Van Rysel Develops Airbag System Integrated into Road Cyclists' Skinsuit

# Van Rysel Unveils Integrated Airbag Skinsuit for Cyclists Van Rysel has developed a new airbag system integrated directly into a race-ready skinsuit for road cyclists, with the help of In&motion. The system is currently being tested on pro riders. The current version is in final validation ahead of potential race deployment.

The airbag system has a total weight of about 700 grams, with airbag components weighing 500 grams. Van Rysel stated that its airbag system is significantly lighter than airbag systems worn in MotoGP. The airbag deploys in 60 milliseconds after its impact-detection algorithm senses a crash.

The skinsuit is designed to be aerodynamic and to dissipate heat. It uses abrasion-resistant materials. The airbag deploys to protect the central core, cervical zone, and spinal line of the upper body.

The airbag system is scheduled for general consumer release within the next two years. In February, the UCI put out a call seeking gear to protect riders. Jocelyn Bar is the Van Rysel product manager.

“Behind every race number, there’s a human being and sadly it is still widely accepted that a rider can lose everything in a fraction of a second due to a crash.”

“> — Jocelyn Bar, Van Rysel product manager > "What helmets represented 20 years ago, we think Airbag can represent today, but now, we’re looking beyond the head, we need to protect as much of the body as we can.”

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