Aleck has launched a Kickstarter pre-sale of the new Aleck Punks, billed as ‘the bike industry’s first true wireless, near ear audio and communication system for cyclists.’
The Punks attach to helmet straps and deliver sound and ‘unlimited-range group communication’.
The company adds that the new comms product enables…. ‘mountain bikers, gravel grinders, and road cyclists alike to pump music and talk to each other, while keeping ears uncovered to maintain situational awareness.’
Aleck’s Party Mode – an always-open group comms mode – is a key feature of the Punks…‘With Party Mode enabled, cyclists don’t need to slow down or turn a head to talk to each other; they can focus on the ride and still share plenty of whoops and yips (or dish some trash talk) with buddies as if riding shoulder-to-shoulder.
‘Unlimited range means anyone connected to the group through Aleck’s app can engage in the banter, whether they’re on the same trail, miles away playing catch up, or in an entirely different place.’
“We are thrilled to finally introduce the Punks to the bike community,” said Stephen Catterson, Aleck’s founder and CEO.
“Our team has dedicated their expertise and passion to engineer a product that suits the unique needs of cyclists and it’s been really rewarding to see early testers rave about them. The next step is to get Punks out to more riders, so we are excited to announce our Kickstarter campaign is now live and shipments will begin this summer.”
The Punks are lightweight at 16g each and are sold by the pair to wear on both helmet straps for balanced audio to each ear. They claim to not interfere with riding or vision and provide focused, high-quality sound without noise pollution.
‘The Punks can be used in any outdoor conditions thanks to expertly tuned, near-ear drivers and dual wind-blocking mics that ensure clear communication regardless of the weather.’
Aleck’s free app (available on iOS and Android) drives the Punks’ features, including group communication through open-channel Party Mode with unlimited participants, walkie-talkie style Push-To-Talk, and the Friend Finder real-time location of group members, for finding a riding buddy.
The product is expected to deliver in July 2023. Various package options are available on Kickstarter, starting at US$99. The product will hit the European market in early summer 2023 as well, and will retail at the price of €149.90.
