Schrader, the world leader in tyre pressure monitoring systems in the original equipment automotive sector, recently launched its first product of this type for use on a bicycle.“Developing a TPMS system for bicycles was a great challenge, as – in contrast to car tyres – as bicycles mostly still use inner tubes. Fastening the unit in the valve hole of the rim or in the rim bed was therefore not an option,” Markus Schmid, Head of Marketing at Schrader, explains. In the end, the designers chose modified valves which are connected to the tube instead of the original parts. If the old inserts are permanently fastened, the tube also has to be replaced. The new Schrader TPMS valves are generally available for all common valve types.
“There is no classic display, by the way,” Schmid says. “To increase acceptance among cyclists and prevent theft, we chose a system that communicates with a smartphone via Bluetooth.” Another advantage: there is no display that could be stolen. If a loss of tyre pressure occurs while riding the bicycle, a loud warning signal is sounded which can easily be heard even while wearing a cycle helmet and with high traffic noise. This ensures safety at all times.