- FLITEDECK is a cycling handlebar system that integrates an automotive-like infotainment system into your bike.
- It features a 180mm by 70mm touchscreen in an integrated carbon fibre road bike handlebar with WiFi, ANT+, Bluetooth, 5G, NFC, GPS, GNSS connectivity and 30 hours of battery life.
- FLITEDECK is currently available for pre-order with early bird discounts starting from $2,697, while the customisable model costs $5,563.
In a world where car dashboards are packed with touchscreens and sensors, cyclists have long settled for basic handlebars that require the purchase of a bike computer for training information and navigation. The team behind the FLITEDECK handlebar system wants to change that, as a fully integrated smart handlebar that combines technology and performance design to bring cycling into the 21st century.
Created by the Munich-based startup Flite, the brains behind the operation are the mechanical and automotive engineers Sabrina Fischer and Matthias Huber. Fischer had previously worked for names like Porsche, BMW and Pininfarina, giving her a background in innovation with a premium lens that is immediately obvious with the FLITEDECK.
The FLITEDECK is crafted from carbon fibre and boasts features that most cyclists have dreamed of for years. Designed as a curved road bike handlebar, it comes equipped with a StVZO-compliant dual-beam headlight, a motion-sensitive theft alarm, an electronic bell, GPS navigation, and a 180mm x 70mm full-colour touchscreen display.
In essence, it’s a modern automotive infotainment system integrated into a bike handlebar. It’s compatible with almost every existing stem and groupset and offers cyclists the kind of connectivity you’d expect from a smartwatch including Bluetooth, ANT+, and Wi-Fi. So, not only can you view turn-by-turn navigation on that slick touchscreen, but you can also track your performance, check your stats, and stay connected with notifications.
Powering all this is a lithium battery that promises up to 30 hours of runtime on a single charge and an IP68 waterproof rating so you can ride with the confidence it’ll survive even the most torrential of downpours. The entire package weighs just over 800g, so your five-figure carbon fibre road bike will remain lightweight and race-ready.
Another interesting detail in the story of FLITEDECK is its funding model. After struggling to attract investment for their handlebar concept using traditional avenues, the founders had the idea to set up an OnlyFans account and create “cycling-related adult content”, headlined by Fischer.
“It was basically because it was quite impossible to get external funding from investors,” Fischer explained to Cycling Weekly. “We are both open-minded people, and I have no problem showing more of me, including more spicy content. So we thought about it and then thought why not, let’s just give it a try. And it was in such high demand from my community that it just went up like that.”
Subscribers to the account pay US$24.99 a month for access to the content, which has received over 86,000 likes on the platform. The funding model has turned off a few potential investors and collaborators, however, the duo have confirmed they will be working with a large bike brand on a project for FLITEDECK, with the brand’s CEO unphased by their revenue source.
“Obviously there are a lot of people who don’t want to work with us [because of OnlyFans],” Huber said. “But there is no regret, definitely not. And we’ve had some very good conversations also because of it. So it definitely goes both ways.”
If you’re ready to get your hands on one, the FLITEDECK is currently available for preorder with early bird prices starting from AU$2,697 (AU$3,793 regular price), while the customisable model costs AU$5,563 (AU$6,659 regular price). Only 1,000 units will be available in the first production run, with shipping scheduled for Q2 next year.
