At the recent Interbike show we saw a boatload of new technology for bikes and bikers – everything from e-bike drive systems to Bluetooth monitors, smart helmets, and even hi-tech car mounting systems. While we couldn’t get to everything, here are some of the best new technologies for biking we came across both on and off the exhibit floor.
Bike Action Camera – Camile R-100 GPS Smart Cycling Camera – Yes, just about every action-cam maker produces mounting systems to attach their cameras to your handlebars or helmet. But the Camile Bike Camera is the first we’ve seen that’s specifically designed for biking. It is easy to mount, easy to operate, can shoot for 3 hours continuously, and has eight hours of storage space. It is also a fully functioning GPS-enabled bike computer that pairs with your smartphone to display your route and allows you to share trip information. It weighs next to nothing and comes in a variety of snazzy colors. It’s available from Amazon for $170.
Intelligent Bike System – COBI Smart Connected Bike System – We first saw COBi more than a year ago when it was still under development. Now it’s a real functioning product. It’s like a connected car system, only for your bike. It uses your smartphone to control integrated lights and to provide weather and routing information, it will play your music, answer your calls hands-free, and even protect your bike. It will hook to ANT+ and Bluetooth sensors to provide you with performance information as well. Some e-bike makers have begun installing COBI as a factory option, but if you want to buy it on your own, prices are $249 and $299 for models with different options.
Smart Helmets – Helmets with lights, communications, and safety features were popping up on the show floor at Interbike. While a number of manufacturers are promising models this spring, we found three with real products that you can get now.
Lumos Smart Helmet – The Lumos helmet is all about the lights. It has a row of bright white LED’s so the rider can be seen from the front. There’s an array of bright red LED’s on the back. There are turn signals which are controlled by a simple wireless switch mounted on the handlebars. It also has brake lights. When you slow down, the rear red LED’s get brighter. Price is $164.
Livall BH100 Bling Helmet with Bling Jet Controller – It’s been more than a year since we first met Livall at the IFA tech show in Germany. Now they’re out with a higher end model which features 80 bright LED’s. But the Livall helmets also have communications capabilities. Like the Lumos, it has handlebar-mounted turn signals. But it also has speakers built right into the helmet and Bluetooth connectivity so you can play your music. It has a built in microphone so you can take your calls or communicate with other Livall helmeted riders. And if you fall, the Livall helmet will flash and SOS signal and notify the emergency contacts you’ve listed in the Livall app. Available at Amazon for $200.
Coros LINX Smart Cycling Helmet – The Coros LINX Smart Cycling Helmet enables riders to wirelessly connect their helmet to their smartphone. With Coros LINX, you can listen to your own music, take phone calls, and talk to fellow riders. You can set up a route on your smartphone through the LINX app and have the system read navigation directions and ride data back to you. Instead of using speakers, the Coros has open-ear Bone Conduction Technology and a precision wind-resistant microphone. It can also be programmed to notify your emergency contacts in the event of an accident. Price is $200.
Bone Conducting Headphones – Aftershokz Trekz Titanium – Headphones and biking just don’t mix. Wearing your earbuds when you’re cycling means you lose siuational awareness. You can’t hear what’s going on around you, whether it be a cautionary warning or approaching traffic. But the Trekz don’t block out the world around you. These lightweight and comfortable wireless stereo headphones are a safe alternative to traditional sport headphones and earbuds. Instead of sitting in your ears, these sit just above your ears and use your cheekbones to transmit the music vibrations to your inner ear. You can also use them to answer your phone calls without missing a beat. They use a sweatproof flexible titanium band to hold their shape. Price is $130.
Suction Mounting System – SeaSucker Bike Mounting Systems – Unless you own an SUV or a station wagon, getting a bike on your car has often been problematic. That’s especially true if you have something like a sportscar or a sleek coupe with a roofline you don’t want to mess up with a permanent roof rack. The innovative suction cup mounting system from Seasucker solves the problem. SeaSucker makes a variety of systems, but at the heart of each one are suction cups that have a pump so you can pump the air out and create an extremely secure bond. They will firmly hold just about any bike on any vehicle, including hatchbacks where the mounting is on a steep angle. They have solutions to hold anywhere from one to three bikes, and even one that will hold a trike. There are a variety of systems for different bikes and different cars ranging in price from $170 to $1395.
Heads Up Glasses Mounted Display – Garmin Varia Vision In-Sight Display – When I’m on my bike I’m always interested in how far I’ve gone, how fast I’m going, and if I’m on an unfamiliar route, where my next turn is. As a result, I can spend too much time looking at my bike computer and not enough looking where I’m going. Garmin’s Varia Vision Heads Up display sits on either side of your sunglasses and offers up a number of data screens that you can easily swipe through. Among them are speed, distance, distance to next turn, upcoming turn arrows, and performance stats. If you have the Varia Rearview Radar detector, it will alert you to traffic approaching from behind. It pairs with many of the Garmin Edge bike computers. Price is $400.
Cycling Computer – Garmin Edge Explore 1000 – This navigator is ideal for touring and adventuring and has a preloaded Garmin cycle map with routable road and bike paths, elevation data, points of interest, and address search. Simply enter how far you want to ride, starting direction and elevation parameters, and the Edge will calculate up to 3 cycling-friendly routes. Data from the integrated accelerometer can be used to automatically send your location to emergency contacts in the event of an accident. And the Edge can pair with your smartphone to offer live tracking, incoming call and text alerts, and more. It also works with Garmin’s Varia line of lights, rearview radar detector and Varia Vision Heads Up Display. Price is $450.
Cycling Computer with GroupTrack – Garmin Edge Explore 820 – For your 2-wheeled adventures on the road or trail, know where to go with Edge Explore 820. This GPS bike computer features a built-in Garmin Cycle Map with points of interest, bike-friendly trails, and more. It also has a high-resolution touchscreen that’s easy to read even in sunlight, and the GroupTrack feature lets you and your cycling companions know each other’s whereabouts, even when the road forks. Price is $350.
Communicators – Orion Labs Onyx – Onyx combines the simplicity of walkie talkies with the power of your data-enabled smartphone to deliver effortless, instant communication across any distance. Talk to as many people as you want at the same time with the simple touch of a button. Onyx is a sleek, lightweight communication device that helps you talk with your favorite people (who have Onyx) while leaving your phone in your pocket or bag. Simply press and hold Onyx to talk. No limits on channels or distance, as long as everyone using it has internet access via their phone. Price is $200 for a pair.
Lighted Jacket – Showers Pass Men’s Hi-Vis Torch Jacket – This jacket employs three methods to keep you visible on the road – reflective Silver MapReflect Fabric on the main body to keep you highly visible to motorists at night, Neon Green elite fabric down the sides for daytime visibility, and 4 integrated LED Beacon lights. The Torch Jacket is fully waterproof, stretchy, and does not sacrifice breathability for visibility. The venting system offers tunable cooling with core vents, a back vent, and adjustable airflow regulating cuffs. Price is $325.
Bike Lock – ABUS Folding Lock – This bike lock features 5 mm steel bars with synthetic coating to prevent damage to the bicycle’s paintwork. Link construction allows compact folding and the stainless steel case has a manual cover for the keyhole to fight against dirt and corrosion. The bars are linked with special rivets and made of special hardened steel. The ABUS Plus cylinder offers high protection against manipulations such as picking and two keys are supplied with the lock. Price is $125.
Carrier – Thule EasyFold 9032 – E-bikes weigh a lot more than traditional bikes, and many bike racks just won’t safely support them. This is the first rack we’ve seen that is specifically designed for your chunky e-bike, as well as lighter weight two wheelers. This is a convenient two bike carrier for e-bikes that manages long wheel bases (for downhill MTBs) and is fully foldable for convenient mounting, handling, and storage. The high load capacity means it can handle the weight of two e-bikes and it fits all 1 1/4″ or 2″ receivers with the included hitch adapter. There’s also a convenient removable ramp for easy loading and unloading of your bikes and a Snug-Tite receiver lock that virtually eliminates hitch rack movement in the receiver and locks the hitch rack to the vehicle. Price is $700.
Complete e-Bike Systems – Bosch-USA – At the big Interbike show in Las Vegas, it was clear that German technology giant Bosch is making a huge play in the e-bike market. Looking around, there were scores of bikes using Bosch’s drive systems, batteries, and connected information systems. While the industry still hasn’t settled on a single standard, it’s clear Bosch is the one to beat – or join. Among the 28 nameplates at Interbike using the Bosch Systems were some of the biggest names in biking, including Trek, Cannondale, Scott, Electra, and Haibike. Bosch has various lines of mid- drive systems, including some that work with belt drives and the innovative Nuvinci Harmony gearless system. It’s computers range from the small cyclometers to integrated systems that monitor all of an e-bikes functions, and there are a range of batteries and chargers. Prices vary.
Integrated E-Bike Lighting System – Nomad Integrated NiteRider 3600 Pro Light – One of the challenges in modern biking is keeping all your attached gadgets powered up. The folks at Nomad Cycles of Portland, makers of mid-drive motor systems, came up with a clever idea. They realized that since e-bikes already have big batteries, why not integrate accessories by having them use the battery’s power? One of their first efforts is an integrated system with well known light maker Nightrider. This incredibly powerful light throws off 3600 lumens, which makes it great for any night needs, whether on country roads, or finding your way home on a mountain path. Price is $338. Available from Nomad Cycles.
Electric Horn – Nomad Cycles Integrated Cycle Horn – Why settle for some little bell, when you can blast out a warning with a powerful electric horn? Nomad Cycles is taking the same step it took with its integrated light – using the big e-bike battery to power an electric horn. This is ideal for city commuters who need to warn cars and pedestrians. The horn is mounted on the front fork to keep the big sound away from the rider’s ears. Price is $68 direct from Nomad.
Automatic Inflation System – Bimpair Origin – There are few things more aggravating on a bike ride than a flat tire. Yet, unless you have solid tires, there’s a pretty good chance that you will get a flat eventually. The alternatives for getting air into your flat have been limited: portable pumps, canisters of air and slime, and environmentally unfriendly CO2 cartridges. The Bimpair is a French-made system that attaches to your bike and automatically pumps compressed air into a capsule as you ride. If you have a flat, you remove the capsule and use it to inflate the tire. It’s due in the U.S. market in 2017. Price is $333. Bimpair also makes a more expensive system, the E-Way, that uses a 12 volt compressor.
Suspension Seatposts – Biking, especially e-biking, should be fun. But how much fun is it if at the end of the ride your backside and sensitive parts hurt like hell? While suspension seatposts to cushion the ride have been around for a while, up until now they just haven’t been that effective. But newer technology has enabled seatposts that will really smooth out the bumps. We found two we think worthy of notice:
BodyFloat by Cirrus Cycles – Mountain bikes use big springs or shock absorbers in the rear and front fork suspensions to cushion the blow. But those add weight and a a lot of cost to the bike. The BodyFloat uses a system of springs geared to the rider’s weight so that when the bike bounces over gravel or tougher terrain like tree roots, the rider stays connected to the saddle. Less bouncing, less friction, more comfort. The BodyFloat comes in four available spring sizes, and can be tuned after purchase to suit the rider’s preferences. There are two basic models, an aluminum shaft for $249, or a carbon fiber shaft for $395.
Thudbuster by Cane Creek – The Thudbuster also uses a system of springs geared to the rider’s weight to allow the rider to maintain contact with the saddle no matter the terrain. The Thudbuster technology stays in the direct path of the natural travel of the rear wheel. As a bump lifts the back of a bicycle, the rear wheel pushes up and forward into the rider. The Thudbuster works by compressing along the exact opposite path – down and rearward – absorbing force at the same rate, so the net movement of the saddle is zero. The Thudbuster comes in two models, a 3″ Long Travel model for trails priced at $167 and a 1.3″ Short Travel model suitable for commuting and recreational riding priced at $140.
The post New Biking Tech Roundup appeared first on Tech50+.