Listen to this articleDeveloped by San Francisco based startup RDV Labs, CycleAT is a Bluetooth tire sensor that provides motorcyclists and bicyclists with a way to monitor tire pressure, temperature, and motion data. It streams data from your wheels to mobile device – in real time.
Here you can support RDV Labs team and pre-order your CycleAT.
Below is the recent interview with Ross Yeager, Co-Founder and CEO/CTO of RDV Labs startup behind CycleAT:
Q: Ross how did you come up with the idea for CycleAT?
A: Whether its skiing, riding, participating in sports, or just staying fit through fitness, our team members enjoy an active lifestyle. During the beginning of one of our rides late last fall, a mutual friend of David Kalinowski (Co-Founder and Chief Designer) and myself was showing us a product he had just purchased. It was to measure the tire pressure on his speed bike. This product required a separately purchased heads up display in addition to the set of sensors themselves (which only measured pressure). This setup cost upwards of $500 dollars, and when we found out the price and lack of additional data supplied, we challenged ourselves to create a product that was cheaper, more powerful, and would interact with a device that users were already familiar with, their smartphone. Ever since that day, David and I have spent our time putting together a team of top talent while concurrently developing the product into what can be seen today. After hundreds of hours of work, we are finally getting close to the final production product. We still have some work to go, but we believe the CycleAT sensor can meet the challenges we originally set out to achieve. With continued support and exposure, our product can become a reality for riders everywhere.
Q: Tell us please what are the biggest benefits of using CycleAT?
The biggest benefits of using CycleAT are:
• In-line fill: You don’t have to take the device off to inflate/deflate your tires. CycleAT is simply an extension of your valve.
• Elegant design style: We wanted to make our product look sleek and elegant on top of having superior performance. Our product will look good on your ride.
• Smartphone app: Our product works with what you are familiar with, your smartphone
• Added safety, efficiency, and ride information at the tip of your fingertips: our product provides intuitive visual and audio cues to users if their tires stray out of safe ranges, improving ride safety and efficiency.
Q: Tell us more about the progress of CycleAT?
A: Our team has been working hard over the past 9 months to get a strong prototype concept present for the campaign. We set safety and feasibility goals that had to be met before the launch of the campaign, some of which include max pressure testing, balance testing, electronic feasibility, as well as a first article fab through our production suppliers. Since the campaign has started (exactly a week ago), we have gotten feedback to make the device even smaller and lighter as well as make the added anti-theft mechanics a standard feature of the device. The RDV technical engineering team has already been hard at work developing an even smaller, lighter design. We have also decided to add in the anti-theft mechanics to the original design (was previously a stretch goal). Our backers have spoken, and we have listened, changing our goals and product to meet the suggestions of the people who matter most, our backers. We encourage our backers to continue to provide feedback and encouragement so that we can put out a final product that will make riders lives significantly easier and safer.
Q: What is your message to CycleAT Kickstarter supporters?
A: First of all, we really appreciate all of your support! Our campaign has been recognized by several third parties during our first week of launch: Kickstarter has dubbed our project a “Kickstarter Staff Pick,” and Dragon Innovation has pre-qualified our product stating “that we appear to be educated team with a buildable product.” After this first week, the RDV Labs team is really excited with the progress of the campaign thus far, but we can’t stop now! We need your support to continue to reach our stretch goals as well as to ensure that we meet and go beyond our campaign goal. We value your feedback, and have already added your suggestions into the product design. Help us get to the finish line by commenting on our campaign and asking your questions on the campaign page and sharing our product to all of your bike/motorcycle friends! Even a simple share can make a big difference.
