Interbike 2010!

The Gear Junkie crew is in Las Vegas this week kicking tires and riding laps on the latest and greatest gear in the world of bikes. The Interbike Expo, an annual event, pulls together 1,000+ cycling-related brands and more than 20,000 attendees. Here’s a sneak peek at some neat new gear from the show floor. Expect to see these items in bike shops next year. —Stephen Regenold

LED by LITE. Startup company LED by LITE’s system includes two strips of white LED lights encased in silicone (that are strapped to the front of each fork leg) and two strips of red LED lights in silicone (that are strapped to the back of each seat stay). They make the whole bike and the rider glow so he or she can be seen from the front, sides and back in full Technicolor glory. The light system is powered by eight AA batteries, and tests show a runtime of close to 200 hours. $99.99. http://www.ledbylite.com

Bamboo Bike. The Birota BV Smooth has a bamboo frame and a sleek urban aesthetic cool enough to make bike junkies drool. The bamboo bike is one of Birota BV’s exclusive models. Quantities unknown. www.birotabikes.com

Gas Mask. Made for serious urban commuters, the BioLogic Pollution Mask, $39.99, “scrubs out exhaust fumes” and has dual inhale/exhale ports with replaceable activated carbon filters for “maximum airflow during hard riding,” the company touts. The mask is one of 10 urban cycling accessories BioLogic will introduce at Interbike this year. http://www.dahon.com/accessories/biologic

Foldable Bike. Small folding bikes could be cycling’s next big thing. That’s according to AREAWARE Transport, which will show off its odd but elegant Strida folding bike. The big claim: This bike has the first completely new bicycle geometry in a century. www.areawaretransport.com

Electric-Powered Carrier. The Ridekick Bike Trailer has beefy wheels, a hinged, hard-sided case, and a low center of gravity to make hauling gear with two wheels more efficient on the road or the trail. The kicker? There’s a built-in motor to push you along and aid in hill climbing when you’re most in need. http://www.ridekick.com/

Ryders Eyewear Bike Googles. Touted as “the first goggle designed from the ground up for the DH and freeride cyclist,” Ryders Eyewear’s Shore and Banger models block vapor from the mouth and nose to avoid fogging up. Fresh air is channeled from the front and sides of the goggles to flow up the back of the lens, the company says. All goggles in the 2011 line feature 100% UV protection and have been designed to fit comfortably with full-face helmets. http://www.ryderseyewear.com

Uber Bike GPS. Garmin’s Edge 800 bike-specific GPS includes a touchscreen and a stout $449.99 price tag. But for the money you get a top-end cycling computer with full navigation and performance monitoring. It tracks distance, speed, location, calories burned, and other metrics to exactly quantify your workout and your ride. https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=69043#

Swift 833 Strike. Touting a carbon blend with “costly German resins” and a unidirectional finish, the demon that is the T800 might be one of the speediest steeds on the show floor. The triathlon-specific bike is made to tuck, pedal, and blast the pavement while stealthily cutting air. Its frame weighs a scant 1150 grams, and its tubes, for what it’s worth, were created to National Advisory Committee of Aeronautics specifications. www.swiftcarbon.com

Complete Interbike 2010 coverage on Gear Junkie. . .

> Encore! Interbike 2010

—Stephen Regenold is founder and editor of www.gearjunkie.com.