GRDXKN – no more road rash?

Every grand tour, we see the same pictures, riders with clothes ripped into pieces and significant areas of skin missing after a crash or a spill. The next day, they’ll try to ride on, bandaged up with grimacing faces. Often they drop out of the race within the following couple of stages. Then we slip on a wet corner on our weekend ride, and for the next couple of weeks, sleeping and showering become very unpleasant.

Road rash is arguably the most common cycling injury. Statistics are hard to come by, mainly because the crashes often don’t involve a third party, such as in a collision with a car, and thus are not reported.

However, those injuries are not only frequent but also serious:  They are very painful, sometimes go deep and cover large areas of skin and can lead to more severe issues such as infections and scarring if not treated right. For Pro’s, they can mean less sleep, less effective training, and loss of performance.

So we should care for ourselves and buy clothing that protects us better. If you are a mountain biker, you have plenty of choices. As a road or gravel cyclist – not so much! Look at all major cycling apparel manufacturers; none have any solution. Not a single product is in their line-up that even attempts to provide more protection than a thin layer of lycra that tears the moment it touches asphalt.

There are reasons why: The focus for road cyclists is on looks and performance. Material has to be flexible, comfortable, lightweight, aero, and look good. Abrasion-resistant fibers are typically not stretchable; added protective rubber or hard plastic, as used in mountain biking, is neither light nor comfortable.

Enter GRDXKN

I have been researching this topic for a while now, and thus I was pretty excited when I came across GRDXKN at Eurobike.

GRDXKN (pronounced “grid skin”) has developed a technology that promises to transform cycling apparel and provide protection that is lightweight, flexible, comfortable, and potentially even more aero than a regular lycra outfit. As a technology provider, they do not manufacture apparel. Instead, they offer the technology, material, and technical expertise to apparel manufacturers and brands.

How does it work, and can GRDXKN deliver on their promise?

In short, their product is a PU-based 3D print stuff that is applied to the inside of the garment and that creates a structured 3D layer that increases abrasion resistance and dampens impact. Those properties have been tested at 30km/h and 50km/h (at this moment, there is no cycling-specific test standard available. Instead, tests developed for motorcycle apparel are being used). This inside 3D print is pleasant on the skin (but can also be covered by a lining) and lightweight ( added weight per jersey is around 25g). The fabric remains flexible and gets shaped three-dimensional. Bastian Mueller, the founder and owner of GRDXKN, claims that the resulting 3D outside surface has been tested to be more aero than regular flat and smooth fabric. This claim is very plausible, based on what is known about the influence of surface structure on drag.

Lightweight, flexible, comfortable, aero, arguably good-looking, and proven protective. Is there any more any excuse for cycling apparel manufacturers not to offer better and safer apparel?

I say no, and I also say it’s about time we demand those products.  Check out GRDXKN at https://grdxkn.com, and let me know what you think in the comments below.