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TECH NEWS

Airbag bib shorts for cyclists are “a potential game-changer for safety”, says inventor

No, it’s not a late April Fools’ Day joke: could self-inflating bib shorts concept be about to blow up big?

Could cycling shorts with an airbag bib section that inflates automatically in the event of a crash be about to hit the road? You think this is a late April Fools’ Day post, don’t you? Nope, this is a design that has already gone through prototyping with the aim of promoting safety, with field testing planned for this summer.

“In 2020-2021, as then Chief R&D at [cycle clothing brand] Bioracer, along with industrial design intern Stijn Vanvolsem, we delved into the concept of incorporating an airbag into the professional cycling peloton,” says Sam Ratajczak, founder of SID Sport Innovation Design.

“The project was initiated by Bert Celis. While airbags were already prevalent in other industries such as work, horse riding, and motorcycling, adapting them for pro cyclists presented unique challenges.”

The designers’ focus was partly on acceptance and keeping the system unobtrusive.

“We aimed for a design that would seamlessly integrate into cyclists’ attire, resembling the old-school spare tyre worn by cyclists of yesteryears. The airbag would be discreetly incorporated into the bib of a bib short, providing protection to vital areas like the chest, neck, hips, and lower back, while still allowing freedom of movement,” says Sam Ratajczak.

“We opted for this bib integration because it doesn’t interrupt their jerseys and, more importantly, the sponsor logos. Also, from a mechanical viewpoint, the bibshort is very well connected with the body. This creates a firm structure when the airbag is activated.”

What about protecting against the cyclist’s favourite injury, the broken collarbone? Alas, no.

“This is an injury that cannot be prevented with this type of airbag,” says Sam Ratajczak. “However strange it may sound, the pros see this injury as minor. They generally get back on the bike when this bone is fixed.”

Sensors on the bike and the rider’s body continuously monitor variables like acceleration, deceleration, lean angle, and so on. When the sensors detect or predict a crash or a sudden impact, they send a signal to the airbag system, which is said to inflate in 0.03 seconds (the inflation in the clip shown here was done with a compressor and is slower than the real thing). 

Although it’s fully inflated during contact, the airbag goes down automatically afterwards. The idea is that once you’ve removed the cartridge and plugged in a new one, you can get back on the road.

The designers say they looked at minimising the thermal impact and weight of the system so as not to hinder the rider’s performance or comfort. However, the biggest challenge was determining when the airbag should activate.

“Unlike motorcycling or car airbags, where impacts are more predictable, cycling crashes vary widely in severity,” says Sam Ratajczak. “Balancing the need for protection with the risk of false activations required careful consideration.”

Airbags have been used in cycling before. Hövding introduced a collar for urban/leisure riders that inflated in the event of a crash, although the company filed for bankruptcy after Sweden’s consumer watchdog ordered a halt to sales as well as a product recall of the latest version of the product. 

> Airbag cycle helmet firm Hövding files for bankruptcy

“While our initial research showed promising results, gaining traction beyond proof of concept proved challenging,” says Sam Ratajczak.

“Despite reaching out to some of the wealthiest teams in the peloton, we encountered limited interest. However, advancements in technology and ongoing analysis of cycling accidents suggest that the concept of a cycling airbag could evolve into a smarter, more effective safety solution over time.

“Ultimately, the introduction of an airbag system in professional cycling could represent a significant leap forward in rider safety, potentially mitigating the severity of injuries in crashes. As the cycling community continues to prioritise safety and innovation, the prospect of integrating airbag technology into the peloton remains an exciting possibility for the future.”

You’re doubtful? There are certainly barriers to overcome, potential issues to overcome including the added weight – the inventors reckon you’re looking at 500-600g – and getting the green light from cycle sport’s world governing body, the UCI.

“Safety concerns in professional cycling have long been a topic of discussion, particularly in the aftermath of accidents,” says Sam Ratajczak, the latest high-profile slam being Wout van Aert’s last week, broken ribs and collarbone ruling him out of action just a few days ahead of the Tour of Flanders. 

“Every major crash prompts questions about why certain safety measures aren’t in place, why governing bodies like the UCI aren't taking action, and why riders and teams aren't utilising available technology.

“But history has shown us that initial scepticism often accompanies groundbreaking safety innovations, much like the introduction of the helmet, which was once deemed too hot, heavy, and impractical.”

With that in mind, the team would like to hear from anyone interested in exploring the concept further. 

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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24 comments

Avatar
Zebra | 6 months ago
1 like

Flops into seat at cafe stop. Bang! Instant posture improvement. 

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gerardvok | 6 months ago
0 likes

I recall many of the fatalities of pro riding being with cars on training. This could be fertile ground to get these devices onto pro bikes without the complications of UCI in races. also a little extra weight could be a good thing. 

Avatar
Cugel | 6 months ago
2 likes

For far more cyclists than the still-bendy whippersnapper nonsnappers that race (in reality or as wannabee road pests) the most likely serious injury from just a fall is not a head injury but a broken hip or pelvis. This injury has done for the cycling of many an old scrote; via early death in some cases where the pulverised pelvic parts are not fixed quickly.

For such brittle folk, these shorts (and perhaps similar longs) might easily save such serious injuries.

Avatar
SecretSam | 6 months ago
5 likes

I'm perfectly capable of inflating my own shorts, thanks 

<<Eats more beans>>

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marmotte27 replied to SecretSam | 6 months ago
2 likes

Laughing at this made me fart...

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ktache | 6 months ago
0 likes

Fair enough, could be some use on those slippery cobbles, their may be a few who might be wanting it after what looks like a very wet hell of the north.
The Holvig system seems to be quite good at detecting crash scenarios.
The weakness of lycra has always intrigued me, maybe a few leather patches on the most likely damageable areas on shorts and jerseys maybe, pittards leather on the palms of my gloves have prevented gravel rash on the heel of my palms. And quite stretchy. Maybe a few strands of Kevlar in the weave could help?

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Secret_squirrel replied to ktache | 6 months ago
0 likes

The Holvig system was withdrawn after the country safety regulator said it wasnt reliable enough afaik....

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Freddy56 | 6 months ago
0 likes

"seamlessly integrate into cyclists’

but my eyes can see...

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Miller | 6 months ago
2 likes

Maybe don't make the bibshorts white though.

Also, I hope the triggering mechanism is much more selective than my stupid Garmin which has started flashing up the crash alert screen if I even stop at a traffic light.

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Rendel Harris | 6 months ago
9 likes

Is that an airbag in your bib shorts or are you just pleased to see me?

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ubercurmudgeon | 6 months ago
0 likes

The airtightness of the bag lining would be destroyed by one or two cycles in a washing machine. If not by sweat and rubbing from the body of the rider.

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john_smith replied to ubercurmudgeon | 6 months ago
0 likes

You mean you don't hand-wash your shorts, as the washing instructions invariably say you should?

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Backladder replied to john_smith | 6 months ago
1 like

john_smith wrote:

You mean you don't hand-wash your shorts, as the washing instructions invariably say you should?

As someone whose sweat has eaten through both steel and aluminium frames I don't think how I washed them would make much difference.

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john_smith replied to Backladder | 6 months ago
1 like

If you do all your cycling indoors then an airbag is probably unnecessary anyway.

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Backladder replied to john_smith | 6 months ago
1 like

Nice try but I bought a carbon track frame to avoid the issue, its the outdoor bikes that suffer.

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don simon fbpe | 6 months ago
3 likes

Quote:

Every major crash prompts questions about why certain safety measures aren't in place, why governing bodies like the UCI aren't taking action, and why riders and teams aren't utilizing available technology.

Really? Me thinks someone is trying to develop an opening that doesn't exist.

Avatar
joules1975 replied to don simon fbpe | 6 months ago
2 likes

don simon fbpe wrote:

Quote:

Every major crash prompts questions about why certain safety measures aren't in place, why governing bodies like the UCI aren't taking action, and why riders and teams aren't utilizing available technology.

Really? Me thinks someone is trying to develop an opening that doesn't exist.

Airbags have been a significant improvement in safety in motocycle accidents, both racing and on the roads.

The introduction in cycling presents many technical challenges due to the performance requirements that cycle clothing needs to meet, but it could significantly reduce fractures, and if introduced in jerseys, a reduction in spinal injuries.

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don simon fbpe replied to joules1975 | 6 months ago
0 likes

But that doesn't explain the claim that every major crash prompts questions, etc, does it? The reduction of spinal injuries from what to what?

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joules1975 replied to don simon fbpe | 6 months ago
0 likes

don simon fbpe wrote:

But that doesn't explain the claim that every major crash prompts questions, etc, does it? The reduction of spinal injuries from what to what?

Sorry, I got the wrong end of you comment, picking up more on the what seemed to be thinly veiled skeptisism.

Perhaps they should have used the phrase 'why doesn't every major incident/crash where a cyclist is injured result in questions being asked, as per motor vehicle accidents?'.

Spinal and other major injury reductions for motorcyclists through airbag use is proven (sorry, don't have the links to hand, but shouldn't take too much googling), and the more serious bicycle crashes share a lot of similarites with motorcycle crashes, meaning injuries are similar, and thus the mitigation can be similar.

 

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don simon fbpe replied to joules1975 | 6 months ago
0 likes

There is an element of skeptisism there, but we have a free market and if you wish to purcahse these, perfect. I just don't recall the calls for certain safety measures to be put in place and certainly never heard of the call for inflatable bibshorts. Roglic migh have a different opinion on their usefulness though.

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Dnnnnnn | 6 months ago
5 likes

Readers of a certain age may be reminded... 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqOh4z2ASdk

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kil0ran | 6 months ago
0 likes

Needs to be mandated by the UCI to ever happen. A bit like HANS and the halo in motorsports and indeed the airbag race suits in motorcycling. Adoption is always slow when it comes to safety if there's a performance or cost impact.

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SecretSam replied to kil0ran | 6 months ago
0 likes

I'd argue otherwise, safety can be a sales pitch. How many riders wear a helmet now, compared to say 30 years ago?

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marmotte27 replied to SecretSam | 6 months ago
1 like

Yes, especially as risk assessment is so poor, generally speaking and even amongst specialists.

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