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Waterproof bike shoes from Leatt
For all those who can't keep their feet still even in the most adverse conditions: The new Leatt Hydradri 7.0 Flat is encased in an all-round waterproof sock. The manufacturer puts the water column of the Hydradri membrane at 10,000 millimetres. Hidden inside the shoe is a so-called speed lace fastener. And what about grip? The developers have opted for the Pro-Rubber compound. This offers more grip than the rubber layer under conventional Leatt models. The tile structure on the sole offers the pins additional contact surfaces for interlocking. The product managers for the 2023 collections are not yet revealing the prices. However, initial estimates suggest that the shoe will cost around 200 euros.
Fatbike tyres: Schwalbe Al Mighty
In 2014, fat bikes experienced a boom and adorned the shop windows of what felt like every bike shop. After that, things became noticeably quieter around today's niche bikes. All the more surprising is the 2023 tyre range from Schwalbe, which includes a new fat bike tyre, the Al Mighty, in 4.8 inch width. While the normal version costs €115.90, the version with 328 studs costs €184.90. According to Schwalbe, the fat tyres are in demand in relevant quantities.
Lintaman bike shoes
For Dutch shoe manufacturer Lintaman, one thing is absolutely paramount: the perfect fit. That's why the Boa fastener on the heel of the A1 is different to what you're used to. This means that the shoe can be customised to suit every foot and individual preferences in terms of comfort. The size can be adjusted from 37 to 47 using the fastener alone. Depending on which size you are, you can also adjust the shoe width in advance on the manufacturer's website. The price is 175 euros.
Racefully from Niner
At Eurobike, US manufacturer Niner presented its new RKT 9 RDO race bike. As a thoroughbred 100 millimetre bike with modern geometry (68 degree head angle, 75 degree seat angle) and CVA rear triangle, it is built for the race track. The fork and shock can be locked out from the handlebars. Bottle cage mounts can be found on and under the down tube. There is also an additional luggage holder on the top tube. The geometry can be adjusted slightly using a flipchip. A SAG display on the rocker helps with the suspension setup. Niner releases the frame for 120 mm forks and 2.5 inch wide tyres. A down-country version is to follow. Complete bikes are available from 4889 euros.
Maxxis down-country tyres
As the name suggests, the Forekaster in its first evolutionary stage was intended as a bad weather tyre for cross-country use. The new version is aimed at the up-and-coming down-country faction and is intended to bridge the gap between the cross-country models and the trail segment.
gap between the cross-country models and the trail segment. A more closed tread pattern on the tread and raised side lugs are intended to combine the best of rolling resistance and cornering grip on the Forekaster. The tyre is now also available in 2.4 and 2.6 inch widths to match. In terms of construction, the industry giant has opted for the lightweight Exo carcass. Both the dual compound and the 3C-MaxxTerra compound are available for the rubber compound. Price: 60 to 75 euros.
Qvist hub
Qvist is the brainchild of a three-person team from a spin-off of the TU Dresden. Until now, 128 grid points were reserved for freewheels with pawls. Qvist now realises this in a toothed disc system. The highlight: two toothed discs engage alternately at a flat angle of three degrees and, in addition to direct power transmission, ensure a rich sound. The 270 gram hub does not require any vulnerable special bearings. Please also read the BIKE article Qvist freewheel->
Glasses from Smar2wear
Photochromic, i.e. self-tinting bike goggles, help you to stay focussed on the trail in changing brightness levels. The problem is that these UV-radiation-controlled glasses often react too slowly when switching quickly between forest and open terrain. Now, the Swiss company Smar2wear has looked into the latest solar technology and developed the revolutionary Eyerex eShades lenses. They react to the amount of light via a sensor above the wing of the nose. Even in the exhibition hall, it was enough to cover the sensor with a finger and the polycarbonate lens became infinitely bright within milliseconds. The sports glasses weigh 33 grams, repel 100 per cent of UV rays and cost 300 euros.
Poc: Helmet with integrated airbag
The Swedish insurance company Folksam has discovered that helmets only offer limited protection from an impact speed of over 20 km/h - head injuries still account for half of all fatal cycling accidents. For this reason, Poc has now developed a helmet with an integrated airbag in a research laboratory together with the car safety company Autoliv. The combination of both safety systems should reduce the probability of fatal head injuries from 80 to 30 per cent.
Bicycle alarm from Knog
The availability of bikes is poor and prices are rising - which attracts bike thieves. A bike alarm makes more sense than ever. At Eurobike, the Australian brand Knog presented a device that combines an alarm function and tracker in one compact device. In addition to the motion-sensitive, acoustic signal, the Scout also sends a message to a smartphone via Bluetooth. At the same time, the device can also be tracked using the Wo-ist? app (currently only for iPhones). The Scout is mounted under the bottle cage with safety screws and costs 59.99 euros >> available here
Uvex helmet for gravity bikers
From next spring, Uvex will have a new helmet for gravity bikers in its range. Thanks to the removable chin guard, the Revolt can handle all disciplines, from bike park trips to home laps. We were able to gain our first practical experience with the newcomer at the trade fair. What we like best is that the bar can be removed with one hand. The weight is 660 grams in full-face mode. The Revolt is available for 300 euros. The helmet is also available with a MIPS system for an additional 30 euros. We were able to find more pictures at BIKE Festival Leogang of new Revolt.
