Tour de France shows cycling innovations are hot. 3 promising ones in a row

By Elcke Vels

The Tour de France is in full swing. Many professional cyclists are utilizing technological innovations to deliver their best performance. However, it’s not just in the ‘pro cycling scene’ where remarkable developments are taking place. Here are three promising developments that mark a significant step forward in cycling safety and sustainability on the ‘normal’ road.

Fall detection systems

The Netherlands, a country with a deep-rooted cycling culture, is at the forefront of innovative safety measures for cyclists. Bypoint, a Dutch company, has developed a fall detection system designed to improve cyclist safety. Inspired by a personal encounter with a cycling accident, founder Joris Koops designed a system that detects falls and automatically contacts pre-selected individuals for assistance.

Functionality is straightforward: if a fall occurs, the system prompts the cyclist to press a button within one minute. If they are unable to respond, the system sends a text message to the first contact on the list, proceeding to the second and third contacts if necessary. The system also provides the fallen cyclist’s location via GPS coordinates.

Feel safer cycling thanks to new fall detection system

The Netherlands is a country of cyclists, but unfortunately riding a bike is not without risks. In 2020, more than 200 cyclists were killed. That … Continued

Revolutionising visibility

Amsterdam-based start-up Ziemi is another company making strides in cyclist safety. They’re taking a fresh approach to bike lights, using the principle of biomotion to increase cyclist visibility in traffic. Their innovative light design illuminates the moving parts of the cyclist, making them more visible to other road users.

Start-up Ziemi improves cyclists’ visibility

The Netherlands is a land of bicycles. We cycle when the sun shines, when it rains, during the day and at night. Good lighting in … Continued

Recycled plastic bikes

As sustainability becomes an increasingly important aspect of product design, Dutch start-up DutchFiets is leading the way with their bicycles made from recycled plastic. The company’s goal is to reduce waste and environmental impact by utilising recycled plastics and implementing a deposit system for their bikes.

The company faced challenges ensuring the strength and safety of the plastic frames and wheels, but with the aid of crowdfunding and customer feedback, they’ve made significant progress. DutchFiets currently targets corporate customers such as hotels, envisioning a future where more bike components are made entirely of recycled plastic.

Start-up-of-the-day: cycling on a bicycle made of used plastic bottle caps

There wasn’t any particular moment when it became clear to him. It was more of a growth process, that’s how Johannes Alderse Baas explains the … Continued