Interbike 2017

Interbike 2017 wrapped up its final year of being held in Las Vegas last week. That's right, the show is leaving Las Vegas and headed to Reno-Tahoe in 2018.

BikeRoar was there to touch, see, and smell the latest and greatest the bicycle industry has to offer. There's never enough time to get to it all, so here's some photos and info of what we did discover, minus the things we saw at Media Preview and Day 1 (Wednesday) – we lost those in a tragic (and stressful!) tech fiasco.

We'll be looking closer at, testing, and reviewing many of these products in the future, so be sure to check back here at BikeRoar.com for more.

"The Cheetah" Nelson Vails at DeFeet

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Olympian Nelson Vails held an autograph session and "Ride With Nelly" socks fundraiser at the DeFeet booth. Here he gives us the same pose that got him on the cover of the "Interbike Show Daily."

Leatt Protectives

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Steph Slattery, Marketing Communications Manager, walked us through Leatt's impressive range of products – neck braces, pads, helmets, gloves, clothing, and hydration packs.

DBX 3.5, the award-winning neck brace, is now the lightest (499 grams estimated) in the Leatt range.

The DBX 2.0 helmet brings Leatt’s DH-proven safety technology, including 360º Turbine, down to just $99 USD.

We saw the DBX 3.0 Enduro last year, the convertible helmet with optional chin guard, but now it's finally getting to market with all the testing and certifications in place.

DBX XL 2.0 is a nice looking hydration backpack with 2.0L of waist hydration, 25L cargo capacity, and Level 2 Back Protection.

Leatt's added to their line of gloves, starting with the new, slim and form-fitting, non-impact protective DBX 1.0 and GripR gloves, up to the DBX 4.0 with 3D molded impact protection panels.

We missed photographing the DBX 1.0 apparel line, but it's as good looking as the rest of the Leatt gear. There are lots of new colorways for all of their clothing and gear.

Campagnolo

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Campagnolo displayed their new H11 hydraulic disc brakes / Super Record group on a No. 22 Bicycle Company Drifter handbuilt titanium gravel bike.

Lazer Helmets

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Who doesn't think their kid will be a future world champion? Lazer's Bob Toddler helmet lets you proclaim it on the head of your little one.

Lazer's Bullet helmets with Airslide system give you aero advantage with the level of ventilation you need. Slid up, the Airslide opens vents for full airflow through the helmet. Slid down, it closes the vents. Get more ventilation by using the honeycomb cover on top, or exchange the entire Airflow system with closed caps (included with the helmet) for max aerodynamics.

Pearl Izumi Apparel and Shoes

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Pearl Izumi showed us their Versa line of apparel, designed to be looser, casual, and versatile enough to wear when you get off the bike, yet still made with a one-hour ride in mind. For example, the Versa Barrier Jacket easily passes as a non-bike cool weather jacket, but has bike features like hidden hand mitts, an under-the-helmet hood, and water resistant fabric.

Pearl Izumi's X-Alp mountain bike shoes are also casual look and cycling ready. They come in flat pedal or SPD/2-bolt cleat versions. The flat pedal X-Alp uses a dual compound Vibram Megagrip rubber outsole, with grippier IdroGrip rubber for holding the pedals, and MegaGrip rubber at the toe and heel for walkable durability.

The X-Alp Elevate shoes are rugged and durable. They have Vibram Megagrip outsoles, seamless 3-layer uppers, Boa IP1 closures, and are SPD/2-bolt cleats ready.

On the road side are Pearl's lightest, stiffest, and most breathable shoes, the P.R.O Leader v4s. They're both flashy – that shine of the sole is electroplating – and full of tech like a seamless upper, asymmetric dual IP-1 Boa reels, and unibody construction joining the "Carbon Power Plate" sole and composite upper.

Favaloro Bikes

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Albabici, specializing in Italian products, showed an array of items including Selle SMP saddles, Scicon travel bags and cases, and Nalini clothing. Displayed at center was the Favaloro GX Arc, a gravel / CX bike with a distinctive split and arced top tube. The titular bikes are handcrafted to your size and choice of color in the Italian "laboratory" of Michele Favaloro, where he has been building frames for 25 years.

 

Yes, there were more e-bikes than ever at Interbike, but our own tech issues kept us from bringing you many of them. There's a bit of irony in that...

 

Elby E-Bikes

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Elby takes a rear-wheel drive motor and step-through frame design approach with its commuter / go-getter / city bike. "The Elby" looks different and sleek because it's a purpose-built e-bike that hides the motor at the base of the step-through frame. And step-through? Yes, because while some might think it's "girly", what it really is is easy and comfortable.

Raleigh Electric Bikes

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Raleigh Electric showed their new line of 2018 e-bikes that ranges from the drop-bar Tamland iE road/trail bike, with nicely integrated battery and 500 w motor, to classic-looking cruiser models like the Retroglide iE. Of course, they also have electric city bikes, mountain e-bikes, and utility e-bikes.

Bulls Bikes

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Bulls has been in the e-bike market since 2010, mainly in Europe. Their Bulls Monster E FS aluminum fatbike caught our eye. At almost 52 lbs, you'll certainly need the help of its Bosch Performance Line CX 350W motor.

Silca Pumps

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Silca debuted its Tattico mini-pump with Bluetooth. The already sweet pump can now give you highly accurate pressure by transmitting from its Bluetooth pressure transducer to an app your Apple or Android device.

The Pista floor pump and travel bag celebrate Silca's 100th anniversary. Pista pumps are renowned for their durability, accuracy, and ability to be rebuilt if and when they do start to wear. This anniversary set gets you an aesthetically similar and functionally improved premium pump, and a padded case to store it along with other cycling gear and tools.

KMC Chains

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Shimano finally came out with a quick-link chain link (SM-CN900-11) for its 11-speed chains this year. KMC has been making them for years. We asked a representative at KMC their impression of the Shimano quick-link, and they replied that KMC "collaborated" with Shimano on creating theirs. There's no word yet on whether Shimano will dare to compete with KMC's rainbow of chain colors.

Kenda Tires

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Kenda does a lot of refinement and testing at its Ohio technology center. There were lots of improvements in casing, puncture resistance, and weight, among other attributes, for many of their tires. Of particular pride for them is the upgraded Nevegal Pro 2, a decade-in-the-making rework of the original. The Nevagal Pro 2 uses a new dual-layer compound, a new casing with K-Armor for puncture protection, and a new tread pattern, all contributing to less rolling resistance, better cornering, and improved braking traction.

KHS Bikes

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Here's a look at KHS's SixFifty 7500 (a 650b / 27.5 'enduro' bike) and their SixFifty 6500+ e-bike. Sorry, we got the photos, but our notes with info and specs seem to have been lost.

Bianchi Bikes

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Our first stop at the Bianchi booth was to admire the Bianchi/Ferrari collaboration bike, the SF01, based on the Bianchi Specialissima. The frame weighs in at 780-grams with Bianchi's Countervail vibration cancelling technology. The plan is for the research and design partnership to lead to other high-end models of road bikes, mountain bikes, e-bikes, city bikes, and kids bikes.

We then took in the retro-crafted, but very much 2018 Specialissima made to honor the 20th anniversary of Marco Pantani's Giro-Tour double. In 1998, Pantani's feats were aboard the MegaPro XL. With this commemorative edition, Bianchi faithfully recreates the paint and even the famous Bianchi eagle head badge, atop the most advanced carbon frame engineering available today.

Bianchi's ARIA is their newly launched aero road bike. They label it as "easily set-up for triathlon events" and inspired by the time trial and triathlon Aquila CV model, but at a more affordable price with the versatility to be a capable aero road bike and a TT/tri bike.

The Impulso all road / gravel bikes have barcode graphics that go equally well in glossy Bianchi Celeste Green or matte black.

Our last snap at Bianchi was of the Grizzly 29.1 aluminium hardtail.

6D Helmets

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6D Helmets and partner Dynamic Research recently won the $500,000 grand prize of the Head Health Challenge III, part of a $60 million effort to reduce head injuries. 6D's refined, winning technology, Omni-Directional Suspension (ODS), is now being offered in their ATB-1T EVO Trail "3/4 coverage" helmet. In the cut-away they had on display, you can clearly see the two layers of helmet that are connected by isolation dampers.

We've previously covered MIPS, the more common helmet tech designed to reduce rotational forces of impacts, and are now working on an article to tell you more about 6D's ODS and Leatt's Turbine Technology, and compare them all.

Cervélo Bikes

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Cervélo had one of the larger spaces at the show and used it to show off their range of bikes. The nicely arranged ascending white platform looked like a group ride, sans riders, and included the relaunched Cervélo R Series bikes, R3 and R5, and the refined S3. On the other side was the eye-catching Cervélo P5x, a superbike-looking aero rig built so very much for the Ironman TT. It includes a Smartpak nutrition storage compartment that is partially integrated into the top tube and frame, a removable Speedcase attached to the downtube, and even more modular, aero storage in the Stealth Box that nestles between the crank and front wheel.

SH+ Glasses and Helmets

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New SH+ RG5200 frameless "aggressive" glasses and Shalimar Pro aero helmet with distinct vertical vents up front.

BBinfinite Bottom Brackets

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BBinfinite bottom brackets aim to solve the problem of creaky two-piece pressfit bottom brackets. Their one piece design is supposed to resolve alignment issues and reduce energy loss by eliminating the need for wave washers that pre-load and deflect bearings.

Coros Helmets

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Coros debuted its next generation smart cycling helmet, OMNI, at the show, following up on the LINX that it brought out last year. Like LINX, OMNI uses integrated bone conduction technology to play audio through tabs on the helmet straps; they send sound to your ears through vibrations to your cheekbones instead of through traditional speakers or earbuds. OMNI does two-way audio with a wind-resistant microphone near the forehead, and media and call control are done through the included handlebar mounted wireless remote. OMNI also has some tech safety features: an emergency alert system can alert a loved one and send them your GPS location when the helmet's G-sensor senses significant impact, and bright LEDs for day and night visibility. Coros says OMNI is lighter and more ventilated than LINX, and has styling and visor compatibility to give it on and off-road appeal. It will be available in four matte colors: black, red, white, and blue/white, in stores by Thanksgiving.

Shimano Shoes

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Shimano's S-PHYRE top-of-the-line RC9 shoes and more of the road shoe range. The Shimano RT4W Womens Road Touring shoes have classic lace-up styling and a nicely textured leather/fabric upper, but not to the extreme of Giro's Xnetic knit shoes.

Natti Bar

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It's a banana in a bar! A Natti Bar is simply made of natural dehydrated bananas. They are 100% natural, non GMO, vegan, gluten free, Kosher and contain no preservatives and no additives. Unlike a banana, a Natti Bar won't bruise and squish in your jersey pocket, and it lasts a lot longer – up to 18 months. For variety, Natti Bars also does a version with dark chocolate and another with cacao nibs. We tried all three and were happy to find how great they taste.

Vittoria Shoes

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We quickly took a photo of the Vittoria road shoes and a close one of the VH IKON mountain bike shoes.

Wahoo Kickr Trainer and Climb

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Wahoo Kickr and Kickr Climb replace the front and rear wheels of this Lightspeed T1sl titanium road bike, making for next-level indoor training.

Can you ride a bike without wheels? Yes, if you put it on a Wahoo Kickr direct-drive trainer (rear) and their new Kickr Climb that replaces your front wheel to raise and lower your bike to match ascents of up to 20% and descents of -10%.

Reconbike

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The Recon X11 is the other e-fatbike we photographed; the mass of a 50+ lb full-suspension fatbike really draws our attention.

Watteam Powerbeat Power Meter

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Watteam's POWERBEAT power meters really lower the price bar for single and dual-sided measurement – $259 and $399. Some of the savings comes from allowing users to do self-installation, guided by detailed instructions and a mobile app. The process is well thought out and not difficult, but it you're intimidated or just don't have time, you can purchase factory installation of the add-on hardware starting mid-October. With POWERBEAT, you don't have to change your cranks, and with self-installation you don't even have to remove them. At the moment POWERBEAT only supports hollow aluminum cranks, though they are developing a sensor to work with carbon.

Sidi Shoes

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Another quick look at shoes, this time from Sidi. We especially liked the MTB Tiger Matte and the Road Alba Carbon Woman shoes.

Bryton Computers

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Bryton has several GPS computers that offer similar features as more well-known competitors, but for significantly less. Their top-end Rider 530 ($180) has a 2.6" display that can show up to 12 pieces of data on screen, Bluetooth 4.0 and ANT+ connectivity (including heart rate monitor, speed, cadence sensors, and power meter), turn by turn navigation, and more. On the other end is the much simpler and smaller, but still GPS enabled, Rider 10 ($60). The Rider 10 is an economical fit that still gives cyclists typical numbers plus the ability to track their rides and more features like altitude/incline and backlight, but not power. With BLE sync, Rider 10 supports phone call, email, and text message notifications, and it is compatible with BLE heart rate, speed, and cadence sensors.

Oakley Helmets

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Oakley's new helmets had everyone excited. They enter the helmet market with three road options in the ARO line.

The ARO3 (right in each photo) is the vented all-rounder, while the ARO5 is the more closed aero helmet.

The ARO7 is the time trial/triathlon focused helmet; it comes with both a mirrored Prizm Road visor and a clear visor.

All three helmets are MIPS-equipped, use Boa retention systems, and are designed for sunglasses integration, be it Oakley or others.

Nino Shurter's Scott Spark RC

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We leave you with a shot of Nino Shurter's 2017 XCO World Championship winning bike, the Scott Spark RC, on which he went undefeated in the UCI series.