Blaq Paks Introduces EL Bags

Blaq is excited to introduce their new bags which feature integrated electroluminescent technology. The lights run on two AA batteries and can flash for 60 hours. Presently the’re offering single strips in five colors. These lights can be ordered on any bag in their line for an $80 upcharge.

You can even win one of their bags by signing up for the Blaq email list. No purchase necessary.

Visit www.blaqdesign.com for more info.

HorseShoe Disc Rotor Guard

There are a number of home made rotor guards on the bike polo circuit, like this one from Lancaster player Matt “Horse” Krofcheck. While not officially for sale, I know there are a couple of other out there beyond Matt’s personal version pictured here. Cut from 4 mm thick 6061 aluminum, the guard is light and strong enough that there aren’t any reports out there of a busted one quite yet, and it’s not like a guy named Horse takes it easy out there. It is meant to fit a 160 mm rotor and bolts onto most any international standard fork, though with the varitions in dropouts and caliper placement out there I’m sure someone can find a bike it doesn’t fit on. A recent update to the design is the secondary caliper guard, a simple piece of aluminum that is spaced out from the mount and prevents caliper damage from an errant mallet or crash. You can find Matt at www.lancasterpolo.com, perhaps if you bug him enough you can get your very own HorseShoe.

The Spring Turtle Launched

Qind Design (pronounced “kind design”) is an urban retail brand focused on the largely untapped “neckart” market. What’s neckart, you ask? Qind defines it as, “A tight taut explosion of colour and interest that is usually worn round the neck however can adorn other parts of the body.”

Which leads us to their description of the Spring Turtle:

“The Spring Turtle is truly unisex, offering comfortable protection for the neck whilst fusing with one’s dress sense as an urban cyclist. It is for those who care and want to look good and be comfortable doing so.”

Read more at www.qinddesign.com

This Is… Cambridge Cycling Caps

This Is… Cambridge is the project of Daphne Kaufhold, a British cyclist and proud Cambridge denizen. Her designs focus on a more relaxed fit than typical cycling caps, and they feature traditional British fabrics.

Caps retail for £28.00 to £35.00. Check out www.this-is-cambridge.co.uk

Introducing SunXCD Bicycle Components

The SunXCD logo might look familiar as it clearly draws on the 1980s Suntour branding, appropriate as the man behind the new SunXCD is Junzo Kawai, former president of Suntour Japan during it’s heyday. There was a time when Suntour was making some of the finest Japanese components available, and they are credited for the wide introduction of indexed shifting even if not the true originators of it, and Junzo Kawai was at the helm during much of it. As he puts it “the market is too race-centric; carbon fiber, electric shifting, full suspension, 11 speed, doesn’t really enhance the enjoyment of cycling. In the 1970’s and 80’s we cycled to be closer to nature, for the environment, for our health, for the simple beauty of cycling.” SunXCD will be creating a line of high-end randoneurring and touring components, with cranks, hubs and rims available now, well suited to the non-race riding that most people actually do.
See more at the SunXCD website.