2013 Mtbr.com Eurobike Blog – Day 2
Welcome to the 2013 Mtbr.com Eurobike Blog coming to you from Friedrichshafen, Germany. It’s day 2 of the world’s biggest bicycling industry trade show (1,250 brands representing 49 countries). All this week we’ll be bringing you photos and info on the latest mountain bike gear, apparel and new technology. Make sure to check back early and often. The newest updates will always appear on the top of the page. Also check out RoadBikeReview.com‘s 2013 Eurobike content here for all the latest road gear updates.
By Jason Sumner
Another day in the books, another delicious German beer.
By Jason Sumner
The size of some of the “booths” at Eurobike is beyond description. Actually small house would be a good description. At Shimano HQ, their space is so large they have small street signs.
By Francis Cebedo
These new wheels from American Classic have an outer diameter of 32mm and are available in 27.5 and 29er size. Inner rim width is about 29mm for a bigger volume on the tire and better traction.
Weight is 1512 grams for the 27.5 and 1569 grams for the 29er. Go to https://amclassic.com for more info.
By Jason Sumner
Product is the main draw at Eurobike, but the dirt jump venue in the outside courtyard makes for good viewing, too.
By Francis Cebedo
From the Netherlands comes a bike that comes to your house in a box not much bigger than a box to ship two wheels. The Sandwich bike is inspired by the Ikea packing efficiency and ease of assembly. The manufacturer claims it can be assembled in 30 minutes with just simple tools. With a singlespeed drivetrain and coaster brakes, this striking bike is a sure conversation starter at the coffee shop.
Weight is 35 lbs and price will be around $1050. More info at https://sandwichbikes.com.
By Jason Sumner
For a little more perspective on where we are, here’s a bird’s eye view of Friedrichshafen, Germany. According to the all-knowing source that is Wikipedia, it’s a university city on the northern side of Lake Constance in southern Germany very near the borders of Switzerland and Austria. Population is around 58,000. And that big cluster of buildings in the lower left corner, that’s Messe Friedrichshafen, home of the Eurobike trade show.
By Jason Sumner
Organizers claim nearly 44,000 people will pass through the show halls this week. From the looks of the crowds on Day 1 they may not be far off.
By Jason Sumner
There are hundreds of eye-catching “booths” here at Eurobike, but CamelBak is leader in the clubhouse for most innovative thus far thanks to this re-circulating water wall.
By Francis Cebedo
Hovding Airbag for Cyclist’s Head – It looks like a fashionable scarf but it’s really an airbag helmet for cyclists. The Hovding has sensors on the front and rear that monitor movements at 200 times a second. In the event of an accident, the shock and abnormal movement of the cyclist will trigger the airbag helmet to deploy in 1/10 of a second and the whole back, top, side of the head is protected by an airbag helmet.
It’s a serious product from Sweden and their claim is it offers more protection than a standard helmet while not having the dreaded helmet head for bike commuters. Price for the system is $450 euros and it weighs about 750 grams. See more photos in the gallery below and go here for a more extensive look of the Hovding Airbag Bike Helmet.
By Jason Sumner
Open’s head man Gerard Vroomen (of Cervélo fame) shows off a 14.8-pound 29er hardtail spec’d with a host of AX Lightness parts, a SRAM XX1 drivetrain and the soon-to-be released Lauf TR29 fork, which provides 60mm of travel and weighs just 990 grams. Read more here.
By Jason Sumner
On Wednesday a host of Eurobike design awards were passed out. Among the honorees was Salsa’s new Beargrease composite fat bike, which was selected for excellence in design quality, innovation, branding and workmanship.
By Jason Sumner
BMC and Gates Carbon Drive were showing off this electronic-shifting equipped rig steed, billing it as the world’s fastest commuter.
By Jason Sumner
French wheel and component maker Mavic has gotten back in the pedals game with full lines of mountain and road offerings. If these look like Time pedals to you, you’re not far off base, as they are indeed all made by Time for Mavic.
By Jason Sumner
Eye-catching displays such as this one for bike maker Rose are everywhere.
By Jason Sumner
The first three days of the show are restricted to the cycling industry. Then on Friday it’s open to the public.
By Jason Sumner
Ground zero for EuroBike is the Messe Friedrichshafen, a collection of about a dozen airline hanger size convention halls. It’s massive on a scale the needs to be seen to be believed. One official told us that the entire facility measure 150,000 square meters, which if our math is correct is about half a million square feet. Whatever the case, if you ever come, bring a pair of very comfortable shoes.
By Jason Sumner
We haven’t been inside yet, but were told there is indeed a real live zeppelin in there. And we are not talking the Jimmy Page/Robert Plant variety.
By Jason Sumner
Sadly, most days at Eurobike begin with an apocalyptic helping of traffic jam. It took us about 45 minutes to go 5 miles this morning.
2013 Mtbr.com Eurobike Blog – Day 1 »
2013 Mtbr.com Eurobike Blog – Day 3 »
2013 Mtbr.com Eurobike Blog – Day 4 »
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