13 Cool, New Urban Cycling Picks From Interbike
From fixies to commuters to street mountain bikes to e-bikes, the “urban cycling” moniker covers a wide swath of riding formats and product. And while some chose to debase one faction or the other, we think the criticism is misplaced. At the end of the day we’re all on bikes and love riding, so what’s the problem? This baker’s dozen highlights some of the cooler things we saw for urban cyclists at Interbike–chances are at least one of them appeals to you.
State Bicycles Wu-Tang Limited Edition Fixie
Who knew you could enter the Wu-Tang on a bike? Apparently the fixie purveyors at State Bicycle Company, that’s who. The cool kids from Tempe, Ariz. teamed up with legendary rappers Wu-Tang Clan to offer a limited edition cultural mashup that stood out in a crowded market of fixie-styled offerings. Clad in black and yellow, and featuring a Shaolin-branded crank and Wu-Tang stem, the bike both faithfully portrayed the group’s playful internal tension and looked great. Configurable as a fixie or freewheeling single speed, the sure-to-sell-out Wu bike retails for 600 dolla dolla bills, ya’ll. statebicycle.com
Bookman USB Light
A Lego-esque form factor meets rechargeable “be seen” lighting technology in Bookman’s simply named USB Light. The Swedish company’s small-but-mighty blinkers can flash for 25 hours on a single charge, or run five hours in steady mode. The colorful blocks attach to handlebars, seatposts or frame members via an elastic band, and utilize a rubber pad on the unit’s back side to eliminate vibration. Sold as a $49 front (white LED) and rear (red LED) set, they include a USB cord and come in red, blue, green, black, yellow and white. bookman.se
Henty Wingman Garment Bag
No matter what panniers, bags or carrying methods he tried, Jeremy Grey just could not bike to work without wrinkling his suit. Using frustration as inspiration, the enterprising Aussie partnered with friend Jon Gourlay to found Henty and solve the problem. Their solution is Wingman–an over-the-shoulder garment bag that rolls its contents to keep business wear wrinkle-free and looking good. The $200 water-resistant system features an outer suit (or dress) bag that rolls up around a detachable inner utility duffel ideally suited for shoes, toiletries, and accessories. The outer bag utilizes a series of flexible plastic bars that prevents folds by keeping the structure round. Numerous pockets, compartments and an internal hanger help keep your stuff organized, while a generously padded shoulder strap and mesh back make the pack comfortable to wear. There’s even room for a laptop. Reflective piping and a flasher strap smartly make the pack more conspicuous. Coming soon, a backpack-style version. Henty’s stop-motion video does a nice job of showing the Wingman in action. henty.cc
Bicyclick
If you’ve ever tried to lean your bike against a wall and had it roll away or flop over, you’ll appreciate the Bicyclick. Utilizing a snap-together ball-and-socket system, Bicyclick allows you to stabilize your bike by clicking it securely to a wall, or even another Bicyclick-equipped bike. The kit attaches to the bike inside the end of flat or drop handlebars, and includes a Click-Base wall-mount socket. To use, simply click it in. Prices range from $25 for the basic set, to $68 for a family pack. bicyclick.com
SealSkinz Waterproof Gloves, Socks and Hats
As winter approaches, riders in cold and wet climates will appreciate the new line of gloves, socks and hats from UK-based SealSkinz. Using a proprietary combination of materials and assembly techniques, SealSkinz have come up with a paradoxical fabric that not only combines simultaneous waterproofing and breathability, but a comfortable stretchy quality as well. We were particularly impressed by their $50 over-the-cycling-shoe Waterproof Over Socks and look forward to testing them when weather permits. sealskinz.com
Bell Intersect Helmet
This year’s Interbike featured a number of helmets made specifically for urban riding, but Bell’s flexy Intersect stands apart when it comes to fit and comfort. Rather than using the traditional one-piece hard foam liner, Bell opted for segmented polystyrene pieces that flex to fit like a ball cap. They also included a molded tab to accommodate a clip-on a blinky light, making the rider more visible. Available in a range of solid colors from loud safety orange to stealthy matte black, the simply styled Intersect includes a short removable visor, and retails for $60. bellbikehelmets.com
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