The bicycle was one of the big winners of the corona pandemic. According to the German Bicycle Industry Association (ZIV), 5.04 million bicycles and e-bikes were sold in Germany in 2020. According to the ZIV, this is almost 17 percent more than in 2019. An increase that other industries can only dream of. Two-wheelers are not only the means of transport of the 2020s for the sake of the environment. So that you can get through this bike year carefree, we have put together the 2023 bike trend tools. From the mobile bike stand to the recycling bike bag for the luggage rack to the bell with anti-theft protection.
Classic air pumps are bulky and somehow unwieldy. Clamping them into the frame on the saddle or top tube only works on very few bikes. Mini pumps can at least be stowed in a backpack. But very few of the small pumps are really powerful. In addition, you usually get pumping yourself. The solution: a portable e-air pump like the Xiaomi model. The tool is nothing more than a mini-sized compressor. The tire is inflated at the push of a button. The pressure can be checked via a digital display. One battery charge should be enough for eight tires. The tool is supplied with all common adapters and a small bag. Here is the mobile compressor from Xiaomi.
The bicycle helmet is the most important tool next to the bike. He must not be missing on any tour. But what to do with the head protection when you arrive at the bathing lake or in the park? It takes up a lot of space in the backpack. Hung on the handlebars, it’s easy prey for thieves. Closca has developed a helmet that can be folded up after use. According to the manufacturer, the 400 gram light “loop” complies with the applicable safety standards EN1078 and CPSC. It can be folded up into a practical format in no time at all, so that even more fits in the backpack than just the bicycle helmet. Of course, the “Loop” is also suitable for kids who prefer scooters or inline skates to their bikes. Here is the “Loop” by Closca.
Gravel bikes are the bikes of summer 2023. Manoeuvrable and stylish bikes with racing paintwork are currently experiencing a boom. The hybrid of cross bike and road bike is a true all-rounder. Gravel bikes are the perfect companion both in everyday life and on longer tours (flat or mountainous). Rovativ has developed a saddle bag especially for gravel bikes. The backloader holds 10 liters and is mounted on the seat post behind the saddle. Rain showers don’t bother the bag. It should be 100% waterproof. Here’s the Rovativ saddle bag for gravel bikes.
On a bike trip into the countryside or longer bike tours, bikers often have no choice but to put the bike flat in the meadow or lean it against a tree during well-deserved breaks. This is also more elegant. For example with a mobile and handy bike stand. Topeak’s “Flash Stand” weighs only 500 grams and can be folded to a size of 20 centimeters. It is not only suitable as a mobile bicycle stand. The Flash Stand also serves as an assembly stand for minor repairs. Here is the Topeak Flash Stand.
Sustainability is also an important and big topic on the bicycle market. With the Mora for bikers, glove manufacturer Roeckl has a glove in its range whose yarn is 100 percent recycled from old fishing nets and fabric waste. To do this, the developers recycled polyester from PET bottle waste. Even the Roeckl logo comes from waste generated in the wood industry. It doesn’t get much more resource-efficient. Here’s the Mora and the short-finger version Bosco from Roeckl.
The pallet of milk under the arm, the shopping bag with fruit and vegetables on the handlebars. Two rather bad ideas, cycling home from the weekend shopping. The smart Danes from Cobags thought so too. That’s why they worked on a practical and sustainable solution to the transport problem. The result was Bikezac 2.0, a multifunctional and reusable shopping bag that can be securely attached to the saddle with two clicks via a patented fastening rail. The bag can be closed with an integrated rubber band so that the purchase doesn’t end up on the street. Bikezac 2.0 is made from recycled polypropylene fabric, which can later be 100% recycled. Here is the Bikezac 2.0 in green or black.
Bicycle theft is unfortunately still part of everyday life in Germany. In 2020, around 260,000 thefts were reported. It is all the more important to secure the two-wheeler as well as possible as soon as you let it out of your sight. The different types of bicycle locks have advantages and disadvantages. A weak point is often the lock itself. You don’t need a key for the smart folding lock from Abus, nor do you have to remember a combination of numbers. The owner can open the lock via Bluetooth as soon as he is nearby with his paired smartphone. If a stranger tampers with the lock for longer than five seconds, a 100 dB loud alarm sounds, similar to that of a car alarm system. The lock’s battery can be charged via USB-C. In addition, up to 29 end devices can be authorized for a lock. The Bordo Alarm 6000 folding lock from Abus is available here.
Even in summer, cyclists are occasionally surprised by a rain shower. With the right clothing and at the right temperatures, you can easily get over it. It gets uncomfortable when your helmet hangs carelessly on the handlebars while it’s pouring rain. Anyone who has ever put a helmet wet on the inside knows that it’s no fun. But what to do with the helmet? The solution could be a combined saddle and helmet cover. The helmet bag is slipped over the bicycle helmet and saddle and pulled tight. The safety rope can be connected to the bicycle lock. Complete. This is nice, but a rather useless feature. On the other hand, it is cool that the helmet bag can also be used as a shopping bag. The helmet bag is available here.
Studies by the transport ministries of the federal states suggest that up to 80 percent of serious head injuries can be avoided if cyclists involved in accidents wear a helmet. Of course, it would be even better if the accidents never happened in the first place. And the Lumos Street, a smart bicycle helmet, could make a small contribution to this. The Lumos is equipped with 22 white LEDs at the front and 42 red LEDs at the back. These can be controlled via a mobile phone app, the included remote control or gestures (e.g. via Apple Watch). Important: The rear lights flash automatically when the bike brakes. The biker operates the indicators at the front and rear himself. The manufacturer states that the battery life is around ten hours. The helmet functions can be individually configured and new functions can be integrated via an app.
In 2021, the number of stolen bicycles fell by 10.5 percent to around 234,000. That’s good news. Nevertheless, bikes are still among the most popular targets for thieves and petty criminals. With its Airtag, Apple has developed a tracking chip that can be used to accurately locate everyday objects such as suitcases, keys, backpacks or bicycles via Bluetooth. But what to do with the Airtag so that the bike thief doesn’t find out about the plan? The AirBell bicycle bell developed in Austria seems to be the perfect hiding place for the mini tracker. It fits exactly under the bell and is equally suitable for the handlebars of city and e-bikes as well as gravel and racing bikes and cargo bikes.
It doesn’t get any smarter than that. Garmin’s navigation experts also want to make cycling safer. The Varia RVR 315 is mounted on the seat post and is intended to give a visual and acoustic warning of vehicles (cars and bicycles) approaching from behind. The warning is transmitted wirelessly to compatible bike computers or sports watches or via an app to a smartphone. Garmin promises that the biker will be warned from a distance of 140 meters. The Varia weighs just over 50 grams and is waterproof according to the IPX7 standard. According to the manufacturer, the battery lasts up to seven hours.
Even on mild summer evenings, the sun sets once in a while. Those who then cycle home should see, but also be seen. Fischer has come up with a smart trick for this. The twin bicycle rear light is mounted on the seat post and not only shines backwards at a 90-degree angle. The five LEDs of the so-called floor light create a cone of light around the rear wheel and ensure that bikers are seen even better, especially on routes that are hardly or not lit at all.
Finally, we are sending what at first glance looks like a rather strange bike tool into the race for the bike trend 2023. Instead of using a bracket, chain or ring, Abus gave its Goose Lock chain lock two strange kinks. With the new gooseneck technology, the tiresome rattling of the lock on the bicycle frame should come to an end. The six millimeter thick steel chain is covered with functional and flexible plastic fibers and a foam cover. Abus specifies the Goose Lock with security level 7, i.e. a medium risk of theft. Back to the 110 centimeter long gooseneck: it is flexible and nestles around the frame when not in use. No rattles, no scratches. There are three colors to choose from.
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