MICROMOBILITY
CLICK ON. TAKE OFF.
Rebecca Bland speaks to Skarper co-founder Uri Meirovich about the brand’s origins and its recent launch
E
lectric bikes are considered by many to be the future of urban mobility. But, they come at a price – and can be heavy. For some, it doesn’t make
sense to change from a bike they already own, and already know fits, to investing in something that may not quite fit the bill. That’s where conversion kits come in, and with a lower cost than an outright e-bike, it’s why we’ve seen so many flood the market in recent years. Skarper is the latest of the more high-profile offerings, which is based around a click-on mechanism to turn your bike into a “high performance e-bike.” There are no permanent alterations to be made to your bike, and you can remove it easily. The brand is backed by Sir Chris Hoy, and was co-founded by Uri Meirovich, who we spoke to about the recent launch and how the brand came to be. The idea for Skarper came
42 | December 2024
like many other cycling innovations – primarily through frustration with the current market offerings. Meirovich explained how he and co-founder Dr Alastair Darwood found themselves in the position of creating a new conversion kit. “We didn’t just create a product; we solved a cyclist’s dilemma. Skarper was born from a passion for cycling and a frustration with the limitations of existing e-bike solutions. Our co-founder, Dr. Alastair Darwood, an avid cyclist and serial inventor, found himself at a crossroads. He loved his collection of bikes - each chosen for specific rides and terrains - but also craved the boost of an e-bike for longer commutes and challenging hills. “The problem? Existing e-bikes were heavy, expensive, and lacked the nimble feel of his favourite rides. Conversion kits, on the other hand, often resulted in
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