A new technical textile product set to revolutionize the cycling clothing industry has been developed at the University of Bolton in partnership with a local sportswear company, the University said on its website.
Professor Subhash Anand, MBE, Professor of Technical Textiles at the University's Institute for Materials Research and Innovation, has joined forces with MD and founder of VO2 Sportswear Matt Tomkin to create a new chamois padding for cycling and triathlon.A new technical textile product set to revolutionize the cycling clothing industry has been developed at the University of Bolton in partnership#
Their product, called Airide, has been designed to address a host of health issues associated with cycling shorts, which traditionally use polyurethane foam to create chamois pad areas where the body is in contact with the saddle. Professor Anand says there are health issues associated with traditional cycling shorts pads.
He points out that polyurethane foam cannot be washed at high temperatures, so harbours bacteria. It is not a breathable fabric and has no moisture-wicking properties. A foam pad loses thickness and becomes denser and hence uncomfortable after short periods of time. He also cited a research carried out by BBC that showed cycling for more than three hours a week can cause erectile dysfunction due to excessive pressure against the perineal area, impacting on blood flow. In addition to its health and hygiene issues, polyurethane foam cannot be recycled.
The Bolton technical textile product, consisting of a series of three-dimensional (3D) knitted spacer structures, has been developed to overcome the limitations of polyurethane foam, and one face of the product is finished with an antimicrobial and a wicking agent. In contrast to the traditional foam pads, the Bolton solution distributes pressure over a much larger area, giving more support than polyurethane foam, reduces peak pressure in the perineal area for the cyclist, is breathable, providing a well-ventilated, comfortable surface, and can be laundered in a washing machine and can be easily recycled, because it is manufactured from one type of fibre only.
Professor Anand said, “We believe there is a huge market for our product – cycling and triathlon are popular sports with massive numbers of amateur as well as professional participants.
“The product we have created is not a million miles away from my cushion for wheelchair users – in fact it is that research product that brought Matt and I together.'
Matt and Subhash met at a business networking event. “I had experience of cycling, practising long distances for a charity event and I really didn't like it; I just couldn't get comfortable on the saddle,” explained Matt. “When I met Subhash and heard about his cushion, I could see how we could create a product together for my industry.”
Airide is shortlisted for an innovation award due to be announced at Venturefest today. (SH)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India
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