Hasta La Ideas

Changing the way cyclists view safety and style with an innovative airbag hood

by L.S. Winkler

In 2005, Swedish designers Anna Haupt and Terese Alstin began work on a joint masters thesis in response to new laws requiring cyclists under the age of 15 to wear a helmet while operating a bicycle. The new law left many Swedish cyclists wondering if helmet laws for adults would soon follow, so the duo behind Hövding used the public’s concern as an opportunity for groundbreaking innovation.

They began surveying people on the streets to understand exactly why urban cyclists were choosing not to wear a helmet. This research led Haupt and Alstin to believe the best helmet they could create would need to be invisible. The Hövding Invisible Helmet is a fabric collar containing a built-in airbag designed to inflate around a cyclist’s head on impact. The fabric shells of the collar are replaceable and meant to be changed based on weather and style, which makes for a stylish piece of safety gear that will save your hair and, most importantly, your life.

The process from design to device took seven years of intensive research and development, recording hundreds of hours of cycling footage and studying accident recreations with the Swedish Stunt Group and crash test dummies. Research has proven that shock absorption from an airbag is actually much greater than that of the polymer foam inside a traditional bicycle helmet. With this research data, Haupt and Alstin were able to acquire the proper government certifications needed to sell bicycle helmets.

Hövding is the Swedish word for “chieftain” and the pioneers behind the name are proving to be leading visionaries in urban cycling. They were nominees for Design Product of the Year 2012 by The Design Museum in London and won a prestigious INDEX Award in 2011. We spoke with the Hövding designers about their product launch, a documentary film that’s in the works, and what to expect next.

When did the Hövding Invisible Bicycle Helmet officially launch and who is buying it?

November 2011 was the official release. So far, we have sold 600. It has been about 50/50 women to men and age has a very wide range—from 15 to about 65. There are varying reasons for their purchase but one thing we see in common is that people who buy the invisible helmet hate the ordinary bicycle helmet. Traditional bicycle helmets are bulky, hard to carry and store, and they mess up your hair. Some cyclists are primarily interested in the safety aspect while others are attracted to the technology behind it, and of course that is fashionable.

Have you heard back from any cyclists about accidents while wearing the invisible helmet?

There have been four or five accidents reported. Those cyclists sent back their helmet so we could collect data from the built-in black box. It records about 10 seconds of information on things like acceleration, angle of movements, the change in both acceleration and the cyclists positions right before and during the accident. This is extremely helpful for our research.

What is the projected life span of the invisible helmet?

The expiration date mainly refers to the airbag’s life span, which is the same as a car’s—10 years. The fabric around the airbag will break down a little faster, though. We assume people will want to replace their invisible helmet every three to four years, the same as you would do with ski gear and most other sporting equipment. In Sweden, we actually have insurance that covers the cost of buying a new helmet after a biker has been involved in an accident.

How has the overall reception of the invisible helmet been?

Very good. Only in the beginning did we really hear a lot of “that is impossible” from older, potential investors who did not think we could make it happen. We’ve been invited to the capital to present and have had shared interest from members of the Swedish Royal Family. The helmet has been CE* marked, which is required to sell a cycling helmet in Europe. Some opinion suggests that the invisible helmet has the opportunity to be an influential export for Sweden.

You guys just finished filming a documentary with renowned Swedish filmmaker and journalist Fredrik Gertten. Whose idea was it to shoot a film?

The film is a response to American documentarian Morgan Spurlock‘s invitation to filmmakers around the world to capture innovators in action, making the impossible possible. At first we were a little hesitant to work with Morgan Spurlock, his films tend to involve controversy, but after we had the initial call we knew we wanted to be involved in the challenge. We are very flattered to be able to work with Fredrik and we actually get to see the first preview of the film this week!

What is the premise of the film and where can we expect to see it?

In all of Morgan Spurlock’s films you see the big guys against the small guys and in this documentary we are the small guys! Up against “the man”. While we were searching for investors early on, we were told many times that what we were attempting to do was impossible. We had set out to do just that, though, invent the impossible—an invisible bicycle helmet. It’s been seven years of research and development to get to this point. The documentary will be part of a series of films showcasing innovators from around the globe at film festivals in the States.

Any innovations to the invisible helmet under way?

Yes, of course, but they are all secret!

Without revealing any secrets, can you tell us what’s next for Hövding?

We have many plans! Our focus will remain on cycling—the industry is very interesting and exciting right now. In the past, the industry advancements have been made for the serious, sporty, competitive cyclist but now we are seeing significant growth in urban cycling and its role in the environment with regards to pollution control even.

The goal is to have new shell designs twice a year. Ideally, working with the seasons—I personally would love to have one made with faux fur for the Winter. We will definitely pursue collaborations and limited editions with fashion labels as well as cycling brands. We’re a few years out from developing new products still. Right now we are getting Hövding off the ground. It takes a lot of time and money to get certifications for the helmet in each country so we’re focused on one geographic area at a time.

The Hövding Invisible Helmet is available online from $600.

Documenting filmmaker Jørgen Leth in a cycling film by Brendt Barbur

Turning the camera on famed sports documentarian Jørgen Leth, Bicycle Film Festival founder Brendt Barbur embarked on the film project “The Commentator” to trace the backstory to his groundbreaking 1976 film “A Sunday in Hell“. Barbur follows Leth through the grueling course at the Paris-Roubaix cycling race, along with several crews led by revered director Albert Maysles—whom Barbur calls the greatest living cinematographer—surf-world documentarian Patrick Trefz, photographer and artist Brian Vernor and photographer Stefan Ruiz. The Commentator lives as a Kickstarter campaign, so you can help make it happen by donating—$3,000 will get you a private dinner for six with the Barbur, Maysles, the film crew and Blonde Redhead (who created the film’s score), among others.

We caught up with Barbur to discuss the project—which will shoot on race day, 8 April 2012—his relationship with cycling greats and subtlety in filmmaking.

How did this all get started?

The first year of the Bicycle Film Festival, we played “A Sunday in Hell”, which was a very old print and all ripped up. We had a sold-out show, people couldn’t get in and I was really excited. Jorgen called me and thanked me for screening his film. He’s a man who shares three passions with me: movies, art and bicycles.

What do see as Jørgen Leth’s contribution to sports documentaries and film in general?

I interviewed Jørgen in 2003 at Sundance, and he said that cycling “deserved better than lousy sports journalism…It deserved to be sung about.” I think that “A Sunday in Hell” sings about it. They had about 30 cameras—this is 1976, mind you—and they didn’t talk just about who’s going to win. They went and showed you the subtleties of things.

There’s a really great scene in “A Sunday in Hell” where Eddie Merckx—he’s probably the greatest cyclist ever—gets off his bike and asks one of the rival team car mechanics if he could have a tool to fix his saddle. He sits there right next to the car, adjusting his saddle really slowly as he’s casually chatting with them. All those subtle things Jørgen has a knack for finding. He has a kind of “listening” camera.

Albert Maysles is a major name in film. Tell us a bit about his involvement.

Albert Maysles is the spiritual leader of this project, and maybe documentary film and film in general. The other night we had a dinner here, and Albert held court for a little bit and said the reason he makes films is to make friends. This is the director of Gimme Shelter, Grey Gardens—some of the most iconic documentary films ever made. When we shoot The Commentator he’s going to be following Jørgen along with our producer and a camera assist.

What will you be looking for at Paris-Roubaix?

I don’t even want to just get the race. If we don’t get the race at all, I’m okay. I want to get the bar—there are bars full of people watching it, and they’re drinking Belgian beer, and they have their flags. There’s a whole scene for miles and miles of people. There’s a big forest, there’s this cafe. The motorcycle riders are taking these back roads, and they’re going 100mph on the side roads to get ahead of the race and capture it with still photography.

What’s it like to work with these big names?

It’s an honor of mine to direct this film—in fact it’s a little bit nerve-wracking. But it’s not because everyone’s so into this project. We’re all doing this out of passion for the project itself. An Oscar-nominated filmmaker emailed me and asked if they could meet up with us and shoot with us. It’s kind of like the spirit of the Bicycle Film Festival. People just want to make it happen.

Watch the video to find out more about the project.

La trovate qui.
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Five items designed to power any cyclist through inclement weather

The weather may be turning, but you don’t need to hang up your bicycle for the season—most riders in the northern hemisphere have got a month or more left on two wheels. So, for the intrepid souls out there we’ve pulled together the best weatherproof gear to keep both the urban city commuter and the technically driven performance cyclist warm and dry in the cold to come.

Rapha

Modeled after Rapha’s previous collaboration with Paul Smith, the full-zip, completely waterproof City Rain Jacket is designed for extremely wet riding conditions. The jacket’s clean aesthetic, accented by Rapha’s signature pink, brings an extra element of urban style. For a technical touch, a hidden rear zipper holds a hi-vis reflective tail flap that hangs down to protect from rain spray and make riders clearly visible to drivers on the road. The City Rain Jacket is sold directly through Rapha for $320.

Castelli

A simple idea done well, the new Aero Rain Lite LS Jersey blends the performance capability of a Lycra cycling jersey with the waterproof finish of a Gore-Tex coat. This zip-up jersey fits snugly with remarkable stretch and breathability for proper aerodynamics and comfort and side-zips for ventilation. Plus, it’s cut long in the back to defend against tire spray in wet conditions. The Aero Rain Lite, also available in black, sells for $170 from Amazon.

Icebreaker

Regardless of what the name may suggest, the Commuter Zip is fit for sport cycling, but sleek enough to wear anytime as a light jacket or an extra layer for warmth—and it won’t clash with your Lycra shorts. This versatile top layer is made of 98% New Zealand Merino wool with 2% Lycra for that extra stretch necessary for cycling. Since wool is mildly water repellant by nature, the breathable blend should be enough to brave fall’s sudden showers. Other subtle styling perks include added length in the back for saddle coverage, inseam silicone piping to prevent anything from riding up and reflective piping along the back to increase visibility. Available from Icebreaker for $175.

Mission Workshop

As a slightly smaller messenger bag alternative, the Sanction Rucksack is completely waterproof and made in the U.S. with a lifetime warranty. Metal latches secure loads in an unconventional style, making for a welcome move away from plastic buckles. Inside the weatherproof bag you’ll find a padded laptop compartment and on the outside—under urethane-coated zippers—are three pockets for quick storage and easy access. Definitely a more sensible option than most enormous messenger bags, it sells for $180 directly from Mission Workshop.

Ortlieb

This small, waterproof saddle bag tucks away under the seat adding only 7.4oz of weight. The unobtrusive little storage unit is constructed of PU-coated Cordura and fits 49 cubic inches, plenty of room for a spare tube, tire or a compressible wind breaker. The roll top helps secure a water-tight closure and two D-rings lock easily. For added protection, the 3M Scotchlite reflectors help improve visibility in low light. Available from Bike Bag Shop for $30.

Fashionable safety-wear for girls

Whether looking for a career repairing highways or simply a girl who likes to jog before sunrise, NYC-based designer Sarah Canner has you covered. Her newly launched label Vespertine applies the essential safety regulations found on high-visibility apparel to a more streamlined silhouette. Canner’s flirty line of vests and scarves would undoubtedly turn a few heads during daylight hours, but with their sustainable reflective fabrics, you’re sure to be noticed even at twilight. The Verspertine collection includes three styles—the Gogo Dirndle, the Vespert and the Sashay scarf.

Styled after the traditional Bavarian corset, the Gogo Dirndle is a body-hugging suspender set that will have you glowing on the dance floor and off. The dirndl, made from mesh, lycra and elastic, features a zippered front, adjustable lace-up back and slim cell phone pocket.

With its geometric bat-like shape, the looser fitting Vespert vest can be easily thrown on over any base layer and snapped shut. 3M reflective straps run from front to back, giving it a seductive crossing-guard effect.

Worn around your neck or across your body, Vespertine’s Sashay scarf is a more discreet way to stay visible. Reflective thread is woven into an English tweed scarf, which stays put with a reflective button.

Prices vary depending on style, but typically span $93-138—a small price to pay for a substantial amount of safety. The vests and scarves sell online from Vespertine.