Airide, an innovative smart material research-driven project has won New Brand of the Year and took second place over all in the competition.



The event, which was organised by Business Growth Hub for the second year running, was attended by over 700 businesses including 56 exhibitors. Supported by Innovate UK and the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), it provided an opportunity for attendees to learn about new technologies and innovations, as well putting companies in touch with business leaders from organisations such as Microsoft and Barclays.

Airide is a collaboration between Professor Subhash Anand MBE and Matt Tomkin of T3 Sports Technology and VO2 Sportswear. It is a new technical textile product set to revolutionise the cycling clothing industry has been developed at the University of Bolton in partnership with a local sportswear company.

Professor Anand, of the University’s Institute for Materials Research and Innovation, joined forces with Matt Tomkin to create a new chamois padding for cycling and triathlon. Their product, Airide, has been designed to address a host of health issues associated with cycling shorts, which traditionally use polyurethane foam to create chamois pad areas where the body is in contact with the saddle.

Said Matt: ‘It was amazing to win New Brand of the Year and come second over all. But what also made a huge impact, for me, was the number of people coming up to me and saying “where can I buy that product?” The enthusiasm and appetite for Airide is clearly huge – I can’t wait to get moving.’

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