The original and interesting project of an Italian startup aims at a very light and flexible cover to take advantage of bikes and e-bikes even in adverse weather conditions.
They called it the Smart Mobility Solution. It is a small startup in the Alps, led by Diego Divenuto from Bolzano, and is developing (with the help of crowdfunding on Indiegogo) a product called BikerTop. Essentially it's an instant bike umbrella: a foldable canopy that can be added on the fly and turns the two-wheeler into a dry vehicle even in rainy weather. There are already solutions on the market to cover a bike in case of rain, but none are as instant as an umbrella, assures the team.
The intuition, had 5 years ago by a group of friends, went through an initial phase in the more classic "garage" style. The initial development started just like that, quietly, until the subsequent refinements that led to the current prototype. A working demo which, explain the creators of BikerTop, now needs a final push for mass production and arrival on the market, also because guess what? The moment of launch coincided with the pandemic, with all the inevitable slowdowns of the case.
How Biker Top, the instant bike umbrella, works
The innovative design of BikerTop allows instant opening and closingjust like an umbrella. In a few moments and with a simple movement, cyclists can protect themselves from the elements. I'll show it to you first than to describe it.
Features
The weight of BikerTop is 3 kg (6,6 lb). The bag that holds the instant roof is fitted 50 cm x 30 cm x 10 cm . (19,6 x 11,8 x 3,9 inches). BikerTop can also remain on the bike and fixed by key to the vehicle to prevent theft. The materials it is made of are resistant and durable: nylon, polyamide, polyurethane and jersey.
The goal was, in other words, to provide a bike with the same protection that a scooter gains with a covering windshield, but achieving greater (much greater) lightness. And above all the versatility of being able to "open" and "close" it instantly, exactly like a rain cover. Its structure also resists the wind, preventing the cyclist from skidding. Tests of the bike umbrella on the road and in the laboratory show that there are no particular impacts on the stability of a bike fitted with BikerTop. Here is the video of the wind tunnel test:
Effetti collaterali
Except for arthritis, all of BikerTop's effects on cyclists appear positive. The instant bike umbrella has its own housing that also acts as a storage bag: it can hold up to 4 kg (8,8 lb), obviously keeping them protected from the rain.
BikerTop keeps the lightweight bike running for risk-free city living in the era bicycles, e-bikes and light quadricycles they are slowly taking to the streets.
If you want more information, consult the FAQ of project.
