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While prototype airbag protection for cyclists still feels like some kind of future technology, Alpinestars is already out on the World Cup protecting pro downhillers on at least three elite DH teams. And besides the fact that we know the riders are racing Alpinestars’ motocross-developed Tech-Air MX vest, because Alpinestars has been sharing it around social media this summer, we actually saw it inflate & protect in real life.

The question is, will there be another DH-specific model soon, as well?

Alpinestars Tech-Air MX airbag vest protected Jordan Williams

(All race photos by Seb Schieck/Specialized Gravity & Alpinestars)

When Jordan Williams claimed his first World Cup win of the season last month in La Thuile, he got so excited looking back over his shoulder to see if he managed the win, that he washed out the bike as he raised his hand in celebration. This great shot shared by Specialized Gravity, captured by photographer Seb Schieck, perfectly captures Williams’ moment of panic, realizing that, even though he won, he was about to crash in the finish corral. No worries, though. Just before he would hit his chest against the bar, the Tech-Air vest detected a crash was imminent, and the airbag vest inflated.

Under his jersey, the inflated airbag protected his chest, back & shoulders, distributing the impact. As he got up off the ground a few seconds later, the airbag was still inflated and he was uninjured. Maybe another 10 seconds later, having gradually deflated, Williams made his way to the fans and the podium, looking like nothing had happened.

Protection Proven

Alpinestars said he “might have celebrated a little too hard as he crossed the finish line and realized he’d taken the win“. But in the end, what he really did was prove the virtue of a new form of rider protection. Sure, it would have been a pretty minor chest-to-bar impact after he lifted his arm to celebrate before actually coming to a stop. But it would have hurt, maybe even knocked the wind out of him. Instead, it was totally a non-issue.

I have to say that I’ve had a stupid crash that looked a lot like this at the end of a bikepark run, that left me bruised for weeks, even while wearing a conventional chest & back protector. And I would have loved to have airbag tech like this that still fit under a jersey, minimizing my own injury.

What do we know about cycling-specific airbags?

Besides the fact that I will occasionally inspect trail conditions up close and personal, in an unplanned manner…. I’ve been kind of enamored with cycling-specific airbag tech ever since I personally tested out the inflation of EVOC’s Commute Air backpack at a trade show a few years ago. Maybe even longer since the ill-fated Hövding airbag no-helmet. The idea of inflatable protection that’s unobtrusive until you need it seems great.

Gravity-specific MTB airbags seem like a logical application. And we’ve seen a couple generations of prototypes from Dainese in the recent past. A big trick in making the tech work is making activation smart enough that it inflates when you need it, but doesn’t go off at the wrong time.

Developed for off-road motorcycling, the AI crash detection of the Alpinestars Tech-Air MX vest already has three modes: MX Race, Enduro & Rally. That lets wearers pick how sensitive it is, and maybe even the type of crashes it can expect. Those different modes are probably what made it easier for pro downhillers to start racing with it.

What’s next for Alpinestars airbags?

No word yet if Alpinestars has created a new DH Race mode for the Tech-Air system, but we suspect that is where this is headed. But clearly, it is working for the World Cup. Racers from Specialized Gravity, Santa Cruz Burgtec, and Mondraker Factory Racing are all competing wearing the refillable $700 / 600€ Alpinestars Tech-Air MX vest – the cheapest of Alpinestars’ off-road moto airbag and conventional protector combos. That sounds pretty expensive, but remember, it’s still less than a single Kogel oversized aero derailleur cage.

In any case, we can’t wait to see where it goes next for more cyclists!

Alpinestars.com