These days it seems there's almost nothing you can't fund via crowd sourcing, from the world's first glow-in-the-dark plants to Zach Braff's latest movie. (Why exactly a millionaire needs crowd funding from folks like you and me is somewhat baffling, but that's part of the platform's appeal - it's open to anyone, and it's up to the individual to choose which projects to support.)
For those who aren't familiar with the concept, sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer the opportunity to invest in concept projects and provide the individuals or companies behind them with the funding they need to make their vision a reality. Investors are offered incentives that increase in value according to their contribution. Projects that don't meet their funding goal usually return contributions to investors.
For cyclists interested in bike-based innovation, there are some fantastic projects attempting to get off the ground. As both a cyclist and tech geek, I'm particularly enthused about the Helios smart handlebars.
These use GPS and bluetooth technology to provide a variety of handy features, including custom lighting colours; proximity lighting that turns on and off automatically depending on how close to the bike you are; turn signals to improve visibility and communication in traffic; and turn-by-turn navigation. There's also a GPS tracking system built into the handlebars that allows you to track the bike's coordinates. Unfortunately this will initially only be available in the U.S., but as the victim of multiple bike thefts over the years I love the idea of a tracking system that can't be removed from the bars. I'm not wild about the bullhorn style bars, which are very narrow and not the best choice from a stability or steering perspective, but the drop bars look really good.
For those who have wrestled with fender installation, you'll be pleased to hear that simple, detachable fender options are popular projects, with options like the Musguard removable fender and the Plume recoiling guard available for investment.
Lighting is another popular choice, with some really innovative takes on traditional bike lighting. I especially like Revolights, who turned to Kickstarter for their start-up funding and just ran a successful campaign to produce wheels with fully integrated lighting.
For triathletes, the Switch Aero System offers the option to quickly and easily convert your road bike from a regular road riding position to a true aero position. This is a great option for those of us who live in condos with limited space for bike storage.
I love that crowd-funding allows inventors and entrepreneurs to develop innovations that permeate every aspect of the cycling experience.
Kay Cahill is a cyclist and librarian who believes bikes are for life, not just for commuting. Read more at www.sidecut.ca, or send a comment to [email protected].
