News in brief: More and more modern technology is also finding its way into bicycles – electronic circuits, intelligent e-bike drives, anti-theft protection and smartphone interfaces. What sounded like science fiction a few years ago has long since become reality. The company Volata Cycles from the US bicycle and innovation stronghold San Francisco now wants to raise the topic of smart cycling to a new level.
The visually extremely simple bike, which will bear the name Volata, comes with an integrated computer, the display and control unit of which is integrated into the stem and offers many features that are known from modern smartphones: In addition to fully sophisticated navigation, these are of course also fitness and tracking applications and GPS-based anti-theft protection. The applications of such a smart system are diverse: For example, the unit warns if a rain shower is imminent in the next few minutes, displays calls and messages thanks to the Bluetooth connection to the smartphone and alerts the owner via SMS if the bike is moved with the anti-theft protection activated become.
In addition to its state-of-the-art features, the Volata should be one thing above all: low-maintenance. That's why they rely on an Alfine Di2 hub gear from Shimano in combination with a virtually maintenance-free and noiseless belt drive. The lighting is integrated in the fork or in the top tube of the aluminum frame and switches on and off automatically thanks to the light sensor. In terms of geometry and area of use, the Volata is somewhere between Gravel, Urban and Endurance - sporty demands with long-distance comfort and limited off-road suitability.
The city runabout is scheduled to be delivered from July 2017 – pre-orders are being accepted with immediate effect. However, the Volata is not exactly cheap: $3.500 is due for the well-equipped bike – that’s almost €3.200.