In principle, a well-equipped rider should be provided with boots, gloves, leather and a helmet. Except that to go to work, or to an appointment, it is not particularly pleasant to hug as if we were going to run the Bol d'Or. This may push some bikers to ignore his safety, and to take city clothes, not always suitable for two-wheeled traffic.
However, a brand new material could soon be used to make suit trousers or fashionable parkas, so classic clothing, lightweight and flexible, capable of falling in the event of shock absorption, especially at the elbows, hips , and knees. And if unfortunately we begin to slide, that is to say, to scrub the floor, the fibers begin to harden to avoid getting rasp the legs and glutes by the bitumen.
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A fiber that hardens according to the heat
This technology is reminiscent of Kevlar jeans for bikers, but more beautiful and more comfortable, because there is no need to add elbow pads or kneepads inside the garment, the fiber itself reacting to shocks.
It was developed by researchers at Hokkaido University in Japan. This material stiffens with heat (thus with friction), and softens at room temperature, contrary to the usual synthetic materials. And the advantage is that it can work in the form of fiber, or shock absorber gel. It could also be used for the manufacture of helmets or safety shoes. The arrival of the first articles is expected in the middle of next year.