Smart bike wheels? Sram presents a revolutionary sensor concept

The American Sram imagines a more technological future for bicycle wheels, through a patent protecting an intelligent sensor that is able to provide various information to cyclists.

In short:

• A patent filed this year by Sram shows what a smart sensor attached to bicycle wheels could do.
• Aesthetically, balancing the wheel by being mounted against the valve, it would be able to provide information on tire pressure, detect slow punctures, estimate the position of the valves or even calculate aerodynamic drag .
• Nothing says yet that this patent will lead to a real product.

What if your bike’s wheels could communicate with your smartphone or your GPS computer to give you access to a bunch of data related to your bike? Well you know this is the kind of technology that engineers from the American equipment manufacturer Sram are working on.

Indeed, in patent filed this year and recently released, Sram defends a “Bicycle wheel with integrated detector”defined as an accessory type “Smart Wheel” attached directly to the periphery.

“Measurement data may include, for example, tire pressure data, wheel speed, wheel mileage, rim position, wheel lean and yaw, output data, road feedback data, LED status indicators, and/or other data. “we can read in the description of this document.

A logical development?

Those who closely follow Sram technologies know that the brand already has tire pressure sensors (TyreWiz), which are mainly sold under the Quarq brand. These sensors are outside the edge, according to the engineers who hold this patent “The aerodynamic drag, aesthetics and balance of the wheel can be adversely affected”. With a smart sensor attached to the wheel, in a receptacle located opposite the valve, this sensor would ensure that the balance of the wheel “For the best performance”.

Of course tire pressure sensors are not new, but there is still no device that allows you to collect so much data about your bike’s wheels, your riding and your bike’s maintenance. Detecting slow punctures is also a definite step forward.

Wheels, tires and benefits guaranteed

As experienced cyclists who follow cycling competitions know, research related to tire pressure worries professional teams and riders, who can take advantage of new technologies in this area.

During the last Paris-Roubaix or during the gravel world championships, several winning teams and riders, for example, used systems that allow tire pressure to be changed with buttons. So they were able to adjust the bike’s handling to the riding proportions and benefited from a technological advantage over their competitors.

Not surprisingly, Sram does not officially mention rumors and patents, and so far there is nothing to suggest that this patent will continue to be implemented. That said, maybe one day we’ll see a new high carbon wheel incorporating such a sensor from Zipp, a joint brand with Sram.

In the suburbs of Paris, this fortysomething father of 2 rides a bike every day in a (relatively) sporty way, on and off the road. Wants to go on long walks to discover new landscapes.