Model 1 smart bike, is launching a second model, the Model 1c, which will be delivered to U.S. consumers by Velofix mobile repair operations, where available.
The Model 1c wil retail for $2,499 with mechanical shifting and $2,999 with Shimano Di2 electronic shifting. Volata is now taking $299 online reservation deposits, with delivery planned to start in September and the balance due upon delivery.
Velofix will assemble, deliver and service the bikes in the U.S. Customers pay $290 for the assembly and delivery, which includes a first safety check by Velofix 30 days after the bike has been delivered. If a Velofix location isn't available in the customer's region, Volata will ship the bike directly to customers.
The new model integrates a computer, lights and safety features into "an elegant, cohesive Italian design," the company says.
The Model 1c is a flat-bar road bike with 700x35 tires and flat pedals. It has a belt drive and internal gear hub. Its handlebar-mounted computer provides information including riding metrics, turn-by-turn navigation, weather forecast, music, heart rate, smartphone notifications and more. A GPS-based anti-theft system informs the owner if anyone tries to steal the bike by sending real-time notifications to the user's smartphone. The system also sounds a loud alarm if the bike is moving while it shouldn't be.
A dynamo front hub charges the bike's internal battery, and integrated front and rear lights automatically turn on when it gets dark.
"We live in an era of connected devices with new innovations daily. For people using the bicycle to get from A to B, functionality hasn't changed in decades. The U.S. represents a market where daily bike commuting is growing at a fast pace, as the transition to sustainable transport is finally happening. We want to make bike commuter's lives better with a perfect product," said Marco Salvioli, co-founder and CEO at Volata.
The 1c will be available in four sizes, two colors, and with men's or women's saddle. The company is planning multiple pop-up demo events throughout the U.S. and Canada this year to promote the bike.
More information: volatacycles.com.
