Much of SEA OTTERS magic and power for those that have not made the voyage, is the sheer size of the event. Being engulfed in constant mountain bike events and a huge expo, is like a 6yr old running rampant through a Willy Wonka factory with no doors. There is so much to see and do that the team really had to game plan and not run around like we had ADD. Two of the most unsual and interesting things we stumbled upon were Coyle Natural Fiber Helmets and Adaptrac's adjustable tire pressure system. Upon first glance everyone will form an opinion, but the buzz and intrigue in the expo was very high for both products. There was a crowd every time that we crossed these products in the expo, and we want to share a quick peek with you.
TREE PIECE HELMETS - COYLE NATURAL FIBER HELMETS
The beauty and unique characteristics of the TREE PIECE helmets caused a second glance from almost all that past the booth. From there a lot of people either write it off as merely a piece or art or as a pretentious way to be different. We were curious so we spoke with Dan Coyle and asked a few questions that he must literally field almost every encounter.
"That thing can not be practical, can it?" "Your using a cork based inner liner?" "Come on is it really safe?"
"That thing can not be practical, can it?" "Your using a cork based inner liner?" "Come on is it really safe?"
The science behind the helmets is incredibly solid and very interesting even if the helmet itself does not tickle your fancy. The insides of the helmets are coated with Polyurea which was developed to reinforce military armor for better blast energy mitigation. The cork is then laid up inside the helmet in place of an EPS foam which in CPSC tests performed very similar. An added benefit is that cork can be reduced to 15% of its original structure and then rebound to its original configuration within 24 hours. The wood shell is CNC'd to exacting tolerances and then coated with 3 coats of epoxy for toughness and abrasion resistance. That processed if followed up with 3 coats of Linear Polyurethane for UV protection. When you compare a wood shell to ABS plastic for energy absorption you see that wood is more forgiving and once finished they are : waterproof, decay and UV resistant, as well as antimicrobial and antifungal.
"Why would I want a helmet made out of wood" you may be asking yourself ?
Well we would tell you this product won't be for everyone, but if you care about GREEN processes, want something truly unique (we imagine a ton of trailhead conversations), or just want to yell " I'm sporting beautiful wood CHECK IT OUT!!!", then you are going to want to visit their website and take a look around. These helmets are unique, fully customizable, and $10 from every sale is donated to ChildFund International.
Visit: www.coyledesignandbuild.com for more information or ordering
Well we would tell you this product won't be for everyone, but if you care about GREEN processes, want something truly unique (we imagine a ton of trailhead conversations), or just want to yell " I'm sporting beautiful wood CHECK IT OUT!!!", then you are going to want to visit their website and take a look around. These helmets are unique, fully customizable, and $10 from every sale is donated to ChildFund International.
Visit: www.coyledesignandbuild.com for more information or ordering