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TECH NEWS

Air-filled cycling backpack to "reduce drag" and "enhance safety" hits Kickstarter funding goal

The RAF1's designer claims it will make you faster — the "one-of-a-kind accessory" that costs £31, weighs 300g, has an integrated airbag and is probably coming soon to a road near you… no, really...

The Kickstarter funding campaign for an air-filled cycling backpack that its designers say will "reduce drag" and make you faster, as well as offering "enhanced safety" with an integrated airbag, has hit its funding target.

The "pioneering bike bag", designed by RAF (that's Hong Kong-based innovators Ram Air Fairing, not the RAF), is essentially a giant fairing and sent the cycling world into something of a meltdown back in September when we noticed it was about to hit crowdfunding platform Kickstarter.

2024 Ram Air Fairing Pioneering Bike Backpack 3

Shortly after we pointed out it was £7 short of its £992 target, the campaign set to close at lunchtime on Saturday, a 20th backer pledged support and took it past the goal. Now it has been reached, RAF says it will crack on with getting its "pioneering bike backpack" that will "revolutionise cycling safety and performance" out to supporters next month.

According to Kickstarter and at the time of writing, 18 people have stumped up £31 for one RAF1, while two ultra-committed backers have pledged £62 to receive two of the backpacks.

2024 Ram Air Fairing Pioneering Bike Backpack 2

The project's enthusiastic founders reckon their "one-of-a-kind accessory that sets you apart on the road" represents the "next level of cycling safety and performance". On said performance front, RAF says the 300g air-filled backpack boasts "unparalleled" efficiency and has been "meticulously engineered to elevate your speed on the road".

How? Well, that's "by significantly reducing air drag", the makers (who were inspired by their background in paragliding) claim, although no info about how much you might save yourself has been made available, just that "you'll effortlessly slice through the wind, propelling yourself towards your personal best with ease".

Then there's the safety side of things, RAF suggesting it will enhance rider safety by giving users integrated airbag protection. As we concluded when it was first spotted, we'll be waiting to see how it handles in crosswinds before verifying the safety claims.

> Where are they now? The best, worst and wackiest cycling crowdfunders and what happened to them

 The dimensions of the backpack are 95 x 35 x 65cm, and it comes in black, white or blue colourways. It's safe to say you won't be seeing these in the pro peloton any time soon. Can you imagine the UCI's reaction?

2024 Ram Air Fairing Pioneering Bike Backpack 4

The UCI's technical regulations state items of clothing "may not modify the morphology of the rider and any non-essential element or device, of which the purpose is not exclusively that of clothing or protection, is forbidden", going on to add: "This shall also apply regarding any material or substance applied onto the skin or clothing and which is not itself an item of clothing." So there, good luck sneaking one of these into a race.

Ultimately, whether it works and does indeed make riders faster remains to be seen, although the internet's cyclists were gleeful in dismissing any hopes before the Kickstarter had even gone live. Despite the ridiculing, 20 people have already backed the project to see it past the magic £992 mark.

2024 Ram Air Fairing Pioneering Bike Backpack 5

RAF's page says it will enter mass production and backers will receive the product in December. With Kickstarter telling us there has been support from Glasgow, Nottingham, London, Solihull and Lymington — you might be seeing one of these in the lanes near you in the not too distant future...

Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.

Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.

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37 comments

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TempleOrion | 1 week ago
3 likes

Good for reducing the impact of arrows too, apparently (well Samurai horsemen had a similar gizmo)... 🤔

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chrisonabike replied to TempleOrion | 1 week ago
0 likes

Bonsai samurai?  Or is it just a case of "they seem to get smaller every year"?

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Codfather123 | 1 week ago
3 likes

I reckon it is rather dangerous has it will make you more vulnerable to side winds.

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chrisonabike replied to Codfather123 | 1 week ago
3 likes

They should embrace that...

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KDee | 1 week ago
1 like

By my reckoning, at a goal of 992 quid, and a pledge of 31 quid per bag, that's a total of 32 sold. Hardly "mass production". 

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Blackthorne replied to KDee | 1 week ago
3 likes

I disagree, the lucky few who get to wear one of these will certainly produce more mass. 

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ubercurmudgeon | 2 weeks ago
14 likes

That ~20 people have been suckered in by some cycling-specific snake oil is not surprising. Not in a week when ~75 million have likewise been fooled on a much bigger scale.

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Rendel Harris replied to ubercurmudgeon | 1 week ago
17 likes

ubercurmudgeon wrote:

That ~20 people have been suckered in by some cycling-specific snake oil is not surprising. Not in a week when ~75 million have likewise been fooled on a much bigger scale.

Indeed, both groups have been suckered into placing their trust in an absurd-looking windbag...

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Smoggysteve | 2 weeks ago
10 likes

I don't think the designers really understand modern cyclists.

people with happily spend thousands of pounds on ultra light ultra aero ultra stiff frames, carbon deep section wheels, OSPWs with ceramic bearings, aero helmets, aero socks, narrow integrated carbon aero handlebars, waxed chains, all in the name of going a little bit faster. 

but they won't spend £30 to look a total dick. 

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Cugel replied to Smoggysteve | 1 week ago
0 likes

Smoggysteve wrote:

I don't think the designers really understand modern cyclists.

people with happily spend thousands of pounds on ultra light ultra aero ultra stiff frames, carbon deep section wheels, OSPWs with ceramic bearings, aero helmets, aero socks, narrow integrated carbon aero handlebars, waxed chains, all in the name of going a little bit faster. 

but they won't spend £30 to look a total dick. 

Have you attended a current-day time trial; or even one 30 years or more ago? This is the cycling arena that gurgitated up the dickhead hat amongst various other gubbins that, to one oblivious to the TT obsession with seconds, would seem to have been designed and manufactured primarily to make a cyclist employing that gubbins "to look a total dick".

And how about those mounted upon the various "ultras" you list, inclusive of a Mekon-hat with a spy-eye camera sticking up from its crown? They're rare in West Wales, mind, possibly because anyone considering such a look couldn't take the hoots of mirth that would greet them where e're they went, the place being generally populated with folk not yet fully captured by the irreality of unicorn-land to the east.

************

Still, fashion and marketing thereof are powerful thangs. We may see the streets filled with lump-wacky cyclists before too long, especially if The Muskrat puts one on his cybertruck or Taddy stops at the top of a TdeF ascent to don a dirigible so as to win by even more seconds after his descent to the finish.

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Smoggysteve replied to Cugel | 1 week ago
0 likes

Thankfully my local clubs TTs are filled with sane modesty. I can't say I've e countered any outlandish kit for a long time. And usually if they do it barely makes a second appearance after they realise they probably only shaved off a handful of seconds which could have come from anywhere. 

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Cugel replied to Smoggysteve | 1 week ago
0 likes

Smoggysteve wrote:

Thankfully my local clubs TTs are filled with sane modesty. I can't say I've e countered any outlandish kit for a long time. And usually if they do it barely makes a second appearance after they realise they probably only shaved off a handful of seconds which could have come from anywhere. 

Your assuring post has filled me with a rare dose of relief and hope that not all of the cycling world is continuing down the slopes of mad-gubbins and spendy-fash.  1

"A handful of seconds that could have come from anywhere". Indeed. No need for a TTer to cry and feel suicidal if this week's ride was 3 seconds slower than last week's - unless, perhaps, they just spent £518.99 on the latest dirigible, with go-faster stripes. One extra bowl of porridge might have done the faster-trick (£0.15).

 

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Runtilyoudrop replied to Smoggysteve | 1 week ago
0 likes

I think people with beer bellies sat  atop the latest £12-15k bike look spare members.

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Smoggysteve replied to Runtilyoudrop | 1 week ago
18 likes

If I see anyone overweight out riding, no matter how expensive their bike, I applaud them for getting out and trying to make a difference. 

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Rendel Harris replied to Smoggysteve | 1 week ago
1 like

Smoggysteve wrote:

If I see anyone overweight out riding, no matter how expensive their bike, I applaud them for getting out and trying to make a difference. 

Could not agree more, I get quite furious when I see people mocking overweight people cycling, jogging, swimming or taking any other exercise when they should be thoroughly applauded for taking steps to address their issues. You don't often hear people laughing at overweight people driving expensive cars...and why in the name of all that's holy shouldn't overweight people have just as much right to have a nice bike as skinny ones?

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Backladder replied to Runtilyoudrop | 1 week ago
1 like

Runtilyoudrop wrote:

I think people with beer bellies sat  atop the latest £12-15k bike look spare members.

But but but, my beer belly is far more aerodynamic than a six pack and on a flat tt course weight is not and issue and aero is king!

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Griff500 | 2 weeks ago
2 likes

Three questions for the developer:

1) What wind tunnel (or other) testing have you done to prove the claims of reduced drag?

2) What independent safety testing have you done to justify the claims of "enhanced safety", and what safety certifications does the product hold?

3) If you can't answer 1&2 above, out of your £992 budget, our much have you provisioned to cover the legal claims you will face for misrepresntating your product to investors and the market?  (Presumably you have already taken legal advice on the legal implications, particularly of making false claims on safety)

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S.E. replied to Griff500 | 2 weeks ago
8 likes

Griff500 wrote:

Three questions for the developer:

1) What wind tunnel (or other) testing have you done to prove the claims of reduced drag?

2) What independent safety testing have you done to justify the claims of "enhanced safety", and what safety certifications does the product hold?

...

1. It's obviously more aerodynamic, even a small backpack or hydration pack can help, there are studies about this.

The problem would be with strong side winds, though, maybe even vehicles passing at high speed (and trucks, etc.) could be dangerous!

2. they say there is an air bag inside, I guess it inflates around the body, or something...

I want one with green dinosaur scales and tail, is that possible?

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Cugel replied to S.E. | 2 weeks ago
5 likes

S.E. wrote:

I want one with green dinosaur scales and tail, is that possible?

A dinosaur version is shurely for the kiddies. Myself I'd like The Hindenburg. There may be The Freisian, filled with methane rather than hydrogen, for a lesser cost.  One would then be at risk of becoming not the lanterne rouge but a flamme rouge but think of the seconds gained over 263 kilometres!

Is there a built in wringer for the back-sweat?

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lesterama replied to Griff500 | 1 week ago
1 like

Griff500 wrote:

1) What wind tunnel (or other) testing have you done to prove the claims of reduced drag?

2) What independent safety testing have you done to justify the claims of "enhanced safety", and what safety certifications does the product hold?

3) If you can't answer 1&2 above, out of your £992 budget, our much have you provisioned to cover the legal claims you will face for misrepresntating your product to investors and the market?  (Presumably you have already taken legal advice on the legal implications, particularly of making false claims on safety)

1. In my ride-like-the-wind-tunnel, mofo

2. It's obviously safer, man

3. Ha ha ha ha ha

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RoubaixCube | 2 weeks ago
1 like

Quote:

Shortly after we pointed out it was £7 short of its £992 target, the campaign set to close at lunchtime on Saturday(link is external), a 20th backer pledged support and took it past the goal.

You mean they called up one of their friends or family members to stump up the £7 to get it greenlit.

In any case, this is quite late for an April Fools joke.

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Hirsute | 2 weeks ago
0 likes
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IanGlasgow replied to Hirsute | 1 week ago
1 like

Hirsute wrote:

Or £15 for one of these

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15990776/eurohike-lazi-lounger-15990776

Even better; you can get 2 for £30 a saving of...  oh.
 

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SimoninSpalding | 2 weeks ago
5 likes

So getting £1000 was enough to enter "mass production"? I'm thinking it wouldn't meet my definition, or the production costs are so low that the rrp is incredibly "inflated".
I feel safe in saying that the first time I see one of these in use the rider will have a helmet with indicators and L-shaped cranks!

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hawkinspeter replied to SimoninSpalding | 2 weeks ago
7 likes

SimoninSpalding wrote:

So getting £1000 was enough to enter "mass production"? I'm thinking it wouldn't meet my definition, or the production costs are so low that the rrp is incredibly "inflated". I feel safe in saying that the first time I see one of these in use the rider will have a helmet with indicators and L-shaped cranks!

I reckon they're just going to tape a few plastic bags together

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Silversurfmonkey | 2 weeks ago
2 likes

Improves safety? How? By ensuring you grind your face off on the tarmac instead of your arse?

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Midnight Rambler | 2 weeks ago
2 likes

Seriously??

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Cugel | 2 weeks ago
3 likes

A large hat pin, of Victorian vintage, shall be mounted on me bars, for use in slowing such a lump-wack loon speeding past adorned in such a dirigible.  This will be to their benefit, since the crowds of pointing and sniggering school children, shopping grans and yobs up a scaffold will withold their mirth, catcalls and suggestions for alternative inflatable uses. Cyclist wearing the Very Latest Thing often have fragile egos, poor things.

On the other hand, the flapping remnant, furling and snapping in their wake, may appear even more amusing. 

Will these blimps be the latest thing in time trialling? Oooh, I do hope so! I will be ready to take their pickshas, for later enjoyment with non-cycling friends and a bottle of port.

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Wales56 | 2 weeks ago
1 like

W T F

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Paul J | 2 weeks ago
4 likes

Whichever way you look at it, this is a scam.

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