A couple of weeks ago Japanese car firm Nissan unveiled a video of its intriguing ‘self cleaning’ prototype car. The video demonstrated the Nissan prototype car being driven through muddy and wet terrain while its specially treated bodywork seemed to repel anything that was thrown at it. We couldn’t help but think of how this sort of technology could be used in the world of bikes…
The prototype car had been treated with a special coating, known as Ultra-Ever Dry. This coating has been developed to completely repel almost any liquid. It's part of large collection of industrial surface treatments produced the UltraTech International firm. Take a look at the video yourself below:
Nissan 'self cleaning' prototype car
Video: Nissan's 'self cleaning' prototype car
So, where would this come into play with bikes? Well, imagine never having to clean your bike – Nissan says that this product could mean that cleaning cars could one day become a thing of the past.
That does sound a little far-fetched to us – but even if this product meant that a bike would get significantly less dirty during a muddy or wet ride, it could well be worth looking into.
Less mud = less weight and less work for the mechanics
Another use would be for race bikes – take last week’s downhill event in Cairns, for example. Some of the bikes gained a fair bit of weight in mud alone by the time they reached the finish line.
Racers have for a long time used several different methods to prevent mud build-up, from slippery silicone sprays to foam in areas that are prone to collecting muck. It seems to us that this technology could potentially save time both on the hill and for team mechanics.
We've contacted the firm involved and are hoping to score a sample of the product to give it a go for ourselves. Are we mental? Will this never work? Let us know what you think in the comment box below.
