VanHawks Valour

A bike loaded with sensors and GPS-aided navigation tools for a safe ride

Most technology developed for the bicycle in recent years is mainly aimed at making it leaner and faster; not much work has been done on rider safety or navigation, and this is where Canadian startup VanHawks is trying to change things with its Valour, which will be available for shipping in March 2015, but is up for pre-order now.

In today’s world of devices talking to each other, the Valour is designed to talk to other bicycles to let you know which road is closed, which is potholed, and help you discover more of your city.

Whether you cycle for fun or to work, set up the location you are headed to on your smartphone, and the built-in LEDs on the handlebar will indicate the direction to take; and as it gets more inputs from other Valour bike users, it will also get you there faster.

To negotiate blind spots, ultrasonic sensors provide vibrating haptic feedback on the handlebar, letting a rider immediately know if there is a vehicle anywhere in the vicinity.

In-built computers measure time of ride, speed, best time, distance covered, and calories burnt; and this information synchronises well with your smartphone. If it’s not with you, the information is stored till you get to where your smartphone is. All this information is organised through a cloud-based application.

If you lose your bike, just mark it as ‘lost’, and your Valour will contact other Valours around, and alert you of the location of your bike via an app-based notification.

The bike comes with a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a speed sensor, GPS receiver, blind spot detection sensors and LEDs. There is a PD-8 dynamo to keep batteries on the bike charged. The bike comes with disc brakes and uses 700c 28mm tyres so you get great speed.

The bike will be available in small, medium, large and extra large sizes, and multiple colour options. You have the option of a multispeed, fixed gear or single speed version.

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Gagandeep Singh Sapra