By Michael Kane II
For many Worcester residents, navigating the city’s famed “Seven Hills” can be a daily challenge, but for one entrepreneur, it became the foundation of an exciting new venture. We recently sat down with Killian Madden,
the founder of Wicked Wheels, a mobile electric bicycle shop that is changing the way Central Massachusetts commutes.
The Entrepreneur’s Journey: From Commuter to Catalyst
The inspiration for Wicked Wheels emerged directly from Madden’s decade-long experience living in Worcester, eight of those years without owning a car. During that time, she utilized every transportation option available, including the bus system, walking, running, scooters, and traditional bikes, along with services like Uber and Zipcar. While many options exist, the true “game changer” came with the acquisition of her own electric bicycle.
Living on top of one of Worcester’s seven hills, the e-bike eliminated the “dread” of the uphill journey home, trans- forming the experience of getting around the city. Realizing the freedom and ease this technology offered, Madden recognized that many more people in the city could benefit from it.
Wicked Wheels was launched to increase the accessibility of these high-ticket items. Recognizing the limitations and barriers of buying such a significant product online via platforms like Amazon, the company decided against a traditional brick-and-mortar store. Instead, Wicked Wheels embraces the mobility inherent in cycling, operating as a mobile sales and delivery service that brings the bike shop to the people.
Their service is highly personalized: they offer free demos directly at the customer’s doorway. This allows potential riders to test the e-bike on their own turf, ensuring it handles their specific streets, hills, and potholes. When a bike is purchased from the website, Wicked Wheels goes the extra mile by delivering it fully assembled, tuned up, and charged, ready to ride immediately.
Riding the Market Wave
Wicked Wheels specializes in bikes designed for city life. The current focus is on commuter-style bikes, which typically include a headlight, taillight, and rack, perfect for the majority of trips that are less than five miles. These bikes feature electrical assistance, and some even include an additional throttle for an extra “zoom” when starting at a stop sign or stoplight.
Key target demographics include the city’s dense population of university students (many of whom live off-campus and need reliable transport regard- less of the bus schedule), seasoned commuters dealing with “last mile” issues or unreliable scheduling, and longtime cyclists who want a little assistance
to continue riding for another 10 to 20 years. The business also offers electric scooters, skateboards, and folding bikes, which are especially popular with students for easy storage in apartments or bringing in and out of classrooms.
To ensure quality and reliability, Wicked Wheels is part of a national e-bike shop network, providing the business and its customers confidence through a “squad of mentors” and vetted, reliable partner- ships with manufacturers. Locally, the company is actively working with MassBike.
The Strength of Worcester’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Madden attributes her decision to remain in Worcester to the city’s continuous in- vestment in its own infrastructure, including co-working spaces and the Venture Forum.
For Wicked Wheels, the journey has been significantly bolstered by local support programs. The venture was initially brought to the founder’s attention by their SCORE mentor. Recognizing the need for experience and structure, they engaged two “great mentors” through SCORE, who serve as essential sounding boards for the small business.
Joining the StartUp Worcester cohort has been described as “phenomenal”. Despite having already begun selling bikes, Madden has greatly appreciated the work- shops and the invaluable peer interaction. Being part of the cohort provides a group of peers who understand the shared struggles and uncertainty of the entrepreneurial pathway, enabling everyone to work through challenges and progress forward.
A Community Wishlist
As Wicked Wheels looks toward the summer, there are key areas where community support could enhance its growth. The entrepreneur expressed a desire to develop a stronger presence on university campuses. They plan to set up demo bikes on campus for the spring and fall semesters, targeting move-in weekend and parents’ weekend to demonstrate a reliable transportation option to students and their visiting families.
On the digital front, while the company is active on Facebook and can be reached via email and phone through their website (https://wickedwheelsma.com/)
