Interbike, the annual North American bike-industry trade show, held its final Las Vegas appearance last week. Even with a smaller footprint and fewer attendees, we got the scoop on a dozen cool new products.
Tubes Go Thermoplastic
Step aside rubber. Thermoplastic tubes are super light and pack small. While tubeless tires continue to take over the industry, it’s important to have backup protection. The Tubolito option is touted as 65% lighter; its 29-inch tube is 85 grams, as example.
Orange Seal Versa Valves
Setting up tubeless rims can be a chore. Orange Seal ships its Versa Valves with two shapes of rubber grommets—one square, one conical—to provide the best seal on any tubeless rim profile we’ve seen. Each stem includes a lock-nut and cap, and they comes packaged in sets of two. Choose between 48mm, 60mm, and 80mm lengths.
'Dirt Surfer' Shirts
Club Ride carved out a spot in the cycling-apparel scene with cool, comfortable gear that performs. These shirts have a cool chambray look while offering performance features and classic style, whether on the bike or on the bar stool. Available spring 2018.
Reform Seat
Much like customizable footwear in skiing, the Reform saddle from Landyachtz is heat-moldable to your anatomy. A 20-minute process results in the perfect fit, the brand cites. The saddle has a leather top and carbon-fiber shell.
Oakley Aro Helmets
Eyewear giant Oakley enters the bike-helmet market with three skull buckets for time trials and road racing. The helmets offer seamless eyewear integration with an internal channel that allows your glasses to stay firmly attached to the helmet when not in use.
Compact E-Cargo Bike
I firmly believe E-bikes make the most sense in cargo applications. And Tern has a sleek offering with the GSD compact-utility e-bike. The issue with a lot of cargo bikes is storage or transport, and the GSD solves this with 20-inch wheels and a foldable handlebar, resulting in a bike that is the same length as a standard bike. When not in use, store it upright with the built-in stand. It will haul two kids or a week’s worth of groceries. A Bosch performance motor gives a range of up to 250km.
Haro 'Pistol Pete' BMX
Anyone who grew up in the ’80s racing a BMX bike had to sit up and take notice of Pistol Pete Loncarevich. With a lightning fast, smooth style, he epitomized speed. With 29-inch wheels and chromoly frame and fork, the Group 1 by Haro may just be the fountain of youth for old geezers like me.
Gravel Cycling Book
Gravel riding and bikepacking are buzzing. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more knowledgeable gravel rider and writer than Nick Legan. With distracted drivers at an all-time high, I’ve heard several people say that they will no longer ride on the road. Legan’s book is packed with more than 250 pages of insights on two-wheeled adventure off the beaten path.
White Industries Headset
While a certain Portland, Ore., manufacturer has had the headset market on lock for years, White Industries out of Petaluma, Calif., comes out swinging with the Hi-perf headset. Stainless steel bearings combined with aluminum cups are durable, corrosion-resistant, and, dare I say, beautiful. They’re available in every conceivable size and a dizzying array of colors. Prices range from $100 to $160.
Thule Vital Hydration Packs
Thule, best known for car racks, enters the hydration-pack game with three bike-specific options. The Vital line is simple and sleek, with features like a magnetic hose keeper, jersey-style pockets on the belt, stretch fabric panels on the back, and a low center of gravity. We reviewed it on singletrack in Utah this summer and found the magnetic hose keeper to be clutch.
Burley Bike Trailer
Known for its kid carriers, Burley takes a run at the bike-trailer market. The Coho XC is a customizable trailer with three wheel sizes (including a fat-tire option!). The tool-free, adjustable yoke is set for multiple hub and wheel widths.
'Stealth' Road E-Bike
With a carbon frame, internal cable routing, and an integrated (hidden) battery and motor, the Focus Project-Y is the stealthiest e-bike we’ve seen. And at a quoted 27 pounds it may be the lightest of its kind, too.
Convert-a-Tool
We promised 12 Interbike items, but here’s a bonus lucky number 13… Part tire lever, part chain tool, this ABS plastic product interlocks cleverly to form a plier for removing those stubborn missing links in your chain. The KMC MissingLink tool is a great addition to any seat bag or tool wrap.
