Urban Cycling Tech in 2017

There are constant advancements in sporting tech, ranging from simple fitness trackers, to more advanced training machines, and around this time of year, cyclists can start hitting the road more thanks to the drier weather. With the 100th edition of the Giro d'Italia underway, and the Tour De France around the corner, it is time to see what cycling tech is up to and how it can help improve our rides.

Mobile Apps

Whilst some of us may not quite be on the level as those more seasoned cycling athletes, we can still train, enjoy, and incorporate cycling into our everyday lives. The popular Strava app has announced an innovative new blog feature, where riders can discuss their most recent rides. Although it is not available to everyone yet, this feature will encourage the cycling community to share tips and recommendations for future rides, including key points of interest.

The University of Bradford has recently been granted £60 million funding for an augmented reality cycling app, which includes safety features that can help cyclists avoid dangerous situations. While this is still very much in the initial design phase, it appears that this could assist in creating a whole new level of safety surrounding cycling, which is of the utmost importance following on from the death of 3 cyclists in a mere 4 days in the capital.

The UK is constantly pushing to get more cyclists on the road, creating a gap in the market for transitional cycling clothes. With this drive to increase the number of cyclists on Britain’s roads, urban cycling has increased in popularity. There are plans to encourage cyclists, and walkers, with a 1.2 billion plan which could see younger people taking more of an interest in cycling and walking by 2040. As we all know, young people want to look good all the time, this has created a good gap in the market for companies to fill with cool cycling clothing innovations. There have already been many innovations in cycle wear to improve style, comfort and ride.

Cycle Fashion

Avid urban cyclists have all at one point been soaked through to the skin. We all also know, that wet clothes are unattractive, uncomfortable and not very transitional. Fortunately for us, companies felt our frustration and now diverse ranges of weather compatible cycle jeans, jackets and t-shirts are available. For example, Levis have recently released a video of their collaboration with Google, showing their new jacket with woven navigation technology. This is only the most recent innovation in cycle wear, improvements to cycling clothing has been happening for a while.

Even though cycle lanes are becoming more prevalent in our towns and cities, cyclists still find themselves competing with cars, all too often resulting in accidents. Therefore, taking appropriate safety precautions are vital for an urban cyclist. With the brain being the most complex organ in the whole body, protecting it is essential. Smart helmets now have technology, which in an event of a collision, can reduce the impact to your brain and can also monitor your vitals during your ride. Creators have kept style in mind too, many of these smart helmets are sleek and modern which is great for style conscious cyclists.

With the help of cycling sports technology making rides more exciting, measurable and fashionable, we could be seeing more people considering cycling as commuting option and a way to increase their fitness levels.