“Unto the breach” by hugojcardoso.
Hugo is the Chief Editor of ONBIKE Portugal, a mountain bike magazine.
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INTERBIKE 2009 – We posted a sneak peek on this from the show floor, but here’s all the details and lots of photos.  Limar’s Pro 104, already probably the lightest helmet made at 180g, underwent a little lipo and came out with a claimed weight of 170g.  And just so all your friends know, it says “The World’s Lightest Helmet” right on the side of it.
But the Pro 104 is anything but a stripped down brain bucket.  It’s a fully featured helmet with Limar’s signature bug guard mesh built into the front air vents, a dial adjustment for fitting the helmet around the base of your skull and a full complement of interior padding.  Heck, they even threw in a chin strap pad just to make it extra comfy.
We weighed this CE Euro-spec, size small model several times at different angles just to be sure, and more than half the time it came up at 169g.  The other half?  170g.
Hit ‘more’ to see all the available colors, more photos and actual weights for CSPC (U.S.) approved models…they’re a bit heavier, but still freakin’ light…
Team Amsterdam pedaled away the winner against Team New York in the Bike Slam Jam, a bicycle infrastructure planning challenge orchestrated by Transportation Alternatives and Velo Mondial to develop ways to increase bicycling, designs for four specific types of infrastructure, and a plan to make biking culturally mainstream.
Some of the highlights from Team New York could be implemented tomorrow.  Things like Safe Zones with clearly differentiated bicycle lanes around schools and separate lanes and entries to bridges and in other major thoroughfares.
Team Amsterdam’s big idea was a Bike and Bus Boulevard down Broadway (see image above), which was one of the most heavily discussed ideas of the event, and they suggested putting most bike traffic on neighborhood streets rather than major traffic roads, a key differentiator between the two teams’ plans.
Get the whole scoop on Streetsblog.org, and we’re working on getting some more photos.  We’ll share when we do…
INTERBIKE 2009 – American Classic was showing three new wheelsets, including the Magnesium rimmed clinchers above.
Actually, what’s new with these is the white/blue color combo, not necessarily the wheelset itself, but they sure do look sweet.  The rims are sub-300g, making for a complete wheelset at 1275g (540g front / 735g rear).  The rim is treated to prevent the corrosion that magnesium can be susceptible too, and they use a special alloy to further inhibit corrosion.  MSRP is $1,599 and they come with Ti skewers and ceramic bearings for smooth rolling and very low rotational weight.  More pics of these after the break.
Hit ‘more’ to see the new tubeless 26″ and 29″ mountain bike wheels with a proprietary inner rim shape to provide a better tubeless seal and their all-new 420 Aero3 road wheels…
For the second straight year, the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) recognized QBP as a Bicycle Friendly Business. For 2009, the company’s status increased to Platinum-level, joining Austin’s Bicycle Sport Shop, the Bike Gallery of Portland and New Belgium Brewing Company as the only businesses to receive that designation. Andy Clarke, president of the LAB, presented the award to QBP President Steve Flagg during Interbike’s Industry Leadership Breakfast at the Sands hotel in Las Vegas Thursday morning.
“We’re delighted to highlight QBP and the ways in which they are getting more people on bikes,†stated Clark. “In today’s challenging economic climate, businesses with healthy, happy and productive employees are going to be the most competitive and the most sustainableâ€â€the Bicycle Friendly Business program recognizes some of the best examples of this in practice.â€Â
According to QBP’s special projects coordinator Doug Shidell, QBP’s Gold last year was strong, nearly Platinum. “We were happy to be recognized as a Gold-level business,†said Shidell, “but knowing that we were so close to Platinum gave us extra motivation to make improvements for this year.†Those improvements featured a bike sharing program for employees and increased community support, including helping to launch the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota.
The LAB’s Bicycle Friendly Business Program assists companies in developing bicycle commuting programs and incentives, and recognizes companies that already promote bicycling. Companies or organizations of any size are welcome to apply for a Bicycle Friendly Business designation. Application materials can be found on the LAB website, www.bikeleague.org.
INTERBIKE 2009 – Speedplay showed off what can only be called a close-to-production version of their new mountain bike pedal, the SYZR.  Other than what you can figure out for yourself from the photos (double sided entry, metallic springs, composite body), there’s not much to say about it since price, weight and release date are all very noncommittal.  Likely, you’ll see it sometime early next year and likely it’ll be worlds better than their current Frog mountain bike pedal which, from what they say, they have no plans of discontinuing.
Hit ‘more’ for photos of the cleat and more angles on the SYZR pedal…
INTERBIKE 2009 – DT Swiss introduced a full line of updates, upgrades and new goodies to its suspension forks and rear shocks.
Shown above is the all-new XRC 100, an update to the XC from last year that adds external compression damping while only adding a bare minimum of weight.  The XC gets a cosmetic upgrade with UD (uni-directional) carbon fiber finish to match the trend going on all the carbon bikes these days (it used to have a woven carbon finish).
The XC weighs in at 1250g (2.76 lbs) with remote lockout, and the XRC comes in around 1270g to 1300g (2.80 – 2.87 lbs), which makes them some of the lightest full featured suspension forks on the market.  Pricing should be about $1,160 for the new XRC.  Both are available in 80mm and 100mm travel versions, but travel is not adjustable or able to be altered, you get what you get.  The XRC has an available remote lockout add-on, but weights and price here are without it.
There are other new models and upgrades waiting for you on the other side, including their first rear shock with a full lockout and rebound adjustment…
As if you need another reason to get a Playstation 3 or XBOX 360…
FROM GAMERS DAILY NEWS: Interactive Licensing Management has agreed to a deal with Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to exclusively represent interactive entertainment rights for UCI BMX events including the World Championships and BMX Supercross World Cup. The deal will include all current and future interactive platforms and the aim of the collaboration is to include many of the sport’s top riders as well as track designs and approved images from UCI events.
“The UCI are very excited about the idea of having an official UCI BMX video game. I believe BMX racing and especially the BMX Supercross World Cup format will transfer well in a video game format“ said Johan Lindstrom, BMX Sports Co-Ordinator of Union Cycliste Internationale
“ I’m super pumped of the idea of seeing myself in a video game. I play a lot of video games and BMX Supercross will most definitely be great as a video game“ said Mike Day (USA) Silver medalist at the 2008 Olympic Games.
No further details about games, platforms, titles or expected release dates has been announced as of press time.
Wait, you do need another reason?  Here you go.  Or, hit more for something that will blow. your. mind.
INTERBIKE 2009 – Cannondale had probably the most technologically cool innovation at Interbike this year.  Five years in development, it’s still in prototype stages but was shown as proof of concept.
Called Simon, the technology is a computerized damping and travel adjust system built into a 130mm Lefty fork.  It offers 10,000 mapped suspension profiles based on XC, AM, DH and Locked Out settings.  Each setting takes into account rider preferences, weight and sag, and each is customizable if desired.
Really, the best way to get a sense of what it can do is to watch the video of Cannondale’s resident riding techie (tell your kids, computer nerds can be cool, too…see what you can do with math and science?) Stanley describing his invention.
Pics and more details after the break…
Honda has developed a new “personal mobility technology” dubbed the U3-X, a compact self-balancing unicycle that can roll forward, backward and side to side using rollers within the wheel.  It’s designed to be useable indoors and keep riders at about eye-level with pedestrians so they can carry on a conversation as they roll along with those of us still dumb enough to walk with our legs (pssshhh, walking’s sooo 2008…).
Video and more pics after the break…
INTERBIKE 2009 – Thule introduced the first strap-on trunk mount tray-style bike rack (at least the first that we’ve seen), and it looks pretty solid.
Dubbed the Raceway Platform 2-Bike, it’s a rear mount bike rack that holds the wheels in a tray like the popular hitch-mount designs from pretty much every manufacturer.  It uses high strength coated steel cables to secure to the car’s trunk or hatchback, and, due to the the nature of the design, allows you to lock your bikes into the rack for light security during quick stops at the store or café.
With an MSRP of $249, it’s relatively cheap and offers an easier, more stable way to mount your bikes if a hitch isn’t an option.  Hit ‘more’ for additional photos and to see their two new “regular” trunk-mount racks for 2- and 3- bicycle applications…
As reported by BikeRadar, the newly formed National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) will be launching October 1st. Inspired by the successful spinoff of the SoCal High School Mountain Bike Racing League from the NorCal High School Mountain Bike Racing League, this National league will “provide leadership, governance and program support to promote the development of Interscholastic Mountain Biking Leagues throughout the United States”.
The first regions to have access to NICA support will be Northern California, Southern California, Colorado, and Washington. NICA expects to be in 10 regions in 5 years with support for 5,000 kids. They hope to be established coast-to-coast by 2020.
Specialized and the Easton Sports Development Foundation have committed as founding supporters and NICA is looking for additional corporate sponsors. NICA is also looking to add founding board members. For additional information see their website www.nationalmtb.org.
