RideGuard produce OceanX mudguard made completely from recycled fishing nets
Pioneering eco-friendly product aims to clean up oceans as RideGuard continue their mission to protect our planet from plastic pollution. The British brand commits to producing its latest range of mudguards from 100% recycled fishing nets. There's front and rear OceanX mudguard for both mountain bikes and road bikes and a Kickstarter campaign to get the whole thing launched.
- Five ways to survive winter riding if you hate mud
- How to set up your mountain bike for winter - top tips to get through the slop
- Top tips to make the most of the off-road night riding season
RideGuard says they have committed to producing its latest range of mudguards from 100% recycled fishing nets to help protect our oceans. They reckon with the current environmental crisis, the need for manufacturers to take responsibility for the lifecycle of their products, a topic that is more important than ever.
The Kickstarter campaign explains how the process uses fishing nets, trawls and ropes collected from an increasing number of ports and coastal communities. The nets are then processed, separated into the material type and cleaned. All output materials are analysed, quality assured and their properties described with a specific datasheet. The material is then shredded and melted into pellets ready for manufacturing into new quality products. For these mudguards, Rideguard gets the fishing net material formed into sheets which are then delivered to their factory just outside Bristol. They are then printed, die-cut and sealed with a matt laminate UV protection.
The full press release is below:
25th October 2019 - Bristol, UK: The OceanX range of guards is being launched exclusively on Kickstarter from November 5th 2019. To bring this exciting project to market, the family-run business has teamed up with Bristol based Ecotribo - specialists in sustainable materials, ecodesign and manufacture. The businesses have been investigating the most sustainable materials, manufacturing, and supply chain processes to deliver the OceanX project.
Rideguard CEO Ben Gaby said: “By investing time into product innovation and material exploration we are proud to have been part of the process in developing the OceanX material which we’re using for our new range of mudguards.” Ecotribo director Tyrone Probert said: 'This is more than a range of mudguards, it's about how the cycling industry can be the change we need to see. A commitment to do things differently, making sure that even the smallest things we make create ripples and positive outcomes for people and planet."
Established in 2016, RideGuard already manufactures their products from 100% post-industrial plastic waste. The mudguard specialists continue to push disruptive innovation to inspire change. The OceanX range includes two new designs, the ‘Vision’ Gravel bike front guard and ‘Gaiter’ Gravel rear saddle guard. The best selling PF1 front mountain bike mudguards and rear MTB PF2 saddle mudguards complete the OceanX range.
Fishing related pollution is a major threat to marine life through entanglement, and damages habitats, such as coral reefs. 'Ghost Fishing Gear' is estimated to make up 10% of all ocean pollution at around 640,000 tonnes. Left in the ocean it will not degrade and will continue to trap and kill marine life and damage marine habitats indefinitely. By working with coastal communities, and NGOs on the collection and processing of end of life fishing nets RideGuard are giving commercial value to this precious resource and preventing it from being discarded in our oceans in the first place.
RideGuard CEO Gaby is a Regional Rep for marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage and Co-Director at the cycling organisation Trash Free Trails. RideGuard hopes to be at the forefront of positive change in the cycling industry.
To back the RideGuard project and purchase an OceanX guard visit: www.kickstarter.com
For more info head to:
You might also like:
- Your complete guide to the RockShox fork range
- The best trail and enduro mountain bike wheelsets, tried and tested
- Your complete guide to SRAM mountain bike disc brakes - all you need to know