About.com traveled to Germany to sneak a peek at the latest innovations in the outdoor industry. We’ve brought back a list of brand new gear we think will benefit mountain bikers. Have a look below—and keep a lookout for these products to hit your local bike and outdoor shops soon.
Read: OutDoor Product Sneak Peek - Part 1
Going on a multi-day mountain biking adventure? You’ll likely need to bring along a shelter. And a lightweight one at that. In the past, my riding partners and I have dealt with the weight of our shelter by splitting up the weight of the tent: someone carries the poles, another the tent itself and maybe even a third will transport the fly. Enter the MSR® FlyLite™ ultralight tent, the company’s lightest full-protection shelter it has ever made. Weighing in at 0.71 kilograms, the FlyLite sleeps one to two people and offers no need, as I see it, to dismember its contents while transporting. Sold!More »
I always carry some essential items with me on the trail. But sometimes I just don’t want to stuff my spare tube, tools and food into my jersey pockets or carry them in a backpack. ORTLIEB’s Saddle-Bag High Visibility is an ideal solution. The waterproof bag features reflective yarn that, when hit by headlights, the entire bag reflects the light. This allows you to be seen better at dusk, dawn and night. At 2.7 L volume, the bag is an ideal alternative to a backpack on the trail, and an ideal accessory for bike touring. More »
This is something that, I admit, I thought was always a bit excessive to have mounted on a mountain bike. That is, until I found myself constantly reaching into my pockets or unzipping my hydration pack to check the route, the time, or the rider who just stole my KOM. Turns out, a handlebar mount for a smart phone isn’t excessive, it’s useful. And the new ORTLIEB handlebar mounting for their Smartphone Case (collection 2014) affixes to handlebars or a stem up to 31.8mm in diameter and rotates 360 degrees. Don’t interrupt your ride any longer by stopping to break out your screen—make it visible while you’re mountain biking.More »
I can’t count how many times I’ve gone for a bike ride, spotted a café, restaurant, bar, etc. along the way, and kicked myself for not bringing any money. Fact: I’ve never regretted bringing my credit card on a single bike ride, even if I didn’t use it. But I don’t always transport it in the safest of ways. (Read: Ziploc bag.) The TRU VIRTU® Card Case is a water-resistant aluminum case with demagnetization & an RFID safe-function. It’s way better than my method. The card case features a turn lock, with integrated neckband holder, so you can keep track of your goods while mountain biking. Offers protection from sand, rain, snow or water (not submersible) and also protects against illegal RFID-scanning and demagnetization.
Read: OutDoor Product Sneak Peek - Part 1
1. Julbo Blast Sunglasses
Sunglasses are an often overlooked essential piece of mountain biking equipment. But they shouldn’t be. Unfortunately, it takes a good pine needle poke, dirt speck or rock fleck in the eye to snap us into action. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix. Don a pair of sunglasses and protect your peepers from trail debris and sun rays. Julbo's new Blast were developed for all-mountain bikers who like to go fast. This light, wraparound model stays put whether you’re charging uphill or bombing down, thanks to superior grip at the temples and nose. Featuring excellent venting and a slim frame.More »
2. MSR FlyLite Tent
Going on a multi-day mountain biking adventure? You’ll likely need to bring along a shelter. And a lightweight one at that. In the past, my riding partners and I have dealt with the weight of our shelter by splitting up the weight of the tent: someone carries the poles, another the tent itself and maybe even a third will transport the fly. Enter the MSR® FlyLite™ ultralight tent, the company’s lightest full-protection shelter it has ever made. Weighing in at 0.71 kilograms, the FlyLite sleeps one to two people and offers no need, as I see it, to dismember its contents while transporting. Sold!More »
3. ORTLIEB High-Vis Saddle Bag
I always carry some essential items with me on the trail. But sometimes I just don’t want to stuff my spare tube, tools and food into my jersey pockets or carry them in a backpack. ORTLIEB’s Saddle-Bag High Visibility is an ideal solution. The waterproof bag features reflective yarn that, when hit by headlights, the entire bag reflects the light. This allows you to be seen better at dusk, dawn and night. At 2.7 L volume, the bag is an ideal alternative to a backpack on the trail, and an ideal accessory for bike touring. More »
4. ORTLIEB Smartphone Mount
This is something that, I admit, I thought was always a bit excessive to have mounted on a mountain bike. That is, until I found myself constantly reaching into my pockets or unzipping my hydration pack to check the route, the time, or the rider who just stole my KOM. Turns out, a handlebar mount for a smart phone isn’t excessive, it’s useful. And the new ORTLIEB handlebar mounting for their Smartphone Case (collection 2014) affixes to handlebars or a stem up to 31.8mm in diameter and rotates 360 degrees. Don’t interrupt your ride any longer by stopping to break out your screen—make it visible while you’re mountain biking.More »
5. Dolphin Innovations
I can’t count how many times I’ve gone for a bike ride, spotted a café, restaurant, bar, etc. along the way, and kicked myself for not bringing any money. Fact: I’ve never regretted bringing my credit card on a single bike ride, even if I didn’t use it. But I don’t always transport it in the safest of ways. (Read: Ziploc bag.) The TRU VIRTU® Card Case is a water-resistant aluminum case with demagnetization & an RFID safe-function. It’s way better than my method. The card case features a turn lock, with integrated neckband holder, so you can keep track of your goods while mountain biking. Offers protection from sand, rain, snow or water (not submersible) and also protects against illegal RFID-scanning and demagnetization.
- Read: The 2014 Outdoor Industry Gold Award Winners
- Read: An overview of the 2014 OutDoor show, featuring the Celebrity of The Year Introduction