Bicycles

Valour smart bike offers turn-by-turn navigation

Valour smart bike offers turn-by-turn navigation
With the Valour, Vanhawks is looking to combine connectivity of the digital age with the century-old tradition of pure pedal-powered motion
With the Valour, Vanhawks is looking to combine connectivity of the digital age with the century-old tradition of pure pedal-powered motion
View 9 Images
The Valour's 16 lbs (7.25 kg) carbon fiber frame incorporates Bluetooth 4.0
1/9
The Valour's 16 lbs (7.25 kg) carbon fiber frame incorporates Bluetooth 4.0
The Valour is self-charging, with all onboard electronics powered through a Supernova Infinity S Front Dynamo Hub in the front wheel
2/9
The Valour is self-charging, with all onboard electronics powered through a Supernova Infinity S Front Dynamo Hub in the front wheel
Among the sensors built into the Valour are an accelerometer, magnetometer and a speed sensor that work with the application to track calories burned, speed and distance traveled
3/9
Among the sensors built into the Valour are an accelerometer, magnetometer and a speed sensor that work with the application to track calories burned, speed and distance traveled
With the Valour, Vanhawks is looking to combine connectivity of the digital age with the century-old tradition of pure pedal-powered motion
4/9
With the Valour, Vanhawks is looking to combine connectivity of the digital age with the century-old tradition of pure pedal-powered motion
The Valour's 16 lbs (7.25 kg) carbon fiber frame incorporates Bluetooth 4.0 to connect to the companion app, compatible with iOS, Android and Pebble
5/9
The Valour's 16 lbs (7.25 kg) carbon fiber frame incorporates Bluetooth 4.0 to connect to the companion app, compatible with iOS, Android and Pebble
It uses standard 700c 28 mm tires, Shimano caliper brakes and is available as either a fixed gear, single speed or multi-gear hub model
6/9
It uses standard 700c 28 mm tires, Shimano caliper brakes and is available as either a fixed gear, single speed or multi-gear hub model
Vanhawks is hoping to get enough Valours on the road to form a mesh network of users
7/9
Vanhawks is hoping to get enough Valours on the road to form a mesh network of users
The company claims a one hour bike ride will provide a full charge to the onboard electronics
8/9
The company claims a one hour bike ride will provide a full charge to the onboard electronics
Vanhawks has built in what it calls "blindspot detection sensors" that create a safezone 10 feet (3 m) long and four feet (1.2 m) wide from the rear wheel axle of the bike
9/9
Vanhawks has built in what it calls "blindspot detection sensors" that create a safezone 10 feet (3 m) long and four feet (1.2 m) wide from the rear wheel axle of the bike
View gallery - 9 images

A connected bike with no trace of an electric motor is something of a rarity amid a trend of high-tech two-wheelers. Looking to integrate modern-day connectivity while retaining the century-old tradition of pure pedal-powered motion is the team behind the Vanhawks Valour, a sensor-laden smart bike designed with safety in mind.

The Valour's 16 lbs (7.25 kg) carbon fiber frame incorporates Bluetooth 4.0 to connect to the companion app, compatible with iOS, Android and Pebble. Users enter their destination on the app and are then delivered turn-by-turn navigation in the form LED indicators built into the handlebars.

Among the sensors built into the Valour are an accelerometer, magnetometer and a speed sensor that work with the application to track calories burned, speed and distance traveled. The system also monitors the route taken and can suggest alternatives to avoid those steep, painful hills.

Most cyclists on the road, using a dedicated bike lane or not, will have had that anxious moment as a passing car comes that little bit too close. With this in mind, Vanhawks has built in what it calls "blindspot detection sensors" that create a safezone 10 feet (3 m) long and four feet (1.2 m) wide from the rear wheel axle of the bike. If it senses an oncoming vehicle, it delivers haptic feedback, or a vibration, through the handlebar grips. While this won't do much to stop a ton of moving steel, it may just offer a last-second chance to tuck in those elbows.

It uses standard 700c 28 mm tires, Shimano caliper brakes and is available as either a fixed gear, single speed or multi-gear hub model
It uses standard 700c 28 mm tires, Shimano caliper brakes and is available as either a fixed gear, single speed or multi-gear hub model

Vanhawks is hoping to get enough Valours on the road to form a mesh network of users. Through this online community, users will be able to tap into data on potholes, closed roads, blocked lanes collected by other Valours to choose safer and smarter routes. In addition, if one's Valour is stolen and another user happens to pass it by, a notification is sent via the application to alert the original owner of its whereabouts.

The Valour is self-charging, with all the onboard electronics powered through a Supernova Infinity S Front Dynamo Hub in the front wheel. The company claims a one hour bike ride will provide a full charge. It uses standard 700c 28 mm tires, Shimano caliper brakes and is available as either a fixed gear, single speed or multi-gear hub model.

Vanhawks is aiming to raise CAD$100,000 (US$91,000) on Kickstarter to take Valour to market. At the time of writing, it's about halfway there, having attracted just under $50,000, with pledges of $999 still available for a single speed or fixed-gear version. It hopes to begin shipping the connected bike in October if all goes to plan.

You can see the team's pitch video below.

Source: Vanhawks

View gallery - 9 images
6 comments
6 comments
Jim Sadler
This bike needs to offer at least ten speeds to be taken seriously. Bikes without gears simply don't get ridden much at all. And it is not just hills that are an issue. Anyone who has ever had a long ride with 35 mph winds in their face knows the value of a multi speed bike.
StWils
I do not care how many cool software connected embedded sensors are expensively woven into an otherwise excessively expensive bike it still has to be ridden in traffic and upwind. And it can still be hit by some inattentive driver or boosted in thirty seconds by anyone with adequate bolt or chain cutting tools. Five or six much more reasonably priced bikes can be bought to replace this one once it gets broken or stolen. I also think way too much effort is put into counting calories, heart beats, inch-pounds or newtons per city block, etc or any other air headed attempt at "precision exercising".
flibb
What no disc brakes, you've got to be kidding!
pimperish
@Jim the article and the project page clear state a multi-gear version. It uses a Nuvinci N360 internal gear hub
@flibb Disc brakes are a stretch goal...one that will most likely be reached
Scott Wicks
As mentioned by others, there is a multi-gear version that uses an internal hub, also, the stretch goal of disc brakes has been reached, so they're in.
Finally, the carbon belt drive stretch goal is ALMOST there...if anyone's sitting on the fence and still paying attention to this...get in and get yours!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1931822269/vanhawks-valour-first-ever-connected-carbon-fibre
unklmurray
Nice looking but not for me,If I rode a bike it would be a multi geared Mtn.Bike with fatter tires......I do ride a Trike,with 2 wheels in front bot not in the full recumbent position but more upright, I can go from a semi laid back recumbent for the flat ground with a movable seating position up to full upright for the hills and when pulling my 5th wheel trailer......some day I'll post pictures but the main thing is it only cost $500.00 And will carry me and 4 children safely.....NO it doesn't require me to have a "Smart Phone"....I'm oldschool & don't have a cellphone,my phone is a FREE google phone......LOL :-)