Electric motor for a bike ?

Last week, I was surprised to see someone on a bike freewheel uphill. As I drove past, I realised there was a motor at work, yet the bike looked like a conventional bike, and not a specific electrical bike. there was something small on the back carrier and something else, also small, along the crossbar.

Does anyone know of 'kits' that can be fitted to adapt a conventional bike to be an electric bike ?

I dont know if you can get kits to do it but there is a big surge (pardon the pun!) in the electric bikes since the Cycle to Work scheme came in - I used to regularly get passed out uphill by a little granny who seemed to be expending no effort while I was pedalling away billy-o, and going purple. Then I realised she was on an electric bike - same as you describe, something small on carrier, and on crossbar - they do look like conventional bikes.

Yes, you can buy conversion kits, they're not cheap though.

There is some useful information on www.electricbikes.ie.
No connection.

also see gruberassist.com (sorry - cant post URL's)

caused a bit of controversy last year when the winner of the Paris-Roubaix race was accused by some of winning with its assistance

Thanks for those replies