As luck would have it – bad luck, that is – I wasn’t able to attend Interbike this year. Fortunately, cycling’s grandest show is covered better than ever online and in social media and I was able to find a few more interesting products to add to our coverage from Vegas.
Silca’s Seat Roll Premio
Let’s start with Silca’s Seat Roll Premio, which is the first seat bag to utilize a Boa closure, something I’ve raved about in the past as featured on cycling shoes. Boa closures work like laces to provide a snug, comfortable fit along the entire foot. The Boa’s “lace” is actually a super-tough and tiny plastic-coated steel cable that’s tightened and loosened via an easy-to-operate ratcheting dial built into the shoe.
On Silca’s Premio ($49), the Boa closure allows compressing the seat bag so it’s held firmly beneath the saddle and so the contents don’t move around inside. There’s an additional strap closure for more security. The bag itself is made of waterproof heavyweight waxed cotton canvas and quilted with reflective thread for visibility and style. There are 3 pockets designed to carry a CO2 pump, multi-tool, a spare tube up to 45mm wide and other essentials. https://silca.cc/collections/all-silca/products/57c424fc56d9341100298881?variant=25057215816
Prestacycle and the PBMA’s concept race-support motorcycle
Since I always make a point of visiting the Prestacycle booth to see what cool new tools they’re rolling out, I emailed the owner David Finlayson before the show. He surprised me with this exclusive sneak peek of Count’s Kustoms’ lead artist Ryan Evans working on a custom race support motorcycle that was displayed at Interbike. Ryan is one of the stars of the History Channel’s “Counting Cars” TV show.
Prestacycle, alongside co-sponsors Professional Bicycle Mechanics Association (PBMA), KMC Chains and Continental Bicycle Tire, worked with Count’s Kustoms developing a sport motorcycle specially modified to provide support at bicycle races, charity rides and other cycling events. Modifications include an on-board high-speed air compressor system utilizing Prestacycle bicycle tire inflation technology, a quick-detach cycle mechanic’s tool kit featuring Prestacycle hand tools, storage for spare tires, chains, tubes and other repair supplies, as well as vehicle lighting and features for enhanced road safety. Highlighting the build is custom styling by Count’s lead motorcycle designer Shannon Aikau, and custom paint by Ryan Evans. You can see Prestacycle’s entire tools line-up here http://www.prestacycle.com/. To learn more about the PBMA, visit http://www.probma.org/
Arsenal Cycling’s 4Sync Light
Arsenal Cycling is a new company founded by longtime bicycle lighting guru Thomas Prehn, who you also might know from his impressive professional racing career in the 1980s. Arsenal’s first product is the 4Sync Light, a synchronized wireless set of bicycle lights designed to help ensure that the ever-more-distracted drivers on today’s roads see you from behind. It works exactly like those multiple red flashing lights on tall towers that mark hazards out to pilots. Those lights flash at the same rate, making them more visible. And, as the plane gets closer, the lights get further apart, letting pilots know they’re closing in and they need to avoid the hazard.
The 4Sync allows linking up to 4 individual lights on one small wireless network. So that the lights are always in sync, changing the mode on one light changes the mode on the others, too. Ditto for turning the system on/off. The lights are attached to your bike and body and/or clothing/gear. This, and the fact that the links all blink at the same time, both defines your shape on the bike (something individual lights do not) and also lets the lights appear to move apart as drivers get closer to you, the same way the airplane tower lights do.
As far as I know, this is the first time anyone has offered synchronized lighting for cyclists like this. Arsenal is launching the 4Sync with a Kickstarter campaign. To learn more and see the lights in action watch the video https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/338547426/synchronized-wireless-bicycle-lights-arsenal-cycli?ref=nav_search
Phil Wood Headset
Back in the early 1970s when I first got serious about cycling, among the coolest things you could do to your bike was upgrading the stock hubs to Phil Wood’s sealed-bearing beauties. In the ’80s Phil Wood came out with a sealed-bearing cartridge bottom bracket that then became another hot upgrade. So I was excited to learn that now, all these years later, the company has introduced a headset. As you can see, it comes in a dazzling array of colors. It’s CNC machined of aluminum and features Phil’s reliable sealed bearings with stainless balls and races. Cost is about $160. It’s not even shown on their website yet so keep checking: www.philwood.com
Park Tool Professional Chain Scrubber
While Park’s new Professional Chain Scrubber costs about 3 times more than their venerable Cyclone model, and is designed for the daily demands of bicycle shop use, I’m betting you’ll want to own one. I know I do.
For durability, the Professional features a die-cast aluminum locking body with stainless-steel hardware and a removable handle. Like the Cyclone, there are rotating brushes inside that scrub all 4 sides of every link. And it features replaceable brush-and-sponge cartridges so you can always keep it working optimally. My favorite upgrade is the dual-sided sponges and wicking pads that help reduce drips, which means less cleaning up of other parts after chain cleaning. http://www.parktool.com/product/professional-chain-scrubber-cm-25?category=Cleaning
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