This is one for the casual cyclist we think rather than those who relish the gradient signs on their next mountain challenge.

A bicycle wheel that captures energy from pedalling, before releasing it to power cyclists up hills, is the latest cycling invention to come out of the States.

The Copenhagen Wheel is fitted with a hub containing a small motor charged up solely by the bike's movement and braking. The "engine", designed into a hub on the back wheel, is controlled through a rider’s smartphone docked on the handlebars. It connects to the hub of the wheel using Bluetooth, which can also lock the bike.



The bike wheel contains all you need so that no sensors or additional electronics need to be added to the frame and an existing bike can be retrofitted with the blink of an eye.

At £380 per wheel, this might yet be the latest commuter craze.