Easton Sports, Math, Science and the Faster Bike

As of 10 days ago I had not heard of The Futures Channel, of Burbank, Ca..

According to the website it was "founded in 1999 with the goal of using new media technologies to create a channel between the scientists, engineers, explorers and visionaries who are shaping the future, and today’s learners who will one day succeed them.

I received an e-mail that helped introduce me to them:

Hi Kiril,

My name is Jenna and I'm the Head of Distribution at The Futures Channel. 

I came across cyclingdude.com and thought you might be interested in our latest movie, "Engineering Faster Bikes," released on our website this week.  It's a fun, short movie that takes a look at what goes into the bicycle frames that Easton Sports engineers and manufactures.  Please feel free to take a look at the movie when you have a moment.

My best,

Jenna Bowles

Head of Distribution

The Futures Channel

Okay, being the curious sort I went to take a look.

As the video opens, a suspended bicycle frame lurches and twists as two hydraulic pistons take turns driving a 292-pound load onto simulated pedals. Within sixty seconds, the bike frame has been subjected to nearly 18 tons of stress. The test continues non-stop for 21 hours — unless the frame cracks first.

This week, The Futures Channel released its latest micro-documentary, “Engineering Faster Bikes,” which takes viewers inside Easton Sports Research and Development Laboratories where they are engineering high-performance bicycles. And, like the company’s other online movies, it was enthusiastically premiered in math and science classrooms across the country.

The Link to the Full Press Release can be found below.

I have watched the 4 min. 45 sec. video and found it quite interesting.

It is amazing what goes into the making of a bicycle frame.

Lighter, faster, stronger, that's what the goal is in making the better bike and the buyer, of course, often pays a lot for this quality, strength and speed.

From the recreational rider, to the profesional racer, some people will pay thousands for the lightest, fastest and  strongest, but even the less expensive bike parts get tested and researched to death on their way to the retail stores.

Niko Henderson, an engineer for Easton Sports and his comrades, use science, mathematics, engineering and cool testing techniques to produce what reaches the streets and this fun little video shows just how much you can learn about the process in just under 5 minutes.

The video tells its tale with cool visuals and in clear, simple, language, making for an educational experience for young and old.

Watch: Engineering Faster Bikes.

The Futures Channel is a fascinating, entertaining and educational place well worth steering the interested young skull for of mush towards. ;-D

The press Release, from 10/24/07, is called "Teachers Turn to The Futures Channel to Make Math and Science Relevant".

Math fun and cool? Who knew? ;-D

While I learned to do well in Algebra, after the living hell that was Pre-Algebra, Geometry drove me up the wall... ;-D