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The annual Interbike Expo trade show, held last week, Sept. 22 to 24, in Las Vegas, is a gathering of cycling brands, dealers, designers, media and bike enthusiasts from around the globe. I traveled to Sin City for a quick trip and took two days to walk the Interbike floor. Here are a few items that caught my eye.
Light Bright — Do you bike at night? The Seca 1400 from Light & Motion surpasses even the brightness level of some automobile headlights, the company touts. The handlebar-mounted blazer costs an astounding $699 but can pump out enough white light to turn night into virtual day. It runs for 2.5 hours on its rechargeable battery pack. Available now.
Three-Seater Bike — Built by Brown Cycles of Grand Junction, Colo., the Triplet (pictured on top) is an oversized bike made for one adult and two kids. The bike has a steel frame and 24 speeds. It works with the adult controlling the ride — steering, braking, gearing up — and the kids in front aiding in pedaling for speed on the road. Available now for $3,500.
Carbon Bike Seat — In the running as the priciest bike seat ever made, Selle SMP's Full Carbon model costs $650. It is made of carbon fiber and weighs a scant 105 grams. With an open central channel and an “eagle-beak” nose, the seat is touted as anatomical as well as aerodynamic. The unpadded seat, made for pro-level racers, is “suited for thin people with narrow pelvises,” the company notes.
REI Single-Speed — The Novara Buzz One bike, a single-speed available only at REI, has a steel frame and 700c wheels. A flip-flop rear hub offers a fixed gear on one side and a freewheel on the other. It comes with puncture-resistant Kenda tires, a “moustache-style” handlebar, and Tektro linear-pull brakes. Available in 2011 for a reasonable $399.
Energy Waffles — Yes, those are mini packaged waffles. And, yes, they taste dang good! Honey Stinger used Interbike to introduce its Stinger Waffles, a new breed of energy food that will give the best bar a run for its money. The Stinger Waffles, which are thin, crusty shells with organic honey in the middle, were suggested by Lance Armstrong, a co-owner of Honey Stinger. They have 160 calories per serving and come packaged individually for $1.39. Available in stores October 15.
Bike GPS — Garmin's Edge 800 bike-specific GPS includes a touchscreen and a stout $449.99 price tag. But for the money you get a top-end cycling computer with full navigation and performance monitoring. It tracks distance, speed, location, calories burned, and other metrics to exactly quantify your workout and your ride.
