Decathlon gets patent for invention related to bicycle

The invention helps in making bicycle riding a better experience in tough terrains

French sports goods retailer Decathlon has received Indian patent for its invention related to a bicycle with rear suspension which makes riding of the bicycle better experience in rough terrain.

The invention, titled 'Two-wheeled vehicle in particular a bicycle with rear suspension', advantageously allows mountain bikes to limiting the pumping phenomenon throughout the full movement of the rear wheel during compression or decompression of the shock-absorber system, the company claims.

The company filed the patent application in 2008 and the first examination report on the application was issued on February, 2013.

The company, in its patent specification states, "The subject of this present invention is a two-wheeled vehicle with rear suspension. It finds its particular application in the field of bicycles with rear suspension, and more particularly of "mountain bikes" with rear suspension". It addresses a conventional problem in the mountain bikes, which is the pumping effect in the rear part of the cycle, which is an unwanted movement of the chasis, which sinks and rises under the effect of vigorous pedalling.

It also says that the variation in the chain length as the rear wheel bounces can affect the transmission and the tension of the chain can influence the suspension and induce the pumping effect.

Decathlon owns around 20 brands in various sports, with the cycling products handled under BTWIN, which claims as the world leader in the cycling market with more than 3.7 million bikes sold internationally. The company has around 38 stores in India, out of the total of 1065 stores, as on May 31, 2016, according to the company website. It also sells products online, it added.