Protecting
Downhillers with Airbags
According to Bicycle Business News the motorcycle
clothing manufacturer Dainese which currently manufactures a DH protective
clobber aimed at motorcyclists is devloping a vest that would expand on
inpact to prevent riders from injury. The blow-up vest was developed in
cooperation with th Israeli military using their ballistics technology.
The vest may not be suitable for everyday cyclists, the
airbag waistcoat may work well for downhillers. The current system is
a bit bulky, but they will be made less cumbersome in future versions.
Three separate airbags are built into the vest and are constantly monitored
by two miniature computers, one in the garment itself and one on the motorbike.
Detectors on the motorcycle activate the vest if it crashes into a solid
object. The vest immediately cocoons the chest, spine, neck and other
vital organs and stays inflated for a further 20 seconds.
The vest is expected to retail for $785 (£550) and to fit the computer
to a motorcycle will cost another $70 (£50).
www.dainese.com
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