If I know one thing to be true, you don’t always have to be first to market with an innovative way of solving a problem, you just have to do it better than the last lot. And in that sense, if the tests I've seen are to be believed, RLS really could be onto something.
With Canyon already on board, and the compelling evidence I’ve seen with my own eyes I think it is a case of, if, not when, you’ll see this being added to your favourite helmet brands products, and potentially replacing Mips altogether.
It’s not especially heavy, or troublesome to adapt to fit on almost any helmet. That didn’t seem to be a barrier, although it is an obvious question. It also seems to be pretty novel and effective, and the company has lodged some 25 individual patents well ahead of production, with more to come. It seems relatively sure that the RLS system is more than protected in terms of IP, and to me, it genuinely feels like it could be the next big household name in head protection, and much sooner than you might think.
Still, I think we might need to grab some popcorn, whilst we sit back and watch the incumbent and RLS duke it out for the crown, as regardless of the clear homework that's been done here to clear the way for this new player, I'm sure they're still going to argue over who came up with what, first.
