(Press Release) Kenneth Acklin has been riding, repairing and improving bicycles since he was 11 years old. Drawing on more than four decades of experience, the innovative Utah bicycle technician created and patented the Shade Vise, a lightweight, stylish accessory that holds sunglasses securely when riding.
"The Shade Vise is the world’s first and only device that protects your sunglasses on your bike and in between rides," said Acklin. "It takes less than two minutes to install on your bike, and provides a long-term solution for riders of all skill levels."
Inspired by cyclists, and designed by cyclists especially for cyclists, the $30 Shade Vise solves the problem of scratched lenses, broken frames and lost sunglasses, according to Acklin. It allows riders to slide sunglasses in and out using one hand while riding without touching the lenses.
"I think the Shade Vise is a truly unique product that serves a need for all cyclists," said Todd Linscott, owner of Torelli Bicycle Company. "I can’t wait to have one on my bike."
On September 14th, Acklin launched a 30-day Kickstarter funding campaign to purchase the molds and materials needed to manufacture the Shade Vise in quantity using all U.S. components.
Contributing to the campaign at Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shadevise/shade-vise-saves-and-protects-your-cycling-sunglas will help make the Shade Vise a reality for the estimated 67 million U.S. cyclists as well as the 2 billion bicyclists around the world.
"The Shade Vise is one of those ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ products that we will all be using soon," said cyclist Bill McGann, McGann Publishing and author of "The Story of the Tour de France."
Acklin’s in-depth research shows that a frequent cyclist has to replace sunglasses 2.7 times per year at an annual cost of more than $400. "Because our Shade Vise has a five-year money back guarantee, it could save a cyclist as much as $2,000 in replacements over that time period," he said.
Currently, many cyclists take their sunglasses on and off several times while riding, in response to changing light and weather conditions. But trying to store those glasses on a helmet or tucked into a shirt is far from ideal and leads to lost or damaged glasses. Finding convenient storage for those shades at home is another issue. After all, no cyclist wants to waste time searching for shades when getting ready to ride.
In a recent video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiA4cibFjJU), Acklin spoke about his passion for riding over the past 44 years and how bicycle technicians – like the famed Wright Brothers – are problem solvers. "I’ve worked in bicycle shops from Pennsylvania to California, doing every kind of job as a technician and mechanic, earning a reputation for making things work," he said.
Using that experience, Acklin spent several years studying how to develop a simple and easy solution, before designing and field-testing the Shade Vise on many different kinds of bike. "There is no compromise on the quality and workmanship of this product," he said. "There is nothing else on the market that fills this worldwide need."