Interbike 2017 Cool Bike Gear-Part 1

This year's Interbike wasn't what it was in past years, there were a lot of big players in the industry that were no-shows at this year's show, however that didn't discourage me from finding some cool new bike products.  This is the first installment of my recap of the cool Interbike 2017 finds that I came across during the convention and if you ride like I do, I think you'll find these products as useful as I see their potential.

Garmin Charge™ Power Pack

For those that have the new Garmin Edge 1030 there is an available Garmin Charge™ Power Pack that gives users an extra 24 hours of battery life.  It fits seamlessly with the new Garmin Edge 1030 mount and if you would like to use with an older Garmin model it can be done by using an additional USB charging cable.  Available from Garmin and numerous Garmin retailers for $129.99.

Brilliant Reflective Strips

Brilliant Reflective Strips are a great way to give cyclists extra visibility to motorists and other cyclists in low light and night riding conditions.  They are made with 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Material tape that is highly reflective which come in stick-on (removable) and iron-on (permanent) packs.  The stick-on strips work great on helmets and bike frames while the iron-on strips are an option for cycling apparel to use bio-motion to be better seen.  Colors available are Red, Blue, Black and Purple.  Available from the Brilliant Reflective Strips website, Erik's Bike Shop and on Amazon.com for $14.95/pack.

Maxxis Moosetrak

New to the Maxxis lineup for fatbikers is the Moosetrak studded tire, their first studded fatbike tire.  It comes in a 60 & 120 tpi folding bead, tubeless-ready casing that has a dual winter rubber compound.  This is a 26" tire that is an extra wide 4.8".  It has 258 concave studs and a tread pattern that is designed to have a low rolling resistance in hard pack conditions.  Price has not been determined yet, but expect them to start showing up at your local bike shop this Fall.

RideAir

New from RideAir Innovations is the RideAir Portable Air Tank.  It is a compressed air capsule that fits in a standard water bottle cage for inflating flats or adjusting tire pressure on the fly.  RideAir is refillable using a compressor or gas station air pump.  It can even be used to seat tubeless tires.  It has an inflation gauge so you know how much air you have left in it and is Presta/Schrader compatible.  RideAir is available in a variety of colors with or without a cable lock to lock it to your frame.  RideAir retails for $59.99 or with a lock for $69.99.  Available from RideAir Innovations and Amazon.com.

Interbike 2015 Cool Bike Gear-Part 2

After spending five days in Las Vegas for Interbike and the Outdoor Demo, I came across a lot of cool new bike stuff that I wanted to share with my readers.  These are products that are now available or in the case of some of them, will be available soon from your local bike shop.  This is part two of a three part series where I will highlight some of the items that caught my attention.

45NRTH Wölvhammer

45NRTH showed their newly redesigned Wölvhammer cycling boot at the QBP booth.  They have done away with the zipper and velcro closure of the previous years' models in favor of a lace-up design with a gusseted tongue.  Also removed is the D-ring for the powerstrap at the top of the boot making it easier to secure.

The outer shell is now made with full grain leather and Ballistic Cordura Nylon with a rubber toe cap.  The new Wölvhammer still has a waterproof membrane with plenty of insulation and moisture wicking fleece allowing the boot to breathe while keeping your feet warm and dry.  Use with flat pedals or remove the cleat cover to install 2-bolt compatible cleats for clipless pedals.  Designed for 0° to 25° F comfort.  The Wölvhammer is beginning to show up at local bike shops now for the price of $325.

TOGS

TOGS stands for "Thumb Over Grip System" that offers riders an extra hand position by providing a thumb grip on top of the bars.  This thumb positioning allows plenty of leverage when climbing and a different hand placement for relief during long bumpy rides without interference to access brake and shift levers.  They are very lightweight, easy to install and come in a Zytel Nylon Ring in eight colors and a Carbon Fiber Hinged model making them a great alternative to bar ends.

While the Zytel Nylon Ring model requires removal of the grip for installation, the Carbon Fiber Hinged model does not.  With a universal fit on flat and riser bars, TOGS work will all grips including lock-on models.

Both models are available now from the TOGS website.  The Zytel Nylon Ring model sells for $23 and the Carbon Fiber Hinged model for $35.

Bianchi Allroad

For 2016 Bianchi introduces its new aluminum gravel bike, the Allroad.  Bianchi states, "Allroad is a mountain bike, a road bike, a cyclo-cross and a trekking bike all-in-one."  This do it all bike comes with a carbon fork, fittings for fender and rack mounts, a dropper seat post and Kenda Happy Medium tires.  It will come in two build options, Shimano 105 11-speed with Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and a more affordable Shimano Tiagra 10-speed with Avid BB5 mechanical disc brakes.  No word yet on a price for both models.  Expect the Allroad to start appearing at Bianchi dealers before the end of the year.

Maxxis Minion FBF & FBR

Maxxis was at Interbike with new fatbike versions of their popular Minion downhill tires.  These front & rear specific tires designed for trail riding are massive at 26x4.8.  The FBF (front) features Minion DHF tread blocks for great cornering and low rolling resistance.  The FBR (rear) is inspired by the Minion DHR II with side knobs for cornering and "paddle-like" knobs in the middle for better traction and decreased rolling resistance.

FBR

FBF

Both have a dual rubber compound and will be available in 60 & 120 tpi foldable bead casings.  A tubeless-ready EXO Protection (cut/abrasion resistant) version in a 120 tpi casing will also be available.  While not at your local bike shop yet look for them sometime soon.  While US pricing is not yet available, the European pricing of the 60 tpi casing models is around $100 each and the tubeless-ready EXO Protection models about $125 each.

Proviz Switch Gilet

 

From Proviz comes a great product for the road cyclist or commuter, the Switch Gilet.  This dual layer outer shell can be worn day or night to make sure cyclists are seen out on the road.  The Switch Gilet is reversible with a highly visible fluorescent yellow on one side and is 100% reflective (CE EN 20471 certified) on the other.  It features a 2-way reversible zipper, chest and back pockets, "meshed reflective material to aid breathability" and is machine washable.   

The Proviz Switch Gilet is available in Men's and Women's for $102.99 direct from the Proviz website.