Canadian bike company Boréal Bikes are currently seeking funding via the indigogo website for their smrtGRiPs. Following on from Connected Cycles Smart Pedal, it seems like 2015 will be a big year for high-tech bike equipment.

The grips are made up of two outer grips, and two 150mm aluminium tubes where the tech parts are stored, these are fitted inside the ends of your handlebars and paired to your smartphone.

The most intriguing aspect of smrtGRiPs is that it can give the rider directions to their destination using smrtGRiPs connect or Google Maps. This works by either the left or right grip vibrating depending on which direction the rider needs to turn, allowing them to keep their eyes on the road ahead. The grips also vibrate to warn the rider of potential hazards on the road ahead.

The grips allow the rider to, like the Smart Pedal, locate their bike if they’ve forgotten where they stored it or if they’re in a busy area.  Again, like the Smart Pedal, it also has a function for when bikes are stolen. SmrtGRips notifies the GPS network to look out for it, so as soon as another user comes within close proximity of the stolen bike (a 300ft range), the owner is notified (via their smartphone app) of their bikes location.

One final interesting feature, particularly for parents of young children, is the ‘separation alert’. This notifies riders via vibration when the distance between them and a rider in their group becomes large.

SmrtGRiPs will retail for $119 (approximately £79).