Interbike round up, part five

Stop a Flat

According to former Raleigh USA president, Tom Curran, now a member of the Stop a Flat team: "In all my years in business I’ve never seen a product generate so much interest. We’ve had enquiries from distributors in five countries during the first day of show alone."

Stop a Flat is a South African label, which domestically has taken the market by storm. In short, it’s a molded foam that fills the tyre, replacing the inner tube. While not a solution for the more expensive bikes out there, BikeBiz is told that for kids bikes, strollers and parents scared of fixing dreaded punctures, it’s ideal.
Currently Stop a Flat is made for 12, 16, 20 and 24" wheels, with each mold tailored to a tyre size’s ride characteristics through injection molding.
The firm are seeking distribution in the UK, so if you’re interested, contact peter@algoa.co.uk

Yurbuds

The Ironman stamp was spotted on Schwalbe’s tyres last month and you’ll now find it on headphones too.

Yurbuds allow ambient noise to bypass into the users ear, though the earbud ‘locks’ into the rider’s ear and shouldn’t fall out unless removed. Water and sweat resistant, the Yurbuds start at $30 and span through to $100. A UK office sells to the cycle trade in the UK and they are contactable on 01293 852027.

Gore

Acknowledging the stresses a jersey pocket is put under, Gore has set out to make its 2014 oxygen jersey its most versatile to date.

With six different fabrics used in one garment, the innovation comes from something called ‘Firmhold’ fabric, which is tasked solely with preventing the sag associated with overloading in the rear pocket – elevating the load onto the rider’s back.

A new Windstopper membrane also joins the range, differing itself from the competition by promising super-fast moisture wicking, not a typical quality of windstoppers.

Last of all, Gore were particularly enthused by breakthroughs in bib short inserts, having developed a new pad that’s been two-years in the making. You’ll find it within the new Zenon race bib. It’s a seamless, triple density unit with braces on the shoulders that don’t limit stretch in any direction.

Park Tool

Another trade show, another bunch of new bits from Park Tool. There was of course one token ‘silly’ tool, a ‘Spork’ or SPK-1, for those days when the mechanic is so snowed under with job sheets that there’s barely enough time to eat anything more than a cold tin of beans.

On to the tools that are vital to the workshop and you’ll find a new 26mm cone wrench, ideal for shock caps and hub cones, as well as a new spoke wrench specifically built for Shimano wheels and 4.3/3.75mm nipples.

There’s apparel too. Park introduced what it calls the ‘Mechanic’s glove’ or GLV-1. Working equally well as a riding glove, the garment carries a re-enforced palm and knuckle and is touch screen compatible.

Deda

A few new bits on the Deda stand, with new drop bars, stems and seat posts at various price points.

Starting with the more affordable bits, there’s a new aluminium Zero100 compact series bar in 40,42,44 and 46cm widths. A matching stem in 80 through 140 mm reach also becomes available. The 3D aluminium forged seatpost to complete is designed with Di2 in mind and comes with a ‘Deda battery adapter’. Both 27.2 and 31.6 posts are available.

Onto pricier bits and the Superleggero alloy 7050 3D forged aluminium stem is stripped down to the bare essential material and has titanium screws, which brings the weight down below 100 grams. Sizes 20 through 140mm are available.

Wilier 

New bikes aside, it’s Wilier’s value for money that’s the standout from this stand visit. Last year a high-spec Izoard could have cost £2,599. This year that price, with all the tech trickledown is closer to £2,000. The same goes for the Ultegra 11-speed GTS with its new and improved geometry, rewarding the rider with a £1,000 price cut. In many cases it’s Wilier’s own margin dipping in order to promote more competitive retail prices, we’re told.

There are a few new additions, most notably the Cento1 Air, a crit/aero bike with an aggressive geometry and wind-slicing integrated fork. Dealers will also be impressed with the serviceability, with thought taken to ensure internal cable routing and electronic additions can be serviced via a removable panel beneath the bottom bracket shell.

The new mountain bikes were also shown, with the flagship 101xb using the same 60-ton carbon as featured in the road-range toppers. A cheaper 48-ton carbon 650b MTB is also available.

ISM

Those visiting the ISM stand might have been expecting a sleek new tri saddle to be the focus of the product debuts. It would have been the cruiser enthusiast who would have come away pleasantly surprised, however, with both the Berkley and Cruiser saddles given their debut. If you’ve a more relaxed ride, but still desire the same performance perennial relief, ISM has the answer in these two wide comfort saddles.

With try before you buy becoming a necessary method to sell top-end saddles, retailers were introduced to a demo package of five saddles, including the $249.99 Attack, that is now available to stores with an Upgrade account.

Kool Stop

With the advent of road discs, Kool Stop has had its work cut out, adding disc pads in various compounds for all the manufacturers now jumping at the chance to manage descents slightly better.

Pads for Sram’s road discs in three compounds were shown at Interbike and the firm says it is preparing for the emergence of the market, whether or not it becomes mainstream or not. For the UK market, the organic compound is perhaps the best all rounder.

Electric bike pads are another sector growing for the label and as such there’s a number of new specific pads in various compounds now available to better handle the ‘feel of e-bike acceleration and deceleration’. A thermal barrier is built in to keep these pads cool.

Lemond

One of the big announcements pre show was the debut of Lemond Bikes at the show and the first day saw press gather to inspect a line of three limited edition builds.

Each currently uses the same frame, a proprietary Lemond design that builds ‘supreme compliance into the rear triangle’.

The bikes will be sold direct to dealer in the UK and BikeBiz was told Saddleback, who currently handle Lemond turbo trainers, will handle such enquiries on behalf of the label.

The long-term goal for the brand, we’re told, is to be a price accessible, but high-end brand with a range a little deeper than the current three. The builds on show at Interbike begun with a $4,500 frameset, with a Chorus specced complete the cheapest at $7,500 and the most expensive a Super Record EPS bike at $11,999

Greglemond.com

To view our full galeries from the Outdoor Demo, where you’ll find more from the brands above, as well as the main Interbike convention, see here.