Description:

Elite track cyclists often race at speeds exceeding 80km/h, where even tenths of a second can determine victory. The difference between a gold or silver medal at the Olympics can significantly impact media attention and funding for the sport. Despite this, maintaining aggressive aerodynamic positions in long endurance races is challenging due to fatigue. Existing bicycle products intensify performance losses by being designed in isolation from the athlete's needs.

Velobike Innovation adopts a user-led approach to designing Olympic-level equipment, exemplified by our Olympic medal winning products. Our philosophy centres on creating aerodynamic positions for riders, rather than just aerodynamic equipment. The handlebars, critical for an athletes' aerodynamic positioning on their bike, presents a significant opportunity for enhancing rider performance.

The Velobike Skat Endurance Handlebars enhance performance by optimising the athlete's aerodynamic positioning and improving recovery during endurance races. These insights were derived from direct consultations and observations of athletes specialising in endurance racing.

Recognising the diversity in athlete preferences and the limitations of a one-size-fits-all design, we introduced a modular system of patent-pending handlebar grips. These grips are easily interchangeable, allowing athletes to customise their positions on the bike. The handlebars encourage a low, narrow arm position, reducing drag and enhancing speed, as validated through wind-tunnel testing and CFD analysis.

Furthermore, the handlebars feature a stable, comfortable flat platform, enabling athletes to maintain optimal positions for extended periods. This design maximises the allowable geometry within the rules of the international body for cycling (UCI), which do not permit fixed accessories on handlebars but allow for safety-enhancing grips. Our modular grips exploit this loophole, offering four styles:
Grip A: Conservative, low-profile traditional track grip.
Grip B: Road bike-like position with a central hole to reduce frontal area.
Grip C: Aggressive, narrow “Sphinx-style” position.
Grip D: Palm-held grip for better control compared to Grip C.

Ergonomically, an asymmetric thumb nook aids Madison race handovers. The handlebar's lightweight titanium hardware and high-quality Japanese carbon-fibre ensure a superior stiffness-to-weight ratio, surpassing regulatory standards by 150%. Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is used for the complex grip surfaces.

The design reflects Velobike Innovation’s futuristic aesthetic, inspired by interstellar themes, and the name "Skat" is derived from a star in the Aquarius constellation. The black colour ensures compatibility with any bicycle frames and national team colours, and the FernMark to signify its New Zealand origin.

The Skat Endurance Handlebars have already seen success in multiple World Championships, with a 15.7% efficiency gain in the upper grip position, proving to be a game-changer for high-performance athletes. It has been adopted by the majority of global cycling federations in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics. With 90% of our market being international exports, this recognition bolsters Velobike Innovation’s, and New Zealand’s, reputation in design globally.

Our modular grip system supports iterative design, allowing for future improvements and new grip designs based on market feedback. Customers can easily and affordably upgrade grips without investing in a new set of handlebars, and also facilitating quick manufacturing adjustments without costly re-tooling.