Product Innovation of the Year
Innovation of the Year is a critical category in the Pinkbike Awards, as it offers us a glimpse into the future and the technologies that could filter down into regular (and more affordable) products. But, it's a tough choice – is it really an innovation? Is it a twist on an existing product? Does it even work?
This year we chose three products. Specialized added a new safety feature to their helmets, Trust brought along a linkage fork that could gain traction, and Pole's Machine concept offers customized, made to order products that could be part of an engineering revolution that does away with off-the-shelf, mass-produced models that hope to fit all. Why it's nominated: Specialized's ANGI-equipped helmets were released just a few weeks ago, but the idea was strong enough to earn them a nomination for Innovation of the Year.
ANGI stands for Angular and G-force Indicator, and it's a tiny device that will be a standard feature on many of Specialized's helmets, and available as an upgrade on others. The small waterproof and dustproof unit contains a gyroscope and an accelerometer, which allows it to detect direct blows to the head, along with potentially dangerous rotational head movements that can occur without the helmet being hit. If an impact or excessive movement is detected, a countdown timer pops up on the rider's phone, and, if it isn't silenced within a pre-set amount of time, a text goes out to their emergency contacts alerting them that there was a potential crash.
The technology isn't entirely new, but the fact that a company as large as Specialized is putting their weight behind it and implementing it across such a wide range of helmets makes it noteworthy. It doesn't make crashing any less likely (that'd would
really be innovative), but it is a tool that has the potential to help reduce the time it takes to locate an injured rider.
From the First Look: | If a mountain biker falls in the woods, do they make a sound? It depends, but if that mountain biker was wearing a helmet with Specialized's new ANGi technology, a crash would automatically notify their emergency contacts via text, and send out their GPS coordinates.— Mike Kazimer |
Why it's nominated: Linkage forks have been done before, but have never succeeded commercially, usually because they look really, really, stupid. The Message fork could possibly become a success, partly down to its team of Dave Weagle, Jason Schiers, and Hap Seliga, who have a huge base of DW-link, Enve, and Competitive Cyclist fans.
What does the Trust fork offer that other linkage forks didn’t? It looks marginally less weird than most of them, is mostly carbon fiber, should have minimal service intervals (due to enclosed moving parts), a trailing linkage to customize axle-path and mechanical stability, and a self-proclaimed ‘unique and never done before’ damper. What is the main promise from Trust? Stability and confidence. Every other telescopic fork dives under braking, the Trust should naturally fight against this without adding excessive low-speed damping or spring rate. So you
should be able to charge towards a corner, brake hard and late, but have a chassis that doesn't pitch forwards - this will give you better geometry for riding corners and steep sections, and more available fork travel to take on bumps.
Does it work? Well, it all sounds good on paper, and we have one on test at the time of writing, but you will have to wait until the new year to get the full review.
From the First Look : | Function trumps fashion, always, but also not actually always because we're all funny and looks do count for points. That said, this one is less kooky-looking than most that have come before it, and if it rides even half as well as Trust is saying it will, it should blow us all away.— Mike Levy |
Why it's nominated: Pole caused a storm last year when PB published an interview where they royally badmouthed the carbon-fiber industry (which was well-fought back towards aluminum’s environmental issues by other brands in retaliation), dropped their carbon frame project and decided to make an aluminum frame machined from huge billets and bond it together.
The above is a never-ending rabbit-hole of back and forth debate, so what does the Machine offer? An innovative approach to alloy manufacturing. Whereas tubular alloy frames are made from 6000 series alloy, welded together, and post-weld head-treated, the Machine is CNC machined from 7075 T6 that's then glued and bolted together. The alloy's properties make it almost impossible to weld, and the machined bikes require no post-weld head treating or aligning. In theory, the frames should come out of the CNC machine and be perfectly straight and ready to ride. This method also allows the frames to be built to order - they can be continuously updated with each unit built, and are guaranteed to garner plenty of attention at the trailhead.
From the interview: | Pole's Machine is one of the most radical mountain bikes on the market, with super long and slack geometry, and a frame that's constructed from two pieces of machined 7075 aluminum that are bolted and glued together. — Mike Kazimer |
Pole-guy will attempt to disavow you of these notions. However, exactly 'how' is proprietary and head-smacking.
Takes all kinds to make the world go around.
Notice the trend, all other brands(save Transition's SBGs and the Geometron) slowly running steeper seattube angles and slacker front ends and 2.6" to 3" tires. Pole is the goods, They started there. A fine product all the way around.
IMO it's a far superior frame vs welded aluminum. The material is much stronger and has no possibility of a weld being the cause of failure, which is likely by far the most common cause of aluminum frame failures. It has been with the few aluminum frames I've broken.
www.pinkbike.com/news/pole-bicycles-announces-cnc-machine-press-release.html
Don't even get me started on forged billets over extruded aluminum tubes.
The evolink will treat you well.
Happy Holidays.
Eventually, we won't even be able to take a piss without electronics in the toilet and some phone app for guidance...
But it won't win against the Pole. The best bicycle ever made, there will not be a newer version. This is it. The second coming of Chist. The last bike you will ever buy.
Oct 19, 2017 at 3:41
WAKIdesigns says:
I like you, we are very similar, however just like me you fall short with your assumptions as soon as you elaborate them further. Data shortage. I just wanted to prove to you that you cannot hurt me more than I can hurt myself. Race me? Uneducated? Trumpian? Coward? Honestly? Do people actually get intimidated when you speak to them this way or you just haven't tried it in real life? You talk like a 16 year old looking for a fight. Do you know how many "discussions" like that I have had? What the hell do you think you're doing here? Trying to outsmart a fool in his own game? You can try to get on your high horse all you want. Many many tried, I am just typing sht online, I don't give a flying f*ck what people like you think of me, I am just entertaining myself. Maybe because I got more friends than enemies by putting a stick into an anthill... journos, engineers from bike companies, sales reps, mechanics and racers on WCup race. and I will care about you?
You took a wrong turn man.
Oh and no hard feelings... honestly, you're just another pissed off dude. I can understand that. Make this a better day for yourself and ignore me.
"Angi smokes pole!"
I'm also not sure why it's on the list considering it's based on 4 year old technology that Specialized acquired through another company.
It's a great idea, but I'm not sure why or how it fits in as an innovation of the year given that it's not new technology by any means.