Cult of Dualsport

Report: Liquid armor better than Kevlar

Similar to -- or maybe the same as, I don't know -- the d3o armor I mentioned yesterday, this "bulletproof custard" consists of nanoparticles suspended in a liquid

Liquid armor has been shown to stop bullets more effectively than plain Kevlar, according to British firm BAE Systems. The material could be used to make thinner, lighter armor for military personnel and police officers, the BBC reports.

This nanotechnology stuff is getting cooler all the time.

Roost: Instapundit.

d3o armor in Klim Adventure Rally Gear

Awhile back I was salivating over a pair of Klim offroad pants. Today I found the d3o Labs site.

d3o is an Intelligent Shock Absorbing material containing intelligent molecules that flow freely when moving slowly, but on shock lock together to absorb impact energy.

Check their FAQ page for more, and their product page where I saw the new Klim Adventure Rally Gear.

The team at Klim have spent the last 2 years developing the Adventure Rally Gear, which is possibly one of the most technically advanced products now on the market. Technical features include GORE-TEX fabrics including high performance GORE-TEX® SUPERFABRIC®, & LOCK-OUT™ closures; a fully integrated harness system; heat / abrasion resistant leather pannels in key locations; fully waterproof neck brace compatible collar; an integrated water baldder system and high capacity storage system. Last but by no means least is the inclusion of d3o™ intelligent shock absorption to the elbows, hips, knees, shoulders and back. All these features and the passion put into their making means this is truly phenomenal adventure riding gear.

Now this is a worthy addition to my armor research page.

Roost: Gizmag.

You are Iron Man ... or you could be if you wore this 'vastly more portable' suit!

My wife says she doesn't like Safeway. Maybe she'd like it better if she wore this. And maybe I could look like Iron Man if I wore this. Come to think of it, we could shop at Safeway together as The Iron Couple.

Seriously, though, I found this when reviewing my article on body armor -- which I'd like to update sometime soon. This product will not be featured, no matter what Universal Designs says:

Make no mistake, this is not a costume. As a ‘replica’ of what IRON MAN™ ‘wears’ this motorcycle suit has been brought to life with real world function and use…all the while paying tribute to the IRON MAN™ suit as seen on the big screen in all it’s glory.

For $1100, you too can wear this suit. If you dare. See ya at Safeway, dude!

Roost: Geekologie.

The $60,000 DIY flying motorcycle

Forget dual sport, multi-mode vehicles are here. I could see myself abandoning motorcycles for this -- if I had a pilot's license, which I don't. Samson Motorworks and DAR Corporation are collaborating on the project.

The photo below is the Switchblade, a 3-wheel, 2-seat, 150 MPH vehicle with retractable scissor wings. According to the web site, it can use the included 150 HP engine, or an "applicable motorcycle engine."

Roost: Instapundit and Scientific American.

Neck brace Q&A from Cycle News

Cycle News has a couple articles about the neck braces that have become so popular in recent years. Part I, and Part II. They're asking some good questions.

What is it that is compelling our industry to snatch up these pricey devices at an exponential rate? Will these devices really save our lives? Or are we merely buying into superstition in response to one of our greatest fears?

In this two-part in-depth feature, we set out to not only discuss, but scrutinize the different concepts of neck protection in the industry. We look into the background of the companies producing these systems, learn more about each one’s intended design, and investigate the research and development behind them.

In the second half, we’ll take it a step further and discuss the most common criticisms and greatest misconceptions about neck protection and spinal cord injuries. Do we fully understand what they are, as well as what they are not? Do we have realistic expectations as far as what they can and cannot protect us from? Are we wrapping our necks in a false sense of security? Are we in effect buying confidence off the shelf? What do we know other than what we’ve been told?

Liquid crystal tech for goggles and visors

Company AlphaMicron is adapting liquid crystal technology to a wide range of new products. I'll be on the lookout for goggles with this stuff! Ohio.com has a report:

AlphaMicron is already applying its product to rearview mirrors that automatically dim to reduce glare, as well as to ski goggles and motorcycle helmet visors that allow users to control the tint with a quick tap of a button near the temple.

From the AlphaMicron web site:

With the RA aftermarket motorcycle insert your helmet visor can adapt as fast as the lighting conditions change throughout your ride. Utilizing AlphaMicron's VALiD technology an aftermarket insert attaches directly to your existing visor. A small rechargeable electronics housing is attached to your visor, and with the connection of this housing to the insert your visor tint can be changed with the touch of a button.

This insert will be available summer/fall 2009. It is also currently being designed for several OEM helmet manufacturers.

Skiers and snowboarders constantly face the problem of changing light conditions on the hill. Until now, the answer has been to carry two pairs of goggles, or switch to the inferior protection of sunglasses, or struggle to see in flat light with a dark lens or squint when the sun comes out while you are wearing a high-contrast lens. The UVISION Magic™ puts an end to that with the touch of a button.

AlphaMicron pioneered a high-tech solution to a simple problem; state-of-the-art liquid crystal technology is applied to a double lens to produce a goggle that can instantly switch from a high-contrast lens ideal for flat light to a darker lens ideal for bright sun.

GPS system 'close to breakdown'

The next time you consult your GPS unit, consider this:

US government officials are concerned that the quality of the Global Positioning System (GPS) could begin to deteriorate as early as next year, resulting in regular blackouts and failures – or even dishing out inaccurate directions to millions of people worldwide.

The warning centres on the network of GPS satellites that constantly orbit the planet and beam signals back to the ground that help pinpoint your position on the Earth's surface.

The satellites are overseen by the US Air Force, which has maintained the GPS network since the early 1990s. According to a study by the US government accountability office (GAO), mismanagement and a lack of investment means that some of the crucial GPS satellites could begin to fail as early as next year.

On the other hand:

Tom Coates, the head of Yahoo's Fire Eagle system – which lets users share their location data from their mobile – said he was sceptical that US officials would let the system fall into total disrepair because it was important to so many people and companies.

"I'd be surprised if anyone in the US government was actually OK with letting it fail – it's too useful," he told the Guardian.

Roost: Instapundit. Not exactly the quintessential motorcycle blogger, but he has his moments.

Update: Gizmodo reports that the Air Force is Twittering, "Worry? Who, me?"

The issue is under control. We are working hard to get out the word. The issue is not whether GPS will stop working. There's only a small risk we will not continue to exceed our performance standard. Agree w/ GAO thr's a potential risk, but GPS isn't falling out of the sky -- we have plans 2 mitigate risk & prevent a gap.

Of owl shit and OHVs

A study to determine the effects of off-highway vehicles on the spotted owl population of Northern California seems to have ended. Their site -- ohvstudy.com -- has been untended since July 2008, the date of the last blog entry. Scientific results from the year 2005 have been posted, with a note urging us to stay tuned for the results from 2006.

There are links to news articles from 2007 -- here, here, here and here -- but no mention of the final results or whether the study has been scrapped.

This seems curious to me, since the opening page of the site puts the problem in such stark terms (emphasis mine):

Does off-highway vehicle use impact wildlife in our National Forests?

National Forests serve many uses. Primary among their functions are to provide public enjoyment and to protect natural resources, including threatened and endangered species. Sometimes, these objectives conflict. In 2004 then Forest Service Chief, Dale Bosworth identified mismanaged recreation as one of the four biggest threats to public lands. However, surprisingly few well-designed studies have been conducted to address the impacts of recreation on wildlife and natural systems. This leaves managers to make decisions with little or no relevant information.

In my limited experience with government agencies, the problem of "little or no relevant information" is an ongoing theme. I've attended several open hearings by three different agencies making decisions about the OHV "problem", and each time government representatives have been forced to admit that no actual scientific data supports their decisions to regulate OHVs.

Some quotes from the news articles above may be instructive. This one is from Lisa Lisa Hayward Folk, University of Washington, Center for Conservation Biology:

Very little is known about how spotted owls react to dirt bikes and ATVs, and the U.S. Forest Service has set conservative restrictions on their use near nesting sites, said Lisa Hayward, a researcher with the University of Washington.

”Basically we know nothing about the affects of OHVs on spotted owls,” Hayward said.

Again, Lisa Hayward:

While the Forest Service is charged with managing motorized vehicle recreation to protect threatened and endangered wildlife, very few studies on the effects of off-highway vehicles have been undertaken. This can be bad news for proponents of OHV access to public lands, because the policy of most federal agencies is to be conservative with restrictions in the face of uncertainty. Our study represents the only true collaboration of government agencies, wildlife biologists and local OHV riders to date. In a way, the fate of our research sets a precedent for all future collaborations to come.

She's also the woman who wrote the stunningly positive article about Don Amador -- of the BlueRibbon Coalition -- and his contribution to the OHV study:

Now I can look back on the experience of almost three months after having full funding restored and having recently wrapped up a productive season of data collection. Doing so, I feel enormous gratitude to Don Amador, not just for salvaging an important long-term research project, but for educating me about the power of an individual to alter what seems inevitable. From now on I'll evaluate adversity with a different perspective. I've seen the impossible become possible. This permanent change in perspective feels like as much of a gift as the chance to pursue our ongoing research in a critical year for the study. It's true; one person can make a difference.

Kudos to Lisa Hayward Folk, both for her reliance on the scientific method and her appreciation for the OHV community. But where are the final results of the study?

Body Armor Update: Equestrian Vests

Before I bought my Velocity Gear armor, I read about many different systems: rodeo vests, equestrian vests, motocross chest protectors, torso protectors, back protectors, etc. The goal was to find an integrated system of shoulder, chest, back, kidney and arm protection. Velocity Gear had an excellent back protector, all the other features I wanted, and was fairly inexpensive.

When my armor started showing signs of wear, I began more research on body armor. Go ahead and read that if you want, but I'll cut to the chase here:

The British Equestrian Trade Association has body protector standards that, to my unprofessional eye, seem to exceed the European Personal Protective Equipment standard.

One manufacturer in particular -- Charles Owen -- has caught my eye with the JL9 Body Protector and Collarbone Protection System.

There's no elbow and forearm protection, but many other manufacturers offer those. My main concern here is the total amount of torso protection -- and the motorcycle suits I've seen lack the full-torso protection offered by the best equestrian vests.

Someone with the Internet moniker of License2Ill has been posting on this topic all over the web. Search Google if you want. Here's a great thesis on back protectors in general, with info on equestrian vests and other stuff.

There is a horse rider's torso protector standard that takes the allowed force numbers down to the more apporpriate 4kN level, the BETA 2000 Level 3 standard. It uses 45kN of impact energy, but also requires chest, rib and clavicle coverage area. There's a couple of vests certified to that standard, and they may be a great alternative for better overall protection. The Tipperary Esprit and Jack Owens body protectors. The Esprit is relatively inexpensive at only $140. I don't know how well the extra clavicle coverage/straps will do in a more tucked position, but jockeys seem to wear them with no issues.

The Tipperary Esprit has had favorable reviews at AdvRider and other forums, but seems to be obsolete. Stores are stocking the Tipperary Air Esprit, but from what I can tell, that model lacks the higher BETA standard of the previous one.

Update on Body Armor Research

The page on Body Armor Research has been updated with information from the Motorcycle Council of New South Wales, which has a series of articles on Safer Equipment. I'll post some quotes, but you'll want to read it all yourself. Under Protection from Injury:

A German study of motorcycle crash casualties, found that riders wearing protective clothing spent less time in hospital, and returned to work on average 20 days earlier, than those who were not protected. The protected riders were also 40% less likely to have suffered a permanent physical defect. The authors concluded that protective clothing was significantly effective in preventing or reducing at least 43% of injuries to the skin and soft tissue and 63% of deep and extensive injuries (Schuller, 1986).

Make sure you check out the injury risk zones page for an interactive display of what gets injured and how often. This is great stuff.

Update: I just noticed that one of the MCNSW's Current Projects is The Good Gear Guide.

This is a guide for riders when buying motorcycle gear, on how to choose clothing that will help to keep them safe. The project is an initiative of the Australian Motorcycle Council and is funded by the Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. The Guide is in development and expected to be released mid year.