Sport And Biking Talk: Interbike 2016: Weird, wacky, and wonderful

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Interbike 2016: Weird, wacky, and wonderful

Interbike Mtbr

For three days every September, Interbike is the epicenter of the U.S.-based cycling industry universe. Thousands of companies descend on Las Vegas to show off their latest and greatest to shop buyers, the media, and consumers. Some of the new products are brilliant. Others leave us scratching our heads. Here are some of the weird, wacky, and wonderful things Mtbr ran across at Interbike 2016.

American chopper-inspired e-scooter.

If you make a wrong turn off Interbike’s main drag, you end up in the Bermuda Triangle of e-things. While there are some gems, most of the products on display are sketchy electric powered contraptions. — Saris Mercanti

No this is not a map of New York City, not a usable one anyway.

Under normal light conditions, the commuter’centric Atlas jacket offers all the features you’d expect from Showers Pass. It’s waterproof with fully taped seams and robust YKK zippers. The hood fits over your helmet, core vents prevent overheating, and the softshell fabric is durable and moisture wicking. But hit it with a splash of light and its true feature is illuminated. Utilizing a special MapREflect fabric, it makes its wearer highly visible at night. And because of the unique map pattern, no two jackets are exactly alike. — Jason Sumner

Folding fat e-bike, why not?

A fat tire folding e-bike? This is essentially a rolling parody of the current cycling market. — SM

Anything that can help with search and rescue missions seems like a sound idea to us.

POC has long had a rep for pushing the envelop of safety innovation, and this lid is no exception. The enduro-racing-ready Tectal has a reinforced EPS liner and uni-body shell for better impact absorption. But more significantly it includes a RECCO reflector that can help searchers find you if you get lost in the woods. The device works similar to an avalanche beacon, where a signal is sent out and then bounces off the reflector and back to the sender providing location information. — JS

It’s not what it looks like… we think.

E-bikes are not motorcycles, we promise. — SM

What’s next, turbo chargers and NOS tanks?

This is actually a leftover from Mtbr’s time at the Eurobike trade show in Germany. The nuts and bolts is that BrakeForceOne is an anti-lock brake system for e-bikes that’s being designed by a small automotive supplier based near Stuttgart. The ABS system is designed to aid inexperienced riders piloting heavier and faster e-bikes, especially on wet or rough surfaces. Small actuators are incorporated into the bike’s electronics and can be installed anywhere between the brake lever and caliper. The aim is to reduce the pressure within the hydraulic tubing so that the brakes can be activated with less force. Sensors then detect whether a wheel has locked up, which causes the actuator to regulate pressure, assuring controlled deceleration. The system is set to hit the market sometime in 2017. — JS

Phil Wood V10 fat bike.

Another electric motorcycle disguised as a mountain bike. — SM

If you’re not a fan of the full-on Storm Trooper look, but still want to add a little extra protection to your ride, this base layer is a great option.

All by itself, the humble base layer serves a critical on-the-bike role, wicking moisture away from your skin, which depending on the weather, can help keep you cool or from getting chilled. But Dainese has taken this protective theme a step further with its TrailKnit Pro Armor Tee, adding a pair of Pro Armor shoulder pads and multi-layer crash absorb back protector. The beauty of the system is that both can be removed when not needed, leaving you with a function piece of technical clothing. — JS

Botox.

For whatever reason, a not-Botox-Botox booth was also nestled in this random corner. — SM

It’s best to look good — and be dry — when riding your bike.

Here’s another oddity from Eurobike, this time courtesy of POC. There wasn’t a whole lot of info to go along with this display, but near as we can tell, the well-known Swedish helmet, protection, and apparel maker has its eye on the fashion world with this line of rain jackets that will let you get to work dry and in style. — JS

Can you even barspin, bro?

In addition to strange electric contraptions, there were a number of awesome pit bikes. No one needs a micro BMX bike with ape bars, but they look fun as hell. — SM