Interbike 2017 – Day 1
Here are a few notable things from the halls of ye olde Interbike, 2017.
Ergon releases a new grip of grips (and a saddle)
From the top: GA3 – $30 – The smallest version ever of the winged grips that Ergon is known for, the GA3 is for small-handed riders (insert Trump joke here) or riders looking for some wrist support that can’t get along with the larger wings on other Ergon grips.
GA2 Fat – $30 – Ergon’s fattest grip at 33.5 wide. Tacky and shock absorbent, the GA2 is designed for long days and rough terrain.
GE1 Evo/GE1 Evo Factory – $35/$40 – Designed to excel at enduro mountain biking, the GE1 has become a favorite of ours for just about any bike with flat bars. The evolved version of the original GE1, the Evo has a new pattern for better grip. The Factory version is manufactured with a tacky and soft German-made compound.
Women’s saddles ($70-$130)
Designed with the same attention to detail as the rest of Ergon’s ergonomic lines, this new series of women’s saddles could be your backside’s answer to its prayers.
There are both road (SR) and mountain (SM) versions, at a range of price points. There are two widths to fit various sit bone widths. Pictured is the Sport Gel version, although I can’t tell if it is the SR or SM version.
Silca Tattico pump with Bluetooth – $120
Did you ever want a pump that can talk to your phone and double as a Kobuta baton? No? Me either, but maybe you aren’t like me and need connectivity and self-defense capabilities built into your tire inflation device.
Snark aside, if you really want or need the accuracy of a pump with a digital gauge in a small package, this is a nicely built pump with electronic bits built into the same size as the $55 non-Bluetooth Tattico.
Abus Bordo locks
The cute little lock is a Bordo Lite Mini. Stick it in your jersey. Stick it in your jeans. Stick it in your fanny pack. Stick it in your hydration pack. Stick it between your teeth like a pirate about to raid a schooner. But don’t leave for a ride without it. Two sizes, a few colors, all 500 grams or under.
The bigger lock is the Bordo Alarm. Jiggle it once it emits a loud warning beep. Jiggle it some more and a 100 decibel alarm scares off the miscreant with his or her dirty paws on your prized ride.
Tern GSD Compact Utility bike
The GSD is an e-bike aimed to replace a second car or enable a car-free or car-lite lifestyle. Built to solve the problems of owning a huge bike in an urban area, the GSD stores upright in the about the same area an awkward 15 year old would take up at his first high school dance.
Claimed to fit riders between 4’9” and 6’5”, the seatpost and stem adjust without tools. Bosch provides the motor and battery, and the rest of the components are well-thought out. 20×2.4 Schwalbe tires, four-piston Magura brakes, thru-axles and a Shimano drivetrain are some of the better choices I’ve seen on any stock cargo bike.
Total capacity is 400 pounds, and the well-braced frame looks to be stiff enough handle that with ease. There are plenty accessories to outfit the GSD, including some sweet folding passenger pegs. With a folding stem and double telescoping seatpost, the GSD should store easily in a closet, fit in any elevator, and even fit in a hatchback.
The GSD is $4,000, or $4,800 with a second battery. With the second battery, Tern claims a 150 mile range on the lowest assist mode. The power kicks out at 20 mph.
Acepac Bike Shelter
1100 grams, sleeps two people, folds up into the size of a Nalgene bottle. Leave the groundsheet at home and you have a 750-gram shelter. All for only $120.
Acepac is a bikepacking bag company out of the Czech Republic with a full line of bags and shelters. This little tarp-style tent seems to be a simple solution of lightweight shelter that doesn’t break the bank.
AnneeLondon folding helmet
This was hard to photograph in any way that doesn’t make it look slightly odd, but in person it looks a little more normal. The London helmet uses a cloth-wrapped hard shell combined with reactive foam pads to create a helmet that AnneeLondon claims is more protective than almost any EPS helmet on the market. It folds small enough to fit in a small bag or purse. This is an odd product, but so far, is the most innovative thing I’ve seen at the show.
Preorders are going on now. $180 will save your place in line for the first production run that should start in Colorado any day now, with delivery planned for the beginning of 2018.
