It is hard not to think of the Robert Redford movie The Electric Horseman when seeing the Sporty Supaheroe cycling jacket, which features 64 integrated RGB LEDs and a stretchable and very wearable circuit board. The LED array can light up the way and display a variety of patterns.
This jacket, which is a project underway from the Utope Project reportedly works with an “acceleration sensor” and gyroscope to track the wearer’s movement, and even interact and respond according. If a rider slows down the lights can signal in red to indicate braking, while other movement can indicate turns and direction. For the rider the lights can also indicate an incoming phone call via an alert system.
The jacket is still very much in the developmental stage, but maybe it could change the way bike lights cast some illumination and how they are seen.
Utope Project Official Website
[Via Gizmag: Sporty Supaheroe cycle jacket boasts “intelligent” sensors and dynamic LEDs]
Road cyclists have been able to do the electronic shifting thing for a while now. Shimano, which introduced the first successful (key word is successful) electronic shifters with its Dura Ace line that the pros seem to love, brought Di2 to its step down (but still very high-end) Ultegra line last year, and this season will see rival Campagnolo also going electronic. Meanwhile there have been efforts to develop electronic shifting for off-road, but only in the aftermarket world… until now.
Video games have opened possibilities beyond mere “gaming.” While no one is actually going to be a rock star playing the various musical themed games, the wave of Rock Band and Guitar Hero have reportedly inspired some young musicians while more recent releases have actually utilized more realistic instruments. On the fitness side of things games have tried to encourage exercise, with motion control opening up new possibilities.
If you know the name Shimano you either know the company’s cycling components or its fishing lures, but now the company is shifting gears, and will introduce a new line of products for next year – cycling bags. Our friends at BikeRadar are reporting that the company’s debut in the luggage category will arrive in October, so it won’t be on most wearers’ backs until next season, but this should certainly shake up the market a bit.
As our friends at BikeRadar.com noted last week “Roof rack reminders could save your bike,” because we either have done it or know someone who has done it – driving into the garage with the bike on the roof of the car. The result is never pretty for the garage, the car and especially the bike. As the spring riding season is coming up, US Editor Matt Pacocha offered a piece that looked at a range of products designed to remind those with bicycle roof-racks that the bike is up there. 
There is a saying the close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades, but it soon close could be enough when it comes to providing light for bicycles. Right now there are two ways to get light to shine the way – either have it powered by a battery or utilize a dynamo-powered light that works by utilizing the motion of the bike itself. The latter is green, but can still slowly wear down the tire and it requires extra effort for the rider.
The world isn’t flat, but when it comes to bicycle design the old beliefs are sometimes hard to kill. It took years for carbon fiber to be accepted as a frame material. Likewise, for decades most bicycle’s front forks were curved – but now as forks are straight, seat posts are going around the bend with new curved designs.
While many types of transportation can fill in the blank in the statement, “Have ________ Will Travel,” typically when traveling a bike can be a pain to bring along. But renting a bike can have problems as many shops don’t always have high-end bikes available and you’re often subject to a first come, first served.
We know it’s just not always practical to don a spandex outfit to get on the bike. If you’re headed to the store, office or café you might want a more casual look. German company Vaude has come out with a pair of rain-repellent bike pants that look like jeans.