Aerodynamic drag force measurement specialist, Body Rocket, has declared its recent Crowdcube raise ‘hugely successful’.
The funds from this latest raise, which reportedly closed out at 32% overfunded, above the £390k target, will contribute to the refining of production prototypes of the Body Rocket system as the UK startup targets a 2025 launch date.
The Body Rocket system uses a series of wireless, proprietary force sensors located at rider contact points – the handlebar/stem, seatpost/saddle and pedals – coupled with an out-front mounted airspeed sensor.
The system measures, then transmits, aero data directly into a Garmin head unit, giving live feedback on a rider’s aerodynamics and body position. Body Rocket adds that its AI-driven analysis software guides users through the process and helps them track their progress over time, without them needing to become aero experts.
The company added… ‘Whilst wind tunnels are widely considered the gold standard in accurately measuring aerodynamics. there are only a limited number in existence. These facilities can be expensive to use and are often reserved for athletes at the very top level of sport, despite being the most sought-after performance gain for road cyclists and triathletes around the world.
‘Even if access weren’t an issue, wind tunnels require an expert to interpret the data and riding in static, laboratory conditions doesn’t always translate to riding in the real world, riding for longer periods or over multiple rides.’
Reigning Olympic triathlon champion Kristian Blummenfelt, who invested in this latest round, building on his existing investment, said “Body Rocket has been a key tool in my preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics letting me keep improving aerodynamics without disrupting my training schedule.
“I invested in their last round because I believe it’s going to unlock aerodynamics for athletes at every level. Like power meters, which have completely reimagined what on-bike performance looks like over the last 30 years, Body Rocket has the potential to push the frontiers of cycling and triathlon well beyond what anyone could have imagined even 10 years ago.”
Eric DeGolier, Founder of Body Rocket, said “As we move ever closer towards bringing to fruition many years of research and development with a commercial launch, it was crucial to secure this investment.
“We’re in the process of finalising not only our production models but also manufacturing processes, supply and distribution chains; and this investment takes us one step closer to our goal. We’re thrilled and humbled to see such an incredible show of support by the cycling and triathlon communities.”
