Hi All!
Each year, I eagerly anticipate the annual EuroBike show, chock-full of new things to ponder, drool over, or analyze for industry trends.
This year, the show's organizers in Fredrichshafen, Germany, have issued a downloadable 212-page PDF catalog detailing "all the latest":
http://www.eurobike-show.com/eb-wAssets/daten/neuheiten/pdf/EB12_novelties_images.pdfYay! There goes workplace productivity for the day. I only wish it contained live links. Oh, well, one can't have everything.
I
would discover this just as I was about to go to bed and sleep! Already, a quick check shows some really diverse and interesting new products from Abus, AXA, and many electric bikes from the Accell group -- motors located at the bottom bracket appear to be the hot new development in pedalecs. The very lightweight BioLogic (Dahon-related) dynohub looks intriguing and very much like a Shutter product, as does their seatpost floor pump for Folders. The new B&M Luxos high-power/panoramic headlight I mentoned in a post on the Dynohub-charging child-board yesterday is shown, as is a new USB-specific version of their e-werk charging system. Sportiv has a helmet with what looks like a sunroof or tonneau, depending; ideal for bald guys like me. Casco's helmet glows in the dark for as much as 20 minutes if you wish to make motorists believe the aliens have landed during short commutes. Centrimaster has some drool-worthy wheelbuilding tools and instuments.
Chiba has gloves where your hands need 'em and not where they don't. Shimano has a new full-Di2 version of the Alfine IGH, and Moveo has introduced a HANS-like neck/head brace like racecar drivers now wear to prevent hyperflexion of the neck in sudden stops. Gaadi has introduced a split innertube that claims no tools are needed for flat repairexcept for a tire lever and a pump (
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=gaadi.de ). Don't see much need when the demo bike has a q/r hub....
Schwalbe has a Big Apple with a beefier tread and a "luxury" version of the Marathon called the Deluxe. Worried about saddle theft? With the SeatyLock, your seatpost becomes a 1-meter solid bike lock. Dunno if the saddle is any more secure, though. Meanwhile, Tout Terrain is investing heavily in Pinion-drive bicycles (
http://pinion.eu/en/ think: Rohloff with 4 more gears, all mounted at the BB in a frame designed just for it).
A few of you have noticed the steerer-mounted bottle cages on Sherpa and my new Nomad. Well, the Dutch firm Qibbel have done me one better and mounted a
child carrier on threadless steerers:
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=nl&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=qibbel.com Might be a bridge too far. The uh, Moveo neck brace might be a good idea for child and parent alike, as that is likely to be a
lot of weight on the steerer.
Judged by their cover art, there's some fascinating books near the end of the show's novelty catalog. Makes me wish even more I was fluent in a language other than English without the help of Google Translate. Oh! Don't miss the 2-speed "thin bike" with folding handlebars that stores close to a wall to save space.
Whew! Now, go! Enjoy! As for me, I'm off to bed for a few winks. Tomorrow's another day!
All the best,
Dan.
