The GearJunkie crew is in Las Vegas this week at the annual Interbike Expo, our largest cycling industry event of the year. You may have seen our first report, a major run-down of products, “Bike Gear for 2013: Interbike Expo Sneak Peek.”. Now below you’ll find a few more stand-outs that have caught our eye so far on the show floor. —Amy Oberbroeckling
Bluetooth Boom Box — Earphones are one option. Or, with a product like Outdoor Technology’s Turtle Shell, a rugged wireless speaker, you can pump your tunes to the world. Ride and listen out loud with this water- and dust-resistant portable Bluetooth speaker, which clamps onto bike handlebars or anywhere you want to be the life of the party. Music streams from your player or phone. $150.
Carbon Beast — Niner goes all carbon in 2013. Almost every part that can be is made of carbon on the RIP 9 RDO model, which also has internally routed cables and larger diameter axels for stiffness and control. The all-mountain bike will be sold as a “quiver-killer” for riders looking to pedal long singletrack as well as occasional freeride/downhill sessions. $3,550 gets you the frameset and shock only.
Baby on Board — Retro! Just like when you were a kid, Yepp’s rear-mount child bicycle seat fits little ones and then bigger children up to 48 pounds. Molded from a flexible and sturdy rubber (think Crocs sandals), the Yepp seat absorbs shock and the also sun’s heat (so baby’s butt will not burn). A five-point harness system and foot straps keep wriggly riders secure. Available in styles that attach to a seat post or a rear bike rack. Grownup price tag of $230.
Faux-Wood Hard Hat — Turn heads with this wood-grain helmet, which is actually a plastic shell with the “wood” printed on. Lazer’s Street Deluxe line is built for commuters. Many styles available, wood and colors for your choosing.
Emergency Trail Repair— Similar to a wilderness survival kit used by backpackers and hikers, the Hero Kit is a pre-assembled repair pouch designed for mountain bikers. The pocket-size pouch has a bike tool, tire irons, wrenches, tire patches, extra cables, chain links, and even “tush wipes.” You’ll be a hero, no doubt. $45.
Crank-Arm Power Meter — A power meter for the masses? Maybe. StageOne is a small power meter device that will come attached to cranks from Cannondale, Shimano, SRAM, and others. There’s no standard display unit that comes with it, but the system communicates with ANT+ and Bluetooth-enabled devices, ostensibly letting you sync it to a watch or a phone. Price starts at $699.
Let the Sweat Out — You may have seen the eVent tag on your winter jacket. The fabric, a waterproof/breathable competitor of GORE–TEX, is used in hardshell jackets from many major companies. At the show, eVent is gunning for cycling outerwear makers with a new fabric that is customizable via ink sublimation to print on graphics or the bright colors of a bike team.
Gummy Chocolate Energy Food — You saw it here first. Soon, CLIF will debut its latest SHOT BLOKS flavor, Chocolate Cherry. The company notes this as marking a departure from fruit-only chews with a “delicious combination of subtle chocolate and ripe black cherries.” For energy and power on a bike, three of these BLOKs offer 50mg of caffeine and 100 calories. We’re getting a case to test, and we’ll report back soon on the chewy-choco experience. $1.99.
—Compiled by Amy Oberbroeckling. See GearJunkie’s first look at Interbike 2012 from earlier this week, “Bike Gear for 2013: Interbike Expo Sneak Peek.”
