Carbon fiber smart bike warns when cars come too close

Vanhawks Valour is a lightweight carbon fiber bike that is perhaps the first to come with an array of smart features out of the box, such as warning when drivers come dangerously close.

There’s been a considerable effort in recent years to apply smart technology to bikes, from the Velo-1, which uses the riders’ smartphone as a dashboard, to Helios handlebars that include GPS to track stolen bikes. Now Canadian company Vanhawks has created the Valour, a lightweight carbon fiber bike that is perhaps the first to come with an array of smart features out of the box, such as warning when drivers come dangerously close.

Currently seeking crowdfunding on Kickstarter, the bike is designed with urban commuting in mind and lives up to the standards of other models on the market, yet features a number of new functions when synced with owners’ smartphones. Onboard sensors can track riders’ activity, detailing their distance, time and speed, as well as recommending routes based on previous journeys. Riders can set a route before hand and receive directions via LEDs located on the handlebars, meaning they don’t need to look at their phone. Sensors on the back of the bike determine how close motorists behind them are, sending haptic feedback via vibrations in the handlebar if a driver comes within a dangerous proximity.

A GPS module also provides a number of location-based features. The bike detects when it’s hit a pothole and tags its location, helping to gather data about the state of roads. It also senses elevation and uses the information to recommend less hilly routes. If the bike is stolen, owners can check its last tracked location through their phone, and those reported stolen can interact with other Valour bikes when they come into proximity, immediately sending a notification to the owner that another rider’s bike has detected theirs nearby. Watch the video below to find out more about the bike:

Backers can get their hands on the bike for CAD 1,049 if they pledge before 31 May, and the Kickstarter campaign has already more than doubled its original target of CAD 100,000. What other features can smart sensors add to bikes?

Kickstarter: www.kck.st/Se9Fnv