Air-filled cycling backpack to "reduce drag" and "enhance safety" hits Kickstarter funding goal

Bonsai samurai?  Or is it just a case of "they seem to get smaller every year"?

They should embrace that...

I disagree, the lucky few who get to wear one of these will certainly produce more mass. 

ubercurmudgeon wrote:

That ~20 people have been suckered in by some cycling-specific snake oil is not surprising. Not in a week when ~75 million have likewise been fooled on a much bigger scale.

Indeed, both groups have been suckered into placing their trust in an absurd-looking windbag...

Smoggysteve wrote:

I don't think the designers really understand modern cyclists.

people with happily spend thousands of pounds on ultra light ultra aero ultra stiff frames, carbon deep section wheels, OSPWs with ceramic bearings, aero helmets, aero socks, narrow integrated carbon aero handlebars, waxed chains, all in the name of going a little bit faster. 

but they won't spend £30 to look a total dick. 

Have you attended a current-day time trial; or even one 30 years or more ago? This is the cycling arena that gurgitated up the dickhead hat amongst various other gubbins that, to one oblivious to the TT obsession with seconds, would seem to have been designed and manufactured primarily to make a cyclist employing that gubbins "to look a total dick".

And how about those mounted upon the various "ultras" you list, inclusive of a Mekon-hat with a spy-eye camera sticking up from its crown? They're rare in West Wales, mind, possibly because anyone considering such a look couldn't take the hoots of mirth that would greet them where e're they went, the place being generally populated with folk not yet fully captured by the irreality of unicorn-land to the east.

************

Still, fashion and marketing thereof are powerful thangs. We may see the streets filled with lump-wacky cyclists before too long, especially if The Muskrat puts one on his cybertruck or Taddy stops at the top of a TdeF ascent to don a dirigible so as to win by even more seconds after his descent to the finish.

Thankfully my local clubs TTs are filled with sane modesty. I can't say I've e countered any outlandish kit for a long time. And usually if they do it barely makes a second appearance after they realise they probably only shaved off a handful of seconds which could have come from anywhere. 

Smoggysteve wrote:

Thankfully my local clubs TTs are filled with sane modesty. I can't say I've e countered any outlandish kit for a long time. And usually if they do it barely makes a second appearance after they realise they probably only shaved off a handful of seconds which could have come from anywhere. 

Your assuring post has filled me with a rare dose of relief and hope that not all of the cycling world is continuing down the slopes of mad-gubbins and spendy-fash.

"A handful of seconds that could have come from anywhere". Indeed. No need for a TTer to cry and feel suicidal if this week's ride was 3 seconds slower than last week's - unless, perhaps, they just spent £518.99 on the latest dirigible, with go-faster stripes. One extra bowl of porridge might have done the faster-trick (£0.15).

I think people with beer bellies sat  atop the latest £12-15k bike look spare members.

If I see anyone overweight out riding, no matter how expensive their bike, I applaud them for getting out and trying to make a difference. 

Smoggysteve wrote:

If I see anyone overweight out riding, no matter how expensive their bike, I applaud them for getting out and trying to make a difference. 

Could not agree more, I get quite furious when I see people mocking overweight people cycling, jogging, swimming or taking any other exercise when they should be thoroughly applauded for taking steps to address their issues. You don't often hear people laughing at overweight people driving expensive cars...and why in the name of all that's holy shouldn't overweight people have just as much right to have a nice bike as skinny ones?

Runtilyoudrop wrote:

I think people with beer bellies sat  atop the latest £12-15k bike look spare members.

But but but, my beer belly is far more aerodynamic than a six pack and on a flat tt course weight is not and issue and aero is king!

Griff500 wrote:

Three questions for the developer:

1) What wind tunnel (or other) testing have you done to prove the claims of reduced drag?

2) What independent safety testing have you done to justify the claims of "enhanced safety", and what safety certifications does the product hold?

...

1. It's obviously more aerodynamic, even a small backpack or hydration pack can help, there are studies about this.

The problem would be with strong side winds, though, maybe even vehicles passing at high speed (and trucks, etc.) could be dangerous!

2. they say there is an air bag inside, I guess it inflates around the body, or something...

I want one with green dinosaur scales and tail, is that possible?

S.E. wrote:

I want one with green dinosaur scales and tail, is that possible?

A dinosaur version is shurely for the kiddies. Myself I'd like The Hindenburg. There may be The Freisian, filled with methane rather than hydrogen, for a lesser cost.  One would then be at risk of becoming not the lanterne rouge but a flamme rouge but think of the seconds gained over 263 kilometres!

Is there a built in wringer for the back-sweat?

Griff500 wrote:

1) What wind tunnel (or other) testing have you done to prove the claims of reduced drag?

2) What independent safety testing have you done to justify the claims of "enhanced safety", and what safety certifications does the product hold?

3) If you can't answer 1&2 above, out of your £992 budget, our much have you provisioned to cover the legal claims you will face for misrepresntating your product to investors and the market?  (Presumably you have already taken legal advice on the legal implications, particularly of making false claims on safety)

1. In my ride-like-the-wind-tunnel, mofo

2. It's obviously safer, man

3. Ha ha ha ha ha

Hirsute wrote:

Or £15 for one of these

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15990776/eurohike-lazi-lounger-15990776

Even better; you can get 2 for £30 a saving of...  oh.
 

SimoninSpalding wrote:

So getting £1000 was enough to enter "mass production"? I'm thinking it wouldn't meet my definition, or the production costs are so low that the rrp is incredibly "inflated". I feel safe in saying that the first time I see one of these in use the rider will have a helmet with indicators and L-shaped cranks!

I reckon they're just going to tape a few plastic bags together