INTERVIEW
collaboration with RHEON™. What was the journey toward finding a technical partner, and what specifically does their reactive polymer allow you to achieve that wasn’t possible with previous materials? We were driven by a strong desire to deliver a truly best-in-class solution, so partnering with RHEON felt like a very natural choice. While they may be less well known within the cycling industry, RHEON has a proven track record of innovation in other demanding sectors such as motocross and American football, which gave us the confidence to explore their technology. The fact that both companies are British-based has also been a real advantage, making collaboration and development far more streamlined. We’ve been working in partnership with Rheon Labs for two years to bring their impact and energy absorption technology to real- world cycling. It starts with our ‘protection’ products, but it is much more than that. The products we have in development are unique and will enhance the experience of cyclists across the spectrum. It’s not just the polymer itself that has opened up new possibilities – working with the RHEON team has made exploring and developing ideas incredibly straightforward. Our goal was to create protection that is as unobtrusive as possible, and RHEON enables this through a much slimmer profile and a significantly more compliant pad, resulting in protection that’s almost imperceptible when riding. Beyond impact protection, the reactive polymer also unlocks opportunities focused on rider comfort, and you’ll see more products from this collaboration reflecting that focus in the future.
With the introduction of Flux (Level 1) and DTE (Level 2) RHEON™ protectors, how has the collaboration impacted the actual design and “feel” of the pads compared to the earlier protection offerings? The collaboration has given us the freedom to design protection that truly reflects how we like to ride. Reduced
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weight, a slimmer profile, increased compliance, and outstanding performance have allowed us to create protection that feels far less restrictive on the bike. RHEON brings an exceptional depth of knowledge, which has been invaluable in helping us achieve our goals – not only in selecting the most suitable solutions from their existing range, but also in developing entirely new products from the ground up where required.
How have you managed the balance between integrating RHEON™ technology and maintaining the “accessible performance” value you are known for? Balancing introducing performance technologies with
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