Interbike 2018: The Latest Gear From the Cycling World

Interbike 2018, the annual cycling industry trade show, is in the history books. We were there to get you the scoop on the latest cycling gear.

We uncovered these new, fun, innovative and cutting-edge products while scouring the aisles of the Reno Convention Center.

Stompump

$99 MSRP, availabile November 2018

One of the most innovative new products we found this year is the Stompump. This super-tiny and lightweight foot-actuated bike pump is optimized for medium-pressure, high-volume tires. It’s only 73 x 68 mm, weighs only 185 grams, and offers a max pressure of 90 psi.

Stompump claims it’s “ three times faster than conventional hand pumps,” which is impressive. It has a super-sexy machined aluminum design and stows on your bike frame with a composite frame dock. This includes a hook-and-loop safety strap for when the trail gets rough.

The Stompump has stainless steel push-to-connect fittings, built-in Presta- and Shrader-compatible chucks, an integrated air filtration system, and a stowing compartment in the center piston perfect for tire patches and plugs.

Ritchey Ultra Frameset

$999 MSRP, just released

What’s not to like about a sub-$1,000 mountain bike frame designed by one of the most iconic frame builders in the history of the sport? Tom Ritchey designed this mountain bike frame as a modern take on the 1980s classic known as a serious all-mountain ripper.

The new Ritchey Ultra frameset is a versatile all-mountain steel steed. It’s compatible with 27.5-inch wheels with 2.8-inch-wide tires as well as 29-inch wheels with 2.4-inch-wide tires. Ritchey optimized this hardtail frame for a 120mm-travel front fork. All cable routing is old-school exterior style besides internal stealth dropper post cable routing.

Leatt DBX 5.0 Jacket

$199.99 MSRP, available November 2018

Leatt, probably best known for innovative neck braces, makes a full line of burly all-weather mountain biking apparel. The piece that truly stood out for us in the 2019 line is the redesigned Leatt DBX 5.0 Jacket.

Leatt customizes this three-layer, four-way-stretch, waterproof-breathable shell for mountain biking with and without armor. The jacket offers a ton of rider-specific features like water-resistant zippers, reinforced yet flexible shoulder and elbow protection, and a hood designed to work over a full-face helmet.

The patent-pending magnetic hood keeper really caught our eye. It not only easily keeps the hood stowed neatly on the jacket, but the included magnet can also be used to keep the hood up over the helmet.

Oakley G+ Graphene Aero Jersey

$300 MSRP, available February 2019 

Has Oakley created the ultimate cycling jersey? Early next year we’ll be able to purchase the Oakley G+ Graphene Aero jersey and find out for ourselves. It won’t come cheap though!

Oakley developed the jersey in partnership with BioRacer. It utilizes Directa Plus’ G+ Graphene technology, which helps to pull and dissipate heat away from your body. Whether it’s hot or cold outside, Oakley claims this technology helps your body with thermal regulation and moisture management. Bottom line: This new cycling jersey should help you conserve energy and be more comfortable while cycling.

661 Recon Advance Jacket

$229.99 MSRP, available spring 2019

Mountain bike body armor can be bulky, heavy, and restrictive. But the new SixSixOne Recon Advance Jacket might just be the ticket to safe and comfortable riding. It offers full upper body mountain bike protection in an extremely lightweight and comfortable package.

SixSixOne claims it to be “lightest full upper body protection on the market at 0.8 kg.” The jacket features a crazy light and flexible Koroyd back plate, which delivers EN 1621-2 protection. The two-layer Koroyd backplate is just finding its way into consumer products now, with this Jacket being the first of its kind. The jacket is also feature-rich. It has rear stash pockets, an adjustable length, and is 2L hydration bladder compatible, with left and right hose routing options.

Dakine Thrillium Pant

$160 MSRP, available spring 2019

Have you ever wanted full leg coverage when attacking your local mountain bike trails, but with the comfort of shorts? Dakine has tried to answer your prayers with the Thrillium Pant, its first full-length mountain bike pant offering.

The Thrillium Pant has Scholler’s ecorepel Bio four-way stretch fabric and has tons of laser perforations at the waist and inner thighs. These perforations offer maximum airflow for cooling and comfort. Articulated stretch panels ensure an unrestricted full range of motion. Durability is always key in a mountain bike pant, and the Thrillium features double-stitch construction along with the burly Scholler fabric.

Smith Wildcat Sunglasses

$199 MSRP, just released

Ever wanted goggles without the annoying strap and bulky frame? Yeah, me neither. Even so, Smith has introduced goggle-style sunglasses.

The Smith Wildcat sunglasses come with two interchangeable lenses and a hard case. They sport Smith’s ChromaPop lens technology and perfectly integrate with Smith’s full line of cycling helmets. Smith says the Wildcat “provides extra-large coverage and protection like a goggle with the airflow and comfort of a sunglass.” I was impressed with the multi-adjustable nosepiece on the Wildcat, which allows the sunglasses to fit a variety of nose shapes and the ability to adjust airflow based on conditions.

Smith also offers replacement Wildcat lenses in Clear ($40) and ChromaPop ($80) options.

Kryptonite Evolution Ground Anchor

$72.95 MSRP, available March 2019

Kryptonite has found the answer to more securely locking down your expensive two-wheeled toys in your truck bed, trailer, or garage.

The Kryptonite Evolution Ground Anchor mounts to your truck bed, trailer floor, or garage floor to provide you a secure locking point. It features a hardened steel baseplate and a 14mm carbon alloy steel shackle. The shackle is large enough to accommodate stout chain locks, which wouldn’t fit through traditional truck bed tie-down points.

The Kryptonite Evolution Ground Anchor comes with a drill bit and molly bolts for securely fastening to your garage floor. The truck-/trailer-mounting kit is an additional $19.95.

Option Lock

$69.99 MSRP, available November 2018

The Option Lock is basically a double-sided U-lock-style bike lock. But instead of the U shape at one end, it offers another removable locking end cap. This allows for locking/unlocking from multiple directions and for breaking the lock down into four parts for easy storage and transport.

It comes with a soft carrying case that mounts to your handlebars or frame. The Option Lock measures 6.25 x 10.25 inches and weighs about 3.5 pounds.

ABUS 77A SmartX Lock

MSRP TBD, available late spring 2019

Bike locks are generally a lock it and leave it affair, where you hope to come back to your bike where you left it. A leader in the bike lock market for many years, ABUS hopes to add some smarts to the almighty U-lock.

The ABUS 77A SmartX bicycle lock is a Bluetooth-enabled U-lock. It has all the great security features that you expect in a high-end U-lock, but with the addition of a 100dB alarm, geolocating, and keyless locking/unlocking.

Any lock movement triggers the alarm, first with a small warning beep. If the lock continues to move, it blasts a 100dB alarm for 15 seconds before automatically reactivating. The lock connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth, where an app alerts you to alarm activations. It even provides you with the GPS location of the lock and keyless locking and unlocking.

Chamois Buttʼr Coconut

$17.99 (8oz tube) MSRP, available fall 2018

Chamois Butt’r is once again expanding its line of quality skin lubricant and chamois cream products for cycling. This time, it’s going natural with organic coconut oil. The new Chamois Butt’r also still has shea butter, vitamin A, vitamin E, aloe vera, and tea tree oils that you expect in the quality chamois cream.

Combined, these ingredients moisturize, reduce friction, and soothe already chafed skin. Customers have been asking for a nonmineral oil chamois cream, and Chamois Butt’r Coconut is the answer.

GU CHAi LATTe Roctane

$60 (box of 24) MSRP, just released

For GU’s 25th anniversary, it’s going all out with unique flavors. The year started off with Birthday Cake, then French Toast, and now CHAi LATTe Roctane. This latest flavor “brings a coffee shop favorite to the trails in a portable and easy to digest form.” CHAi LATTe Roctane offers carbohydrates, sodium, amino acids, 35 mg of caffeine, and so much more in its 100-calorie packet.

Thule Rail 12L Pro Hydration Pack

$199.95 MSRP, available February 2019

There are a million cycling hydration packs on the market, but only a handful are designed for truly attacking mountain bike trails. The new Thule Rail series, and especially the 12L Pro, is designed for just that.

The innovative wide and low lumbar, metal shoulder strap attachment frames, and low sternum strap should provide a secure fit for even the most aggressive trail riders. The all-new integrated two-layer Koroyd backplate provides spine protection while remaining flexible and comfortable. To top it all off, the Rail features Thule’s ReTrakt hydration hose system, which uses a long, thin magnet to provide a secure and hands-free hydration hose return.