Riding a bike without breathing the air polluted by cars is what the air purifier for cyclists offers. The innovation of the day proposed by Anicet Mbida, which is to be marketed early next year, should be available at an affordable price.
An innovation for cyclists this morning. You found stronger than the anti-pollution mask: a portable air purifier that blows clean air to the face.
This should speak to all cyclists who have already been trapped behind an exhaust pipe. I don't know if this has ever happened to you, but it's hard to hold on. What does it look like? In a case the size of a mango. We hang it on the helmet behind the head. And it will suck in the dirty air, filter it and return clean air to the face, through a flexible hose.
So it's not very discreet. There is a large pipe with a small cup at the end. But this has the advantage of being a real air purifier. So it suppresses fumes and gases unlike some masks. And as it does not touch the face, it does not interfere either to breathe (if you are out of breath after a sprint for example).
But if he doesn't touch the face, does that mean that the dirty air can pass?
Yes, that's the problem with this system. If there is a lot of wind on the side, a large part of the filtered air will fly away. That's why they also offer a sealed version that looks like a mask. A somewhat special mask, because there is always the hose that connects it to the purifier. One will have the impression of wearing a mini diving equipment. The device is called the i-Wind. And it demonstrates all the innovation that there is currently around protection equipment against viruses and microbes.
And it is expensive?
Not too much, around 100 €. And in principle, it will be available this winter. Suddenly, there will be a heating function to blow hot and clean air to your face.