Tyres which might inflate themselves have typically appeared like a sci-fi conception of a would-be acquire in WorldTour driving, however the know-how has moved one step nearer to breaking into the WorldTour peloton on the Gravel World Championships.
Marianne Vos (Netherlands) showcased Gravaa’s self-inflating tyre know-how forward of the Gravel World Championships following an absence of the system for the reason that 2023 version of Paris-Roubaix.
The Gravaa system makes use of tiny compressors which reside throughout the bike hubs to inflate the strain of the tyre whereas on stable terrain, earlier than decreasing strain to accommodate rougher terrain the place decrease strain may optimise rolling resistance.
Gertjan van Ginderen, proprietor of Gravaa, defined that the system has been developed significantly since its preliminary launch in 2022. “So we improved the electronics loads, I need to say,” he advised Cyclingnews. “So there is a PCB inside every hub, and that is very susceptible for moisture dust, so we have truly made a change contained in the know-how to have it fully potted. So it is fully potted the electronics within the epoxy. We’ve modified the antenna, we have modified the disc brakes, together with the interface of the disc brakes, additionally to be suitable with different spoke configurations.”
“This principally could be very small compressor clutch mechanism and digital printed circuit board, and the hubs speak with one another. So the entrance hub is the grasp, whereas the rear up is a slave. And to the entrance up, you’ll be able to join both your smartphone or your bicycle laptop, so long as it and plus or Bluetooth suitable.”
Marianne Vos defined that she had been coaching on the bike forward of the race. “I’ve been on the Cervelo gravel bike already two years in the past, however now this setup on the brand new bike I solely had since final week. We have performed some recons on this bike, at the very least the bike is prepared,” she mentioned with fun.
Dutch teammate Femke de Vries can also be utilizing the system, and Belgian rider Tiesj Benoot will use it in tomorrow’s males’s elite race.
More to observe…
