Who wants a golf cart once you’ve bought a… golf bike? That’s the thought behind Fairway Bikes’ new three-wheeled electrical bike designed for golfers, serving to kick the lazy golf cart for a extra interactive various.
It’s honest to say that golf doesn’t rank very excessive on the record of sports activities praised for his or her cardiovascular train advantages.
That’s to not suggest that golfers are lazy, however let’s simply say that it doesn’t assist that for many individuals, the little little bit of strolling concerned is changed by an overgrown mobility scooter.
However what if as an alternative of driving a ClubCar across the course, you possibly can pedal round? Now that feels like an effective way to get some mild train and revel in a day on the hyperlinks on the similar time.
And that’s precisely what the startup Fairway Bikes is attempting to do. The corporate’s three-wheeled e-bike has twin entrance suspension for improved stability and even options two rides modes providing each an electrical throttle and adjustable pedal help for roughly of a exercise.
The corporate was based in 2023 by golfer and tech startup veteran Jim Billmaier with the purpose of constructing {golfing} extra pleasurable – particularly between the holes. After retiring, Jim was taking part in extra golf however discovered it difficult to stroll the course. As a substitute of choosing a golf cart, which might have considerably diminished his train, he designed a brand new resolution that grew to become a golf bike.
To convey it to market, Jim teamed up with lifelong golfer and fellow startup veteran Fairway CEO Alex Wunderlich.
“Our mission is to make the sport extra accessible and enjoyable for extra gamers. For a lot of golfers, the chance to get energetic open air is what attracts them to the sport, however some programs are nearly unattainable to stroll,” defined Wunderlich. “Beforehand, the one resolution was golf carts. With the rising reputation of e-bikes, we noticed a possibility to supply an alternate possibility that hastens play, reduces affect to the course and surroundings, and makes golf extra energetic and enjoyable for everybody. It appears so apparent in hindsight, nevertheless it took years of labor to tailor the product and enterprise mannequin to fulfill the distinctive wants of golfers and golf programs.”
The bike affords a prime velocity of 12 mph (20 km/h) and is powered by a Bafang mid-drive motor related to a belt drive.
With two entrance wheels, it takes on a tadpole trike design, which is understood to be extra secure than typical delta-style trikes with two rear wheels. A ahead cargo part holds a golf bag and a middle console space affords golf cart-like storage for drinks and scorecards.
The detachable battery mounted beneath the bench seat claims to supply 20 miles (32 km/h) of vary, which is probably going sufficient for a number of rounds of golf when used all day for rental use on a golf course.
Focusing on each shoppers and fleet utilization at golf programs, Fairway Bikes already has over 50 programs throughout the U.S. on the waitlist for bikes with extra being added each week.
The corporate lately raised $1.25M to fund preliminary manufacturing with plans to roll out bikes in time for subsequent yr’s {golfing} season.
Along with fleet utilization, client fashions are anticipated to be priced at round US $6,999, which the corporate anchored by explaining that such pricing places it at round half the price of many golf carts as we speak.
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