Leomo To Release Real-Time Motion Analysis For Cyclists

Leomo, a Japanese startup, has developed a product for cyclists and triathletes that provides motion analysis in real time. Type-R consists of six pieces; five bluetooth connected sensors, placed directly on the cyclist, and one touchscreen display placed on the handlebars of the bike.

Two of the sensors are attached to the shoes of the cyclist, two are placed on the knees and one is put on the lower back. These sensors can measure foot position, leg angle, pedaling dead spots, pelvic tilt, power, power balance, speed, cadence and heart rate. All of these statistics are relayed in real time to the touch screen display on the handle bars. Cyclists are then able to adjust their body position or pedaling speed to ensure the highest quality race possible. According to Wareable, the trackers can even show how much a cyclists heel moves up and down and the position of the rider's pelvis. Leomo is hoping the extreme detail Type-R provides will place the athletes who use their product a step above the rest.

“Competitive athletes want to use their bodies better - and we want to help them,” Kunihiko Kaji, CEO and co-founder of LEOMO, said in a statement. “For the first time, the TYPE-R will bring the power of motion analysis out of the lab and into their world, filling a void that’s currently missing in their arsenal.”

Type-R, which will launch in the US later this summer, is also highly beneficial for cycling coaches. Leomo has developed an app to help coaches track the athletes in real time. Coaches are immediately able to tell where a race digressed and can develop extremely specific training regimens to fix any mistakes.

Leomo is currently testing Type-R with professional athletes and their coaches across the world. However, it will soon launch an invitation-only beta period in which Type-R will cost $399.99. As it picks up traction, the price will increase by $100 for every 300 units sold. Once Type-R completes the beta phase, it will likely retail between $700-$800. The battery life of the touch screen display lasts 6.5 hours and the sensors last about 8 hours according to Wareable, and they are still undergoing endurance tests.

Leomo is hoping to expand its influence by creating similar products for competitive swimmers and runners. The use of motion analysis for highly competitive athletes is not a new discovery. However, real-time motion analysis is difficult to find. Most motion analysis programs allow athletes to complete an exercise and then analyze the data. Type-R will still have this capability, but being able to see the analytics in real time is the next step in sports technology.