If you're an urban cyclist like me, you'll know that there are few things as annoying as enjoying a smooth ride only to ride over a pothole and feeling shockwaves resonate through your body; thankfully, French company Baramind has come up with a solution to combat that by inventing flexible bicycle handlebars that help get rid of the jarring impact of riding over a pothole.
The Bam City bar as it's called works on a similar principle to traditional shock-absorbing bars, which flex downwards to minimize bumps -- particularly in mountain bikes. However, this bar uses a composite hybrid material which is usually associated with the aeronautics industry.
The Bam City bicycle handlebar is currently the subject of an Indiegogo fundraising campaign. Personally, I think $44 is a cheap price to pay to be able to enjoy a smooth ride free of jarring pothole-induced wake-up calls.
Pothole-Evading Bicycle Handlebars
The Bam City Handlebar Flexes To Reduce Pothole Impact
Trend Themes
1. Flexible Bicycle Handlebars - Opportunities for integrating composite hybrid materials into other bicycle parts for better shock-absorption.
2. Aeronautic Materials in Bike Manufacturing - Disruptive innovation opportunity for bike manufacturers to use advanced materials in their products for better performance.
3. Smart Bicycle Technology - Trend towards developing technology that improves the comfort and safety of cycling, such as handlebars that adjust based on road conditions.
Industry Implications
1. Bicycle Manufacturing - Disruptive innovation opportunity for bike manufacturers to improve their products by integrating new materials and technologies.
2. Aerospace Manufacturing - Possible industry for cross-pollination of technology and material use for bike applications.
3. Consumer Electronics - Opportunities for companies to develop new smart technologies for cycling, including handlebars that can adjust to road conditions.