Ontario firms partner on award-winning bike application

A Toronto-area nanotechnology provider has helped a nearby bicycle manufacturer take home an innovation award to be given out at the upcoming JEC Americas Composites trade show in Boston, Mass.

The new Rca road racing bicycle, manufactured by Toronto’s Cervélo Cycles (Canada), has won the Sports & Leisure category in the 2012 JEC Americas Innovation awards. The new bike is designed to reduce aerodynamic drag by a significant amount by using low areal weight carbon epoxy prepregs supplied by Toronto-based Integran Technologies Inc. (Canada) for the bulk of the frame, with 30, 40 and 60 ton fibres placed strategically to optimize performance. High modulus pitch fibres are employed for stiffness in specific locations, a JEC Composites press release explained; in addition, Boron fibres are used selectively for increased compression strength where needed. This frame also marks the first use of the Integran’s new 3M AHS1471 resin system. This resin, used as a prepreg with MR60 fibres, provides improved strength properties and is located in strength critical areas.

The Rca is over 30 grams lighter than competing frames, and is shaped to reduce aerodynamic drag by over 10 watts. “The Rca also introduces Nanovate Exoskeleton (NX) technology to the cycling industry; this new process is used on the fork steerer to improve durability and reduce weight,” the release said.

The award will be presented at a ceremony to be held during the inaugural JEC Americas Composites Show and Conferences, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, on Nov. 7. The JEC Americas Composites Show itself runs from Nov. 7-9.