When you walk in to KNOG you know instantly that they are a design company. The modern building features open plan spaces with a showroom, work areas and meeting areas. It is far from clinical – evidence of creativity is everywhere: sketches, CAD renderings, prototypes and even mockups of point-of-sale displays.

KNOG started about eight years ago as a spin-off brand of a successful industrial design company (catalyst) and has grown so that the company is now 100% KNOG. They began by reinventing the bicycle light and produced the successful silicon “KNOG frog”, but straight away they were faced with a challenge: “Are we one-hit-wonders or are we really good at what we do? Can we reinvent something that we reinvented the first time?”

CMO Michael Lelliott is a cycling fanatic, the type of guy you would imagine to have an enviable collection of urban bikes in his apartment and who loves to cruise through the city on his bike at night. When he talks about the products the company creates it is not just passion, there is also a sense of relaxed methodology. KNOG has created an identity and they know where they are going and how to get there; it involves a good dose of fun.

KNOG lights and locks are born in a relaxed and creative workspace

When I sat down at the KNOG HQ, two of Michael’s marketing colleagues joined us: Englishman Sean and Spaniard Tania. Michael took the lead, but only after getting a supply of locks and lights so that he could hold the products in his hands as he talked about them. I wanted to know about the design progress; how do they get the ideas and what does it take to make a finished product?

According to the KNOG team, from start to finish it takes about a year and begins with the team of designers getting together and brainstorming. The constant process of reviewing existing products and improving the technology leads to new ideas. Michael explained “One side of the brand is having fun and being Aussie in our humour and approach, but from the product design point of view it is about what can we do that is different. What can we do that it is different from a design point of view? What can we do that is different from a technical point of view? What materials can we use to make something that hasn’t been seen before?”

For the current series of blinder lights, for example, KNOG took on customer feedback, such as the light switched on inside people’s bags, and derived a solution: to turn the lights on you need to press the button down for two seconds and toggle modes by pressing once. The initial problem was resolved though at the cost of a small, but easy to overcome learning curve understanding how the new switch works.

USB charging was an improvement from an environmental perspective (i.e. no batteries to dispose of) and it also meant that the lights could become a sealed unit and become (fishtank) waterproof. New smaller lithium polymer batteries allowed a freedom in design without compromising performance.

A team of 20 designers, including industrial designers, design engineers and electronic engineers, sees the team moving from sketches to Computer Aided Design (CAD) before creating prototypes (via rapid prototyping). The electronic engineers further develop the product so that working prototypes can be created and tested. It is a continual process of optimisation and refinement before the factory is involved to look into tooling, electronics and production before they deliver the first off-tool samples which go into testing. It takes about a year from original conception until the factories are ready to deliver the final product into shops.

The KNOG workshop for hands-on creation and testing

Rapid Prototyping is followed by painting to create a mockup of a proposed new light

If imitation is the ultimate flattery, then KNOG have been well and truly flattered; there are a lot of imitation silicon bike lights on the market. At this year’s Eurobike, the team was shocked to see that top German brand ABUS had released a lock remarkably similar to their Strongman lock, a modern heavy duty U-Lock with Silicon over moulding.

“When we arrived at Eurobike this year, ABUS had made a lock that was incredibly similar to ours and that was a bit of a surprise, not really a happy one. Our BNA [laughs], DNA is originality and innovation, so we pride ourselves on that. It is one of our driving factors”

This goes to show that KNOG have grown significantly from their roots in the fixie scene to being a full-blown mainstream cycling brand – you will spot KNOG lights in the bunches cruising up and down Beach Road as well as on commuter bikes and mountain bikes.

Lights make up 80% of KNOG’s global sales and this is where their future lies as well. Tania showed me prototypes of the next generation lights which are not just lights to be seen, they are lights to see with at 220 and 350 lumens. They are well suited to road cyclists who are always demanding more lumens, but minimise weight and do away with external battery packs. Without revealing too many secrets, I can say that they will feature USB recharging and should be released in February 2013.

Tania Sanchez from Madrid is one of the fresh faces of the international brand

Even though they’re an Aussie brand, KNOG doesn’t market itself as identifiably Australian. “Heritage doesn’t play a part in our brand DNA at all” comments Michael “it all comes back to originality of the product, the fun that we’re having with it and more and more the technical prowess”.

Though KNOG have set their sights on becoming the number one bicycle lighting brand globally, they won’t loose the cheeky advertising and fun-ness of KNOG any time soon.

KNOG online : www.knog.com.au

Let’s cut to the chase, the TiGr bike lock will cost you about $250 (AUD) for the lock with delivery to Australia and there are heavy duty bike locks out there that are cheaper. The TiGr lock is however very different to any other type of lock; it is beautiful, it is like a work of art. It does what other bike accessories (such as lights) have been doing for a while; it was designed to integrate well with the bike, something which it does remarkably well. Oh, and lets not forget, it is a really tough lock that does a few things that a chain or U-Lock will not do.

The TiGr in Detail
The lock has two parts: the titanium bow and the cylinder lock. The bow goes through the spaces in your frame and/or wheels, while the stainless steel cylinder lock is pick resistant and has a non-conventional mechanism to secure the lock and keep your bike safe from theft. Don’t just take my word for it, you can see for yourself in these comparative lock attacks comparing a U-Lock to the TiGr.

In the world of cycling, titanium is synonymous with premium and custom made bicycles. Not only is titanium tough, more skill is required to weld titanium compared with steel or aluminium, plus titanium is a more expensive metal. The TiGr lock, as the name suggest, is made of titanium. It is much harder to penetrate than steel so, while not invincible, it offers more protection than a cable, chain or U-Lock.

The titanium bow is available in two sizes, the broader 1.25″ (3cm) which I prefer because of ‘the look’ and the slimmer and also cheaper .75″ (2cm) version. The titanium bow is coated in a clear PVC sleeve. This takes a little of the shine from the titanium, though protects the bike frame from scratches.

Storing & Transport
In transport, the ‘bow’ is fastened with velcro along the length of the bikes top tube , a good look that beats hanging a U-Lock from your jeans or lugging a heavy chain, and the cylinder is carried separately, stored in say your bag or jacket pocket. Because this lock has two parts: the bow and cylinder lock, this gives it a slight disadvantage over one-piece locks as you need to remember to bring the cylinder with you. On the flipside this can also be an advantage, the bow is stored on the bike which saves you from carrying a heavy lock around. If you’re a regular commuter or urban cyclist, it will become second nature.

The TiGr in Practice
It takes a little while to become familiar with the lock since it’s quite unconventional. I had to practice locking and unlocking to get used to the mechanism. While it isn’t hard to lock and unlock, the cylinder needs to be angled so that the ends of the titanium ‘bow’ can fit inside the cylinder before it locks tightly.

It is also a little fiddly when first mounting the bow along the top tube. My gear and brake cables got in the way and required a clever twist and turn, but this is just a matter of habit; in no time you will be able to mount and unmount the titanium bow blind-folded.

Though the TiGr lock looks great, where it really shines is that it can secure the frame and (usually) both wheels easily. When using other locks I typically recommend that cyclists take the front wheel off the bike so that the frame and both wheels can be secured. The TiGr avoids this hassle quite cleverly.

The bow is flexible and while you can lock it onto poles and bike racks, it does have some limitations over a chain lock which can, for example, be looped around a large pole. With a bit of lateral thinking, or rather, lateral rotation, you can secure at least one wheel and the bicycle frame around a larger pole using the TiGr lock. The shape of the lock means that there is very limited slack or space in which evil thieves can use tools to leverage and attempt to break the lock. The TiGr will give you the same or better protection than U-Locks or chain locks in a much more convenient and stylish package.

Not to be forgotten, a killer feature of the TiGr is the weight: under 750 grams for the lock (bow) and cylinder. The bow is mounted on bike so doesn’t need to be carried separately, nor does it become an unattractive necessity on a beautiful bike. If you opt for the smaller 0.75″ bow, the entire lock is well under half a kilogram. In comparison, the simple Kryptonite Evolution Mini is 900 grams while the heavy duty Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini is 1.9kg

Is the TiGr right for you?
This lock works, it is comparatively light and has style, so will best suit cyclists who appreciate fine things. This includes city, urban and commuting cyclists who love their bikes: perhaps a classic Cinelli road bike, a hot Bianchi Pista fixie or a trusty Surley commuter.

The TiGr lock does come at a price, though you should think of it as a long term investment in a great looking and functional bicycle lock. TiGr locks and parts are available from the online store with secure paypal payment. Find out more about the locks on the website: www.tigrlock.com

Tips for Preventing Theft
No one likes the low-life thieves who steal bikes (or anything else, for that matter) and we have put together an ongoing FAQs for preventing bike theft as well as what you can do if your bike is stolen. Remember, however, that prevention is always better.

The Küat Bike Rack, The NV will be available (July 2012) and is the top of the range tow-bar fitted bike rack which carries two bikes and a load of up to 55 kilograms (there is an add-on available to increase this to four bikes). Visually The NV is a looker, the design team have also put a lot of thought into making it somewhat of a swiss army knife with features including a ratchet for front and rear wheels (no tools needed), a hitch lock as well as integrated cable lock to secure the bikes against thieves, a provisional work stand for maintenance ‘on the road’ plus it also tilts to allow bikes to be more easily loaded and unloaded. The unit can be folded down so that it is comparatively compact for easy storage when not in use.

The importer says “The main advantages is the fact that comes standard with built-in lock for added security and bike work stand for fine tuning before a ride or post ride clean up. It can accommodate standard as well as 29″ wheels (even kids bikes with an adaptor).”

An accessory from Küat, the Bottle Lock will also be in stock – a 1.5 meter (8mm braided cable) lock in the form of a water bottle that makes it convenient to take your lock with you. A small compartment in the bottle can hold small items and the Küat Bottle Locks are expected to be available in Australia at the end of March.

The NV bike carrier will retail for $549 and you can pre-order with Blue Globe Alliance and ask them for your nearest dealer. As an added incentive, buyers will get a 10% discount if they pre-order and be the first in Australia to have one. Blue Globe Alliance carry Van Nicholas, Schindelhauer, Spinergy Wheels and Hawk Bottom Brackets. Specs for the Bottle Lock and The NV bike rack are online: Küat Innovations

At Eurobike I was prompted by Knog to uses heavy duty bolt cutters on a competitors lock and then on the comparable Knog version. The typical thief isn’t walking around with these type of bolt cutters – 1 metre arms for plenty of leverage. Cutting both locks did require strength though was less an act of brute force, rather patience to cut through the metal strands and get the right angles, it needed time.

The Knog version has ‘fibre core’, a loop of chord in the middle that makes it tougher for bolt cutters to get through that last little bit – it needs more time than a lock with just steel cables. Yes, just like any lock it can be broken – though for a thief, it becomes fiddly, that is what a thief doesn’t want.

This demonstrates that Knog are not neglecting security – rather taking this onboard and giving bike locks a good dose of Knog. Each lock satisfies different requirements, from a quick stop to get a takeaway coffee to a full strength Ulock stopover. If you don’t know what lock you need – or even how best to secure your pride and joy – read up on this BNA forum article for preventing theft.

Lets take a look at the new Knog locks on offer.

Knog Milkman – small and compact lock with retractable cable, good for the cafe rider – the bike is in view, and it fits easily in the jersey pocket or back.

Knog Ringmaster (Combo)- 1.2 or 2.2 metres, 450 grams 10mm ? Silicon coated braided steel with fibre core and crimped to a steel shackle in each end. The Locker weighs 300 grams and as a combination is a lower security highly flexible and portable solution.

Similar lock and cable combinations with the Whiplock and Fistmaster versions.

Knog PartyFrank – 26cm, 250 gram lock and 12mm ? Silicon coated braided steel with fibre core. Low range security, for short stops.

Knog Kabana – 74cm, 500 gram lock and 17mm ? Silicon coated braided steel with fibre core. Mid range security.

Knog Kransky – 88cm, 1kg lock and 22mm ? Silicon coated braided steel with fibre core, includes bike mount. Security a step above the Kabana.

Knog Strongman Hard Inside Ulock – Not yet in production though coming soon – silicon coated Ulock to better protect the bike frame.

Knog Strongman Hard Outside Ulock – Similar to the above, though with the inside offering silicon protected.

You should see the Knog locks pop up at your local bike shops in the next few months – and can check out the details on all locks and decide which colour you like the best on: www.knog.com.au

Safety – Security – Control: Trelock
The dynamo front headlight Bike-i from Trelock has vision of up to 70 metres and visibility of up to 1200 metres. The new Bike-i? duo series is characterised by its extremely small and compact design with an integrated reflector.

Trelock now offers the LS 330 front headlight and the LS 320 battery-powered reflector in a “White Edition”. The new “White” supports the existing optical lightness of this aerodynamic and stylistic bicycle lighting system from Trelock.

Folding locks, 3 series
New security unfolds. The new FS 455 Cops? Compact with the recognised Trelock folding lock bracket system has quality and security improvements made within the framework of Security Level 4. This new folding lock is also offered by Trelock as the FS 450 Cops? Compact with a textile transportation bag.

The new Trelock folding lock is considerably more easy to use in everyday situations. Alongside the tried and tested product features, the optical control features ensure easier operation. In addition, the locking process is made easier thanks to the modified positioning of the locking mechanism.

Other new innovations to be introduced will include Security Level 3 bicycle locks and bike chains. The Trelock Dragon Line in Security Level 3 includes the PK 340 an armoured cable lock with lengths of 90 and 110 centimetres, the KS 340 cable lock (available at 85 or 120 centimetres in length) and the SK 340 spiral cable lock (180 centimetres in length with two cable diameters to choose from). Specially designed for the Trelock Dragon Line bicycle locks of Security Levels 2, 3 and 4, Trelock has developed the new Vario TubeTM saddle tube bracket.

Trelock Chains
The seven new chains from Trelock are designed to meet the Trelock Security Levels 2, 3, 4 and 5, and are available in chains lengths of up to 1.10 metres.

Trelock products are distributed by Charles Purton Imports