Dopo il recente successo della campagna di ricerca fondi su Kickstarter per il lancio del loro ShockWiz, per Dusty Dynamics si aprono ora le porte di SRAM.
ShockWiz è un dispositivo (che vi avevamo descritto in questo articolo) progettato per la messa a punto delle sospensioni ad aria. In sostanza è stato progettato per acquisire i dati da forcella ed ammortizzatore per poi trasmetterli ad un’applicazione su smartphone al fine di aiutare a migliorare il rendimento delle sospensioni stesse.
Ora SRAM ha annunciato l’acquisizione dell’intero progetto, facendo sapere, inoltre, che lo ShockWiz verrà realizzato negli stabilimenti SRAM di Spearfish, USA.
Di seguito il comunicato stampa ufficiale di SRAM:
Engineers behind Quarq and RockShox will bring ShockWiz to life. Dusty Dynamics’ Nigel Wade continues to work full-time on the project.ShockWiz is a tuning assistant for air-sprung mountain bike forks and rear shocks. It combines hardware, software and finely tuned algorithms to improve suspension set-up for different terrain and riding styles. ShockWiz is compatible with most air-sprung suspension forks and rear shocks, from many different manufacturers.
SRAM Category Manager for Digital Integration, Jim Meyer, saw the potential of ShockWiz early: “ShockWiz combines high-tech mechanical sensing with a smartphone app and automated tuning recommendations. For suspension, there is simply nothing else like it.”
“The intersection of bicycles and technology is nearly infinite, but we really want to make bicycles better to ride,” said Meyer. “We are looking for creations that take away the thinking and leave the thrill. ShockWiz does that.”
404 Kickstarter backers helped make ShockWiz a reality and their pledges will be honored this August in a combined effort from Dusty Dynamics’ Nigel Wade and SRAM.
“Quarq and RockShox are world leaders in bicycle electronics and suspension,” said ShockWiz inventor, Nigel Wade. “With the backing of SRAM I can deliver performance and support that would take Dusty Dynamics many years to match.”
ShockWiz will be manufactured at SRAM’s factory in Spearfish, SD (USA). The factory is ISO 9001-certified and produces Quarq bicycle power meters and data systems. SRAM’s Colorado Springs Development Center, 450 miles away, is home to RockShox, another vital part of the collaboration.
“I have spent time in Spearfish and Colorado Springs, in the R&D labs and on the trails. The wisdom and experience of the SRAM team has been and will continue to be invaluable. Backers will be rewarded with a first-rate tuning system.”
The devices shipped to Kickstarter backers will be badged Quarq – SRAM’s data and digital technology brand – but future commercialization is unknown. “The technology shows great promise and we are excited to explore other applications,” said Meyer.
About Quarq:
Athletes around the world rely on Quarq to deliver the information they need to achieve their dreams. Every Quarq power meter embodies 10 years of experience, the brainpower of 400 engineers and more rigorous testing than any other power meter on the market. Quarq Race Intelligence uses GPS, ANT+™ and cellular data to let broadcasters, fans, race officials and teams follow the story of a race as it unfolds – in real time. Based in Spearfish, SD, Quarq is part of the SRAM family.
About Dusty Dynamics:
Dusty Dynamics was founded to bring innovative engineering and technology to mountain bikers and cyclists with the aim to enhance rider enjoyment. Nigel Wade, Dusty Dynamics’ founder, is a Mechatronics engineer with a passion for riding mountain bikes. ShockWiz, Dusty Dynamics’ first product, was born after Nigel saw that the suspension on many mountain bikes is not configured to perform at its full potential.
http://www.quarq.com
http://www.shockwiz.com
