Chrome had some interesting things at their Interbike booth, even if we didn’t get a chance to write them up in our daily coverage last week. Most interesting to me was the pictured $190 Sherman track bag, a backpack that unfurls to a full race or event gig-bag with spots for shoes, clothing and tools and a reinforced spine and center section so that folded it can comfortably carry an extra wheelset. It’s clearly meant with track and cross racing in mind, but there are a number of other folks that may find this useful for one event or another. Chrome also had a couple of new backpacks on display, the $140 Brigadier and the $120 Yalta, these waterproof bags are meant more for commuting and everyday life than actual courier work. The Yalta has a a built-in padded laptop sleeve that snaps into the back to keep it in place and the Brigadier has stow away shoulder straps so it more or less converts to a duffle bag on the go. With this year’s show seemingly the year that clipless at least tries to seriously cross into the urban market with shoes, it’s certainly worth mentioning the sub-$100 clipless Kursks, identical besides the sole to the regular flat pedal versions out there now.
See more of our Interbike 2010 coverage at our landing page.
Portland Design Works had their Take Out Rack on display at Interbike, expected to be available in early 2011 for about $120. It clamps to either 25.4 or 31.8mm bars with keyed shims, and has both a u-lock holder and headlight braze-on incorporated into the tubular aluminum construction. It comes with a roll-top bag cut to fit, it holds a 6-pack and a couple of burritos or a change of clothing for an evening out. And it conveniently satisfies Portland and many jurisdiction’s laws that 6-packs must be bagged on the street.
Organic Bikes had their $1600 complete Edwin commuter on display at Interbike last week, making it one of the few manufacturers offering a complete bike spec’d with the NuVinci infinitely variable transmission hub. The bike features bamboo tubes and aluminum lugs, and has clearance for roughly 35mm tires and the included wood fenders.
One my favorite niche bits I’ve ever purchased are my Paul Components Thumbie shifter perches—I’ve been meaning to write them up for some time. They are currently on my flat bar road bike, an older Surly Pacer with 105 10-speed and perfect shifts every time, with derailleur trim, via the friction top-mounts. As this display shows, you can get them in 22.2 or 26.0 clamp diameters for either mountain or road bars, and with interfaces for Shimano bar end (and some downtube shifters), Campy bar end or SRAM time trial shifter bodies for $67 per pair (which doesn’t include the shifters). Made in the USA to fill a much appreciate niche for the people that prefer new components yet with older top-mount levers for one reason or another.
Eleanor Moseman is an American woman touring China and Mongolia by bike in an effort to raise money for educational charities. According to her blog, “Nearly 66 million girls do not have access to education. By educating girls everywhere, we can help reduce poverty and improve the lives of billions.”
At present, she’s just crossed the border of Hebei and Inner Mongolia.
The Bicycle Safari is a blog dedicated to discovering old beautiful bikes found on the streets of Sweden. The harsh winters and popularity of commuting by bike leave most of the bikes on the street elegantly decayed. There’s also a project page with instructions on how to turn vintage bike lamps into a modern LED light.
German cyclist Gunter Mai built up this six-pound road bike, based around a Crumpton frame. And he didn’t just built it for show—he this bike was made to be ridden.
Artist and green-living advocate Tattfoo Tan uses his cargo bike to teach people about the values of environmental responsibility, and to promote the concept of “velo commerce”.
From Knife and Saw comes this $300 handmade walnut bike shelf, made to hold one bike and whatever you’d like to put up top in minimalist, fine woodworking fashion. It won’t work with every bike and isn’t really priced for the masses, but for the right application and the right person it could be just what you’re looking for to complement a well furnished room looking for that final bit of bike storage.
I’ll make this review short and sweet… The Blue Lug Gear Ratio Bandana features a gear ratio chart. It comes in red, blue and gray and costs about 800 yen (roughly $9.50 plus shipping). It’s 20.5″ square and made in Japan.
Thunderdome is a new race series held on the Dorais Velodrome, which been abandoned for two decades. Tom Nardone is credited with rediscovering it and organizing the clean up, and now locals are going to put it to good use. As the website says, “The cyclists had it in the 70’s, the gangs had it in the 80’s, now it’s our turn.”
Redline created the Urbis Nox for people going big on their fixed gears, with a gusseted headtube and a wishbone stay along with larger diameter cromoly tubing throughout. For $750 the bike comes with new-school style toe straps, 35mm wide tires and a polycarbonate bash guard, along with the front disc routed through the steerer like it’s little brother Urbis.
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Chrome had some interesting things at their Interbike booth, even if we didn’t get a chance to write them up in our daily coverage last week. Most interesting to me was the pictured $190 Sherman track bag, a backpack that unfurls to a full race or event gig-bag with spots for shoes, clothing and tools and a reinforced spine and center section so that folded it can comfortably carry an extra wheelset. 
It’s clearly meant with track and cross racing in mind, but there are a number of other folks that may find this useful for one event or another. 
Chrome also had a couple of new backpacks on display, the $140 Brigadier and the $120 Yalta, these waterproof bags are meant more for commuting and everyday life than actual courier work. 
The Yalta has a a built-in padded laptop sleeve that snaps into the back to keep it in place and the Brigadier has stow away shoulder straps so it more or less converts to a duffle bag on the go. With this year’s show seemingly the year that clipless at least tries to seriously cross into the urban market with shoes, it’s certainly worth mentioning the sub-$100 clipless Kursks, identical besides the sole to the regular flat pedal versions out there now. 
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