Specialized’s ANGi Calls For Help In Case You Can’t. Plus New MIPS SL!

We all do it don’t we? We hop on the bike without a care in the world and go for a ride, tackling climbs, riding slick roots and moss covered rocks, collecting KOM’s and arriving back home safely to repeat it all again the following ride.

Getting out for a spin by yourself to blow away the cobwebs and de-stress is great for the mind, body and soul, well it is as long as you make it home safely and Specialized’s ANGi is designed to make sure that’s what happens.

Specialized ANGi

ANGi is a small device that is fitted to some of the new Specialized helmets for 2019, it will also be available after-market for fitting to ANGi ready helmets too. The ANGi unit, ANGi standing for Angular and R-Force indicator, is located on the rear of the helmet and contains sensors designed to measure the linear and rotational forces that occur during a bicycle crash.

The non-removable battery-powered unit contains an accelerometer and a gyro to collect force and movement data, while Bluetooth connects ANGi to your smartphone via the Specialized Ride App.

Once activated, ANGI will monitor forces while you ride, and if the sensors believes that you’ve had an accident a countdown will be triggered on your smartphone. If you’re ok and it’s a false alarm you’ll be able to deactivate the countdown, but if you’re in trouble and aren’t able to switch the timer off an SOS text message will be sent to your emergency contacts. The message will include a simple message calling for help along with your location based on the GPS coordinates from your smartphone.

The Ride App is set to alert your contacts after 15 seconds, however, you do have the option to configure the time to as long as 90 seconds, to give you that extra few seconds needed to dig your phone from the bottom of your pack.

The Ride App relies on your phone’s network operator, but if you’re riding in an area with poor service there is an option to store your planned riding location and a time you expect to finish. If when your ride ends you fail to stop the app, the countdown will start and the Specialized servers will send out an alert, unless you stop it. Both iOS and Android users will be able to download and use the app for free for the first year with a subscription kicking in after the first 12 months, at the time of writing we’re unsure of the cost of this service.

On top of these possible life-saving features, ANGi will also monitor and record forces that can cause whiplash, and the Ride App itself will sync with Strava so that you can share your rides with your friends, family and followers.

ANGi will come as standard on the £380 S-Works Dissident full-face downhill helmet, £130 Ambush and £100 Ambush Comp helmets while the £80 Tactic 3 helmet is ANGi compatible, meaning you’ll have to pick up an ANGi unit aftermarket. As far as we can tell the ANGi system simply sticks to the rear of your helmet, so in theory should work with any helmet, but we’ll have to test this out for ourselves to be sure.

Specialized Ambush With Angi Features

• Patented aramid-reinforced skeleton provides internal EPS support.
• Patented Energy Optimized Multi-Density EPS construction helps to manage impact energy.
• Mindset 360 fit system provides a secure, customizable fit with 360-degree tension adjustment, five height positions, and an integrated dial for easy, on-the-fly adjustments.
• Micro indexing visor allows for a wide range of fast, secure on-trail adjustments, as well as convenient goggle stowage.
• 4th Dimension Cooling System with massive vents, internal Cross-Channels, and aligned exhaust ports increases airflow to keep you cool.
• Low profile in-molded shell with smooth, snag-free exterior shape.
• Extended coverage for added protection and durability.
• Lightweight, quick-drying liner features a Gutter Action Brow that channels moisture away from eyes.
• Tri-Fix web splitter for improved comfort and ease of strap adjustments.
• MIPS-equipped.
• Integrated ANGI crash sensor.
• Colours: Cast Blue/Rocket Red, Charcoal/Ion, Matte Black
• Price: £130

Ambush Comp With ANGi

• Composite Matrix internal reinforcement allows large vents for greater cooling.
• In-molded shell improves strength and reduces weight.
• Mindset 360 fit system provides a secure, comfortable fit with 360-degree tension adjustment, five height positions, and integrated dial for easy on-the-fly adjustments.
• Micro indexing visor allows for a wide range of fast, secure on-trail adjustments, as well as convenient goggle stowage.
• 4th Dimension Cooling system optimizes ventilation.
• Extended coverage for added protection and durability.
• Tri-Fix web splitter for improved comfort and ease of strap adjustments.
• MIPS-equipped.
• Integrated ANGI crash sensor.
• Colours: Acid Lava/Acid Purple, Black/Charcoal, Rocket Red/Black, Storm Grey/Black
• Price: £100

S-Works Dissident With ANGi

• Engineered to protect World Cup downhill and gravity riders.
• Meets the ASTM DH safety testing standards for impact protection and chin bar performance.
• Lightweight Carbon Matrix shell—target weight 1000g.
• 3D-sculpted cheekpads and updated crown pad design for improved ventilation and a more comfortable secure fit.
• 4th Dimension Cooling System and ventilation provides superior comfort.
• Magnetic chin strap buckle improves comfort and allows for easy, one-handed use.
• Helmet EJECT™ system compatible.
• Leatt™ brace compatible.
• Speaker compatible.
• Includes a padded travel bag with micro-fleece liner and external goggle pocket.
• Removable washable liner and cheek pads.
• MIPS-equipped.
• Integrated ANGI crash sensor.
• Colours: Carbon Blue/Rocket Red, Matte Raw Carbon
• Price: £380

Tactic III MIPS (ANGi ready)

• Versatile HairPort SL II fit system, with six height positions and a micro-adjustable dial, makes it easy to adjust the fit.
• 4th Dimension Cooling System optimizes ventilation.
• In-molded shell improves strength and reduces weight.
• Extended rear coverage for added protection in technical, all mountain terrain.
• Full-size visor with easy on/off aFIX visor attachment.
• Tri-Fix web splitter for improved comfort and ease of strap adjustments.
• MIPS-equipped.
• Fit system is ANGi crash sensor ready.
• Colours: Acid Lava/Acid Purple, Matte Black, Matte Camo/Black, Matte Charcoal/Ion.
• Price: £80

And That’s Not All: MIPS SL

On top of releasing ANGi, Specialized has also worked closely with MIPS to create a new version of the rotation absorbing safety feature. MIPS SL is a super low-profile version of MIPS offering the same level of movement as standard MIPS but in a slimmer package.

The slimmer design of MIPS SL means that Specialized is able to fit the system to helmets without increasing the overall external size of the product, for a sleek appearance. MIPS SL is actually fitted to the pads inside the helmet and can be removed for easy cleaning and replacement.

Specialized’s first helmet with both ANGi and MIPS SL is an updated version of the AMBUSH helmet, but we’re sure more helmets will come fitted with both technologies in the future. So there we have it, 2 new items of tech to ensure our riding fun is safe fun too.

Let us know what you think of these new helmet technologies in the comments section below.

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