David riding high with bike device
BETTER biking could be on the way for thousands of enthusiasts thanks to a device developed by a Sheffield University boffin.
Researcher Dr David Batterbee will pick up a 40,000 prize next month from the Royal Academy of Engineering for his innovative new shock absorber system for mountain bikes.
The Foundation Entrepreneur award recognises Dr Batterbee as one of the country's most promising young business brains, thanks to his invention which can detect differences in the terrain a mountain bike is travelling on.
Most mountain bikes have a shock absorber system in place to absorb the impact of bumps and keep the rider in control.
But these devices often compromise performance and the rider has to manually adapt the shock absorber to suit different terrains, by turning a switch.
Dr Batterbee has developed a rear shock absorber that electronically monitors the severity of the terrain and optimises the bike's performance automatically.
Dr Batterbee and his supervisor Dr Neil Sims have been awarded funds to develop a prototype of the device which could soon go on sale.
Dr Batterbee said: "It is a great honour to have received this award and to have been recognised as one of Britain's up-and-coming entrepreneurs.
"The award will directly contribute towards the business start-up costs required to drive the first product to market."
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Weather for Sheffield
Sunday 19 May 2013
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