It’s never the conventional products that stick in the memory from our annual trip to Eurobike, and of the many curiosities at the 2025 edition in Frankfurt, this reusable airbag for cyclists certainly caught our eye.
Unlike Hövding’s airbag system – which is designed to replace a helmet and cannot be used again once it has been deployed – the Mase Airding Compact AirRide is reusable and rechargeable, and protects the face, cervical spine, collarbones, shoulders and upper body, according to its inventors. Unlike this thing, it’s very much aimed at safety rather than drag reduction…
Sensors are activated if a collision or fall is detected, and the airbag is inflated with CO2 in “less than 150 milliseconds”. To reuse, you just need to buy another inflator cartridge rather than a whole new airbag, and these are priced at €49.95 on the Mase website. The system charges via USB-C, and a full charge can last you up to 30 hours of use.
The new Compact version of Mase’s airbag is one of the first safety systems we’ve seen aimed squarely at sport cyclists, although there are already body armour-type solutions from the likes of ArmaUrto that claim to provide extra impact and abrasion reduction in the event of a crash. Mase is claiming its airbag can reduce impact forces during crashes, especially at high speed or on descents, while admitting the product is not a “silver bullet”.
Weighing a claimed 850g, it has no extra functionality beyond the airbag (other Mase airbags have carrying capacity, but they’re heavier), and Mase even claims that “many professional cyclists” are already using the system in training to “familiarise themselves with the technology and test its effectiveness under real-world conditions.”
> Airbag bib shorts for cyclists are “a potential game-changer for safety”, says inventor
We haven’t been able to verify this, but we do know that Mase isn’t the first inventor of an inflatable safety system with hopes of bringing the tech to the WorldTour.
Sam Ratajczak, a former chief of R&D at cycling clothing brand Bioracer, has already approached numerous professional teams about using his airbag bib shorts, and has ambitions of getting the technology approved by the UCI. Ratajczak admitted that he’d had “limited interest” from teams when we spoke to him in 2024, but claims his product could be “a potential game-changer for safety”.
“Airbag systems are a step in the right direction to improve rider protection”, says Mase.
“But prevention, such as better training, route management, and ongoing safety protocols, remains crucial. Technology can only be one piece of the puzzle.
“Airbags could increase safety, but we must continue to work on multiple fronts to minimise the risk of crashes.”
The first 50 Compact AirRide systems are available with a discount, bringing the price down to €599, but if/when those are sold it goes up to €699. There’s also the Fusion AirTour (€649) and the regular Fusion AirRide (€799), that are weightier and act more like conventional backpacks with additional storage space for more casual road cyclists and leisure riders.
Reckon this will blow up, or does it leave you feeling deflated? You can find out more on the Mase website in any case…
-1024x680.jpg "“Clear anti-cyclist bias”: Lawsuit filed against Toronto police after cop doored cyclist… before ticketing rider over incident")
11 thoughts on “The inventors of this £600 reusable battery-powered cyclist’s airbag want to see safety systems on cycling’s WorldTour”
Is it April 1st?
Is it April 1st?
In a parallel universe
In a parallel universe somewhere, maybe…probably the same alternative reality where those “many professional cyclists” are that want to wear the best part of an extra kilogram on their backs.
Quote:
“airbag bib shorts”
Mo1959 wrote:
That was the view of most motorcyclists when airbags first arrived; now it’s become commonplace for motorcyclists to wear airbag protection.
Undoubtedly, it helped that the highest level of the sport (MotoGP) made airbags mandatory – not only catalysing R&D, but also changing attitudes.
I’d rather the UCI explored airbag possibilities, not handlebar widths.
I would have thought a bit of
I would have thought a bit of Kevlar in the weave on shoulders and hips might be an idea, just reducing the road rash a bit, making for more comfortable nights in the important grand tours.
ktache wrote:
Indeed, and cycle clothing companies are behind the textile technology times. Recent motorcycle clothing has moved the game on, as we now have lightweight materials that provide heavyweight abrasion-resistance.
Bloke at work had a summer
Bloke at work had a summer motorcycle jacket.
The bigger ones with a
The bigger ones with a hydration bladder make more sense. MTB is possibly a better market.
The bit I dont get is a 30hr battery life. Surely a small subset of sensors should be able to last longer than that.
I can look like that just
I can look like that just with one decent curry buffet.
Ideal for newbies learning to
Ideal for newbies learning to ride, E-scooters, E-bike riders and mountain bikers with little experience, or want that bit of extra protection. Will it become mandatory like helmets in the future?
Oldblokey wrote:
Are “newbies”, those utilising electric assistance and those with little experience of mountain biking the only people who crash?