Licks Cycles: 11 Quirky However Practical Bikepacking Merchandise From Eurobike 2023

Eurobike is the world’s largest bicycle commerce present. And it’s actually monstrous with actually hundreds of stands.

I walked previous each single stand to be able to see the most recent merchandise within the touring and bikepacking area! My iPhone says I did 15,000 steps per day (for 5 days) between the totally different halls. That’s loads of strolling… and loads of speaking too.

I obtained the chance to speak to the engineers and product managers behind the manufacturers and obtained test-ride greater than 30 distinctive bikes too. This data will all drip out over the following yr or so.

Keep in mind which you could all the time assist my distinctive content material by turning into a web site supporter, making a Paypal or bank card donation, shopping for a copy of my books, or becoming a member of my Patreon. This direct assist is one of the best ways to maintain my content material coming!

My five-part tech gallery from Eurobike 2023 (coming quickly):

In-Depth Reporting From Eurobike 2023

Additive Bikes

Additive Bikes was exhibiting its attention-grabbing body packs at Eurobike, and there have been three notable designs.

The V1 is meant to go well with most diamond frames and has a pack quantity of 9 to 17 litres relying in your body dimensions (it’s out there in 20 sizes).

In contrast to most body packs that both strap or bolt to your body, the Additive bag makes use of a semi-rigid construction that basically holds it in place with out straps (there’s one velcro strap excessive tube). This implies you may set up and take away the bag in an identical period of time to a pannier.

The one draw back is that the luggage are maybe twice as heavy as a typical body pack (approx. 750g/1.7lb).

The V2 matches excessive tube of a motorbike and has a quantity of 12-litres. It has a couple of extra straps than the V1 however will go well with full-suspension bikes with a rear shock occupying area within the entrance triangle. It suggestions the size at 970g/2.1lb.

And a break up downtube body was additionally proven at Eurobike. This enables the bag to increase past the down tube and garner additional quantity on small body sizes.

Or you might all the time simply get a bag that mounts under the downtube. You select…

Air Seat

The Air Seat Full-Floating Saddle Suspension System matches between your seat and seatpost, and smoothens out the trip. I examined it on a motorbike and it actually does transfer up and down, in addition to ahead, backward, and to the perimeters.

I in all probability wouldn’t advocate it for long-distance bike journey, as I believe you might find yourself sitting in your saddle a bit weirdly. Nevertheless it could possibly be an awesome various to a suspension seatpost for bikes on brief journeys – assume bike fleets.

There are 250-gram and 350-gram choices for the Air Seat priced at $80 and $40 respectively (identical efficiency however totally different supplies).

Beast Elements

I discovered the Beast Hybrid bar on the M83 stand. It was my first time seeing it in particular person.

This drop bar is suitable with flat bar brakes and shifters, making it a simple retrofit to a mountain bike.

It has a very nice form to the ‘hoods’ (particularly in comparison with the tight angle on the Surly Nook Bar), a big ergonomic profile throughout the highest, and a shallow depth for consolation.

The width on the drops is 600mm, whereas it’s 460mm between the hoods.

The one draw back is the eye-watering value of 500 euros. Maybe take a look at the Surly Nook Bar when you like this idea…

Bulls

The Bulls sales space was in all probability the most important at Eurobike; they could have even had each Bulls bike and color on show!

My favorite bike on the stand was the Grinder gravel bike with the step-through body design. These frames are heavier and fewer stiff than a typical diamond body however they’re much simpler to mount when you’ve got brief legs, rear baggage, a rear youngster seat, or mobility points.

There are only a few efficiency bikes with a ‘trapezoidal’ body design, so it was actually nice to see this one from Bulls.

By.Schulz

Do you know you may get a dropper suspension seatpost? BySchulz makes a mannequin known as the D.2 ST that has 30mm of suspension journey and 80mm of drop. It’s not low cost although, anticipate to pay over €500.

Yow will discover a suspension dropper known as the PNW Coast for a way more cheap value, however the small bump sensitivity will not be fairly as much as the BySchulz commonplace.

Ergon

Ergon was exhibiting a brand new multi-position grip known as the GT1. The concept behind it: you may get the best strain distribution and wrist assist from the extra-large wing that locations your hand in several positions.

There have been a couple of totally different grip positions introduced by Ergon.

Additionally, the brand new Ergon PT pedals. These are apparently nice; they’ve a slight s-shape to the platform that cups your foot. And the grip tape helps to maintain your foot in place. These are clearly finest suited to clean highway using, relatively than mountain biking.

Hase

Hase is well-known for his or her quirky however very sensible bikes. For instance, the Pino semi-recumbent tandem permits the entrance rider to put recumbent on the entrance (with an unobscured view of the world) whereas the rear rider sits upright.

This yr they had been exhibiting a brand new cargo/gravel/touring bike mannequin known as the Gravit Mud. It weighs 20kg/44lb however can carry as much as 40kg/88lb on the entrance tray, and 200kg/440lb throughout your complete bike!

It is a little bit of a Swiss military knife by way of capability as a result of the cargo tray could be eliminated in seconds with none instruments.

The entrance part of the bike is telescoping so you may slide the black beam into the body to cut back the wheelbase by over 30cm/12″. This enables for the same wheelbase size to a typical gravel bike.

The bike options drop bars, entrance suspension, massive brakes, and a 1×10 drivetrain, in addition to a REALLY good metallic purple paint job.

With such a excessive most permitted load, it’s clearly going to be nice for bike journey too. There’s a pannier rack that’s out there from Hase that may carry all 4 panniers proper in entrance of you. You could possibly use the rack with or with out the cargo tray.

Or maybe you might simply tie down a 100-litre dry bag to the entrance tray? As much as you…

HiRide

The HiRide Sterra gravel suspension fork options 20mm of suspension journey, which doesn’t sound like loads, however that’s virtually excellent for gravel roads.

It makes use of a hydraulic damper to correctly management the suspension journey, there’s an adjustable preload, a lockout swap on the highest, and three metal springs to completely regulate to a rider’s weight.

On my check trip, I discovered the fork to trip exceptionally nicely. The lockout made it really feel as if it was a inflexible fork, and it felt stiff in all instructions of pressure. BikeRumor has an wonderful video exhibiting the fork taking good care of shock and vibration on gravel roads.

The HiRide Sterra clears 700x45mm or 27.5×2.1″ (650x54mm) tyres, and isn’t a lot taller than an everyday fork when you account for suspension sag. The fork has inside routing for dynamo wires and bikepacking cargo cage mounts on the perimeters.

The fork is at present discovered on BMC, Principia, MV Agusta, and MCipollini bikes however its additionally out there by itself.

Movement Engineering

The Movement La Metropolis is a brand new single-sided city and gravel suspension fork that pairs with the considerably frequent Cannondale Lefty hubs. The fork weighs only one kilogram and will require just about zero upkeep.

That’s as a result of it doesn’t have a hydraulic damper like most forks. As an alternative, it consists of a small linkage and a carbon leaf spring. As you trip over bumps within the highway, the linkage prompts the carbon spring, offering as much as 40mm of suspension journey.

The fork is pitched in the direction of metropolis and e-Bike use, however there’s no purpose why it couldn’t be used for gravel and even mountain biking – much like the Lauf leaf-sprung carbon forks.

There may be even an anti-dive linkage operating in parallel that helps to isolate any braking forces, which stops the suspension from compressing beneath onerous braking.

TriEye

When you get a rear mirror, you’ll by no means wish to cycle with out it once more!

For my part, mirrors are the #1 security merchandise you need to use – above lights and reflective issues. They assist you to see the place the site visitors is always, you may monitor whether or not drivers are paying consideration, and you’ll rapidly soar off the highway if it appears like a car isn’t offering sufficient area to securely move (massive vans particularly).

However mirrors are sometimes fairly ‘clunky’ trying, prone to wreck, and in no way suited to off-road using – they stick out and get in the best way of branches and rocks. Additionally they don’t go well with drop bars significantly nicely.

I’ve truly been testing the TriEye glasses with a built-in rear mirror for a couple of yr now, and I like the product. I solely use it whereas biking in locations with vehicles and vans, and put them of their case whereas biking off-road or sightseeing (I’ve informal sun shades for that).

You may get mirrors on the left or proper sides… or each!

The one factor to notice is that your helmet straps ought to sit near your face in order to not obscure the view. You additionally actually need your hair to be near the facet of your head…

Velospring

The Velospring grips rotate backward a small quantity whilst you trip to supply a bit of additional wrist consolation. I believe they work fairly nicely however I didn’t get an opportunity to check them. The TPU plastic used within the development gives a very good hand really feel, it apparently doesn’t stick and is recyclable.