By now, wearing a bike helmet should be as natural as wearing a seatbelt. With the latest generation of helmets, there are really no longer any arguments against wearing them.
Take, for instance, the new Prolight model by the American helmet pioneer Giro. At just 175 grams, its weight is hardly discernable. Twenty-five large air holes provide a refreshing flow of cool air under the helmet shell, even on warm days. And like the other new models, it make no compromises when it comes to protection. Indeed, this light-as-air helmet meets all bike helmet safety standards.
Getting completely lost and constantly having to look at a map can give you quite a headache. Cyclists can now get help from above with GPS devices, without which drivers today would hardly dare leave their garages. They not only point riders in the right direction but also show them their speed and distance traveled. Some of them even display the user’s heart rate and pedaling rate.
For instance, market leader Garmin is introducing its new Dakota line. Which will be available in bike shops with touchscreen-technology and a compact form mounted on the handlebars. On a similar note, a visit to the O-Synce booth should also be interesting. The newcomer to the sports electronics market announced the debut of its Navi to Move GPS device, which should find its way into bike shops with many cycling-specific features.
Electronics is one of the hot accessory trends in the bicycle industry, ergonomics being the other. In recent years, companies have released numerous novel accessories, tailored to their particular target groups. In this regard, the female anatomy has generally received special attention. Backpack maker Deuter, however, has also discovered a niche for tall men. In 2010, Deuter is coming out with the EL model type – EL as in ‘extra long’. Riders over 6 feet tall should find the right backpack here to fit their long backs. And since tall people also wear bigger clothes, the Trans Alpine EL holds two liters more than traditional bike backpacks. The German population is getting taller, which is increasingly being reflected in the model types within the bicycle industry.
Another trend: More and more people are using bikes to get to work. This has led bag manufacturers to aggressively develop products that are fashionable and highly functional at the same time. In 2010, bag maker Ortlieb from Germany’s Franconia region wants to make further inroads into city cycling. Their new Vario, Downtown and Citybiker models are fashionably attractive accoutrements in the urban jungle that can also be quickly and practically attached to the carrier as desired. It goes without saying that these bags are exceptionally rugged and protect their contents even in harsh weather conditions.
Abus is still a mostly unknown quantity in the bag industry. Yet, the lock and helmet specialist has declared the year 2010 as its year of the bag. Once you see their newest products, you may find it hard to believe that they are relative newcomers to this segment. Whether they are designing high-quality, functional, imitation-leather briefcases, casual messenger bags or fashionable shopping bags, high functionality is always paired with pleasing visual aesthetics.
And another well-known name is increasingly drawing attention to itself as a provider of high-end bags in the bicycle industry: he iconic British manufacturer of indestructible leather seats, will release a complete collection of travel bags for cycling enthusiasts for the first time. If you know Brooks, you’ve probably already guessed that they drew their inspiration from 19th-century bicycle bags, which have been functionally reinterpreted by the Brits in 2010 with water-resistant cotton and tough leather finishing.
