Tag Archives: bicycle accessories

Leave your helmet on your bike securely with this prototype contraption

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During the pandemic, one of the things that became a “trend” and has actually continued to this day is that more people are biking their way to and from their place of work. We’re seeing a lot of products catering to this market segment and there’s still a lot of room to grow as we look towards more sustainable ways of commuting. Safety is also a major concern for those riding bicycles and motorcycles so we see people carrying helmets around but it’s not always the most convenient thing.

Designer: Eliès Hamzaoui

To solve the problem of carrying around a bulky helmet, an engineer created a prototype for something called an OBH or an On Board Helmet system. The idea is to leave the helmet with your bike so you don’t have to carry it around but also without fear of it getting stolen. It is made up of the helmet itself called the Unicity and a Jorj unit which is bolted to your bike frame. The unit also has a built-in anti-theft alarm, hence the secure part.

The locking and unlocking of the helmet is actually made through an app. You don’t have a physical key so the unit needs to have Bluetooth and battery power, adding to the bulk. It is technically more secure but also a bit inconvenient for times when your smartphone may not be working. The alarm itself is activated only with prolonged movements and not the mere jostle of the bike so you don’t have to worry about accidental alarms.

While it may be more convenient to leave the helmet on your bike, it can also add to the bulk of it since this contraption seems a bit heavy because of the features mentioned. There’s always room for improvement though so hopefully we can get a better prototype for this eventually. The initial target market for this are the bikeshare companies but it can eventually appeal to the general bike-using public, provided the design is improved.

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The Beeline Velo 2 is a gorgeously minimal bicycle GPS with a carbon-negative design and Strava support

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It’s difficult to believe that it’s been 7 years since the Beeline first launched back in 2017! A perfect accessory for any biker or two-wheeler rider, the Beeline instantly stood out as an incredibly simple, iconic accessory that helped you get from point A to B. Working in tandem with the navigation app on your phone, the Beeline was a simple, sophisticated, and sleek-looking accessory that basically pointed you in the direction that you needed to go. No fancy maps, no bloatware, no extra data. Just an arrow you could follow till you reached your destination. The Beeline’s simple design made it easy to keep your eyes on the road too, by offsetting the need to stare at your phone for directions and potentially get sidetracked by apps, notifications, and other distractions.

Seven years and multiple products later, Beeline just announced the Velo 2, a compact navigator for bike rides. Upgraded with an IPS LCD screen (as opposed to the original’s e-paper display), the Velo 2 retains the Beeline’s intuitive approach to wayfinding, while also giving riders access to basic metrics like distance covered, ride time, speed, ETA, and a compass, alongside the ability to plan routes, share them on apps like Strava, and even rate them in retrospect. Everything sits inside the Velo 2’s compact puck-shaped design that easily snaps on and off your bicycle, making every single step of your journey intuitive and comfortable.

Designer: Beeline

Click Here to Buy Now

The Velo 2 retains the beloved features of its predecessor, popularized on Kickstarter while introducing an updated user interface and additional navigation options. It’s housed in a compact, smartwatch-like round design with a 1.28-inch circular LCD IPS display, distinguishing itself visually from traditional GPS computers. The unique RockerTop interface replaces conventional buttons or touch screens, offering a distinct tactile feedback which is a notable advantage over touchscreen designs.

Unboxing reveals an eco-friendly package containing the GPS unit, a handlebar mount with two sets of O-rings, an instruction manual, and a USB-C charging cable. The Velo 2, Beeline mentions, is designed to be both carbon and plastic-negative, lining up well with the eco-friendly mode of travel that is bicycling. The device, aside from being healthy for the environment, is also designed to be entirely repairable via Beeline’s refurbishment scheme. The mounting system, though proprietary, is effective and secure, using o-rings to attach to various handlebar diameters.

The user interface emphasizes ease of use. It’s simple and intuitive, devoid of the multi-level menus and customization found in other GPS units. This simplicity extends to its functionality: the Velo 2 focuses on GPS navigation and basic ride data, foregoing connections to secondary sensors or display customizations. The main display shows an odometer, the time, battery status, and a playful bicycle graphic that moves with the computer’s orientation.

A key upgrade in the Velo 2 is its innovative approach to navigation. It leverages user feedback to refine routing, allowing cyclists to rate roads during their ride. This crowdsourced data helps Beeline incrementally improve cycling routes, avoiding poorly rated roads. The Velo 2 offers two navigation modes: a basic compass-style display pointing towards the destination and a more detailed turn-by-turn option. It also pairs directly with Strava, letting you upload rides easily, or even share them with friends and families via GPX.

While the Beeline Velo 2 might not cater to data-driven cyclists seeking extensive metrics and sensor integration, its minimalist design, intuitive interface, and innovative routing approach make it a compelling choice for those seeking a straightforward, enjoyable cycling experience.

Click Here to Buy Now

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Origami Mudguard uses a clever folding and rolling design to fit onto any bicycle frame

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The Musguard Omni starts off as a roll of plastic, but unroll it and fold it along its crease lines, and it transforms from a flimsy plastic sheet to a stiff-yet-flexible mudguard that easily straps to your bike’s frame. If there was ever a practical use for Origami, this would be it. Maybe the James Webb telescope too, but definitely this as well!

Designer: Jurij Lozic

Click Here to Buy Now: $56 $66 (15% off). Hurry, only 10/640 left! Raised over $100,000.

Install in seconds.

Easily packed.

Available in front and rear formats, the Musguard Omni’s clever sheet-based design achieves a few notable things. For starters, it comes made from sheet plastic, requiring MUCH simpler manufacturing practices than an injection-molded part. Plastic sheet is just a whole lot cheaper and lighter, making the Musguard Omni easy to ship as well as easy to carry around. The sheet, however, radically changes the minute you fold it along those crease lines. Much like corrugated paper is stronger than regular paper, or a rolled newspaper is stiffer than a flat newspaper, the Musguard Omni takes its shape when it’s folded and strapped in place.

The mudguard comes equipped with two adjustable hooks and straps that wrap around most bike frames, allowing you to use the Musguard Omni on practically any bicycle. The hook and loop straps come with a silicone coating too, preventing the mudguard from slipping from its position or rotating on the cycle frame’s tubular structure.

Each Musguard Omni comes crafted from recycled polypropylene sheet – a sturdy polymer that can be creased and folded thousands of times without ripping or wearing out (if damaged, it can easily be recycled too). The Musguard Omni ships as a dual-set – one for each wheel, and comes in both Standard and Wide designs that cover a variety of riding styles (such as road, gravel, touring, packing, commuter, cyclocross, cargo, even MTB), giving you the freedom to drive on any sort of terrain, from a wet tarmac to a muddy dirt-road. At the end of your ride, the Musguard Omni can easily be rinsed off with water and wiped clean, before being rolled up and tucked away… or keep it right on your bicycle if you’re an avid rider!

Click Here to Buy Now: $56 $66 (15% off). Hurry, only 10/640 left! Raised over $100,000.

The post Origami Mudguard uses a clever folding and rolling design to fit onto any bicycle frame first appeared on Yanko Design.

Bicycle Accessories designed to elevate your cycling experience, keeping you safe + secure!

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If in this era of pollution, pandemic, and panic, you aren’t already a bicycle person, it’s high time you convert into one! Bicycles are slowly becoming people’s preferred means of transportation. People are ditching the fossil fuel consuming and air pollution causing automobiles for the more eco-friendly option of bikes! Not only are bicycles a boon to the environment, but they also promote good health and ensure we get our daily dose of physical exercise done. In fact, you can even upgrade and amp up your bicycle with some fun and functional accessories! From an ultra-portable adventure light that snaps onto your bicycle to an air-purifying bike helmet  – these accessories are the perfect sidekicks to your bicycle.

“You’re used to changing your shoes and jacket to match the location or weather. Why shouldn’t you be able to do the same with your bike?” reTyre’s zippable tire-tread system gives your city bicycle the versatility to work off the road too. A simple zipping mechanism allows you to add a secondary, tougher tread on your tires, letting you go from riding on smooth asphalt to traversing through tough terrain. No matter the speed, the distance, or the condition, reTyre’s selection of treads make it the only set of wheels your bicycle needs… and in turn making your bicycle the only bicycle you’ll need too. reTyre’s special bicycle tire comes with a zipper lining and a selection of treads or skins that you can clad on your existing tire. The original tire works great on asphalt, and the wide variety of skins allow you to ride your bicycle on mud, gravel, rocks, or even snow.

Inspired by his desire “to reinvent the ways we use and produce energy,” on small-scale levels, Vento is not merely a bicycle light, as Bestenheider describes, but “a power plant, a way to question energy consumption, and an object to connect like-minded individuals. Vento is a mindset.” Composed of four main components, Vento is like a miniature wind turbine. Constructed from recycled plexiglass and aluminum, Vento’s microturbine harvests wind energy while the bicycle is in motion. Then, the energy is converted into electricity through electromagnetic induction that takes place in the turbine’s generator. The bicycle light’s battery then stores this energy and the LED bulb generates light. While moving in your bike, the wind is always whipping past you, so the light will always work when needed. Positioned conveniently right between the handlebars, Vento also features on/off and blinking switches for day use.

This Garmin bicycle computer takes a detour from the design language for the brand’s current line-up of Edge GPS bike computers for bicycle riders. Industrial designer WuShuai has thought of a refreshing design for the next Garmin computer for your ride to next get stranded on any hiking trail. His design has a more contoured aspect to it, the convex display is a telltale indicator of the fact. Being a bike enthusiast himself, Wu wanted to create a softer design language for a future Garmin Edge product. However he himself admits that the screen is more susceptible to breakage in this new form if there is an accidental fall. That’s a story for another day if this design is referenced by Garmin for consideration.

Cha Hongkun, a designer from China has pondered over tweaking the design of a portable light to an extent where it addresses an even wider array of activities. Cha calls it the “Ray” – an outdoor accompanying portable light with a never before seen form factor. It’s essentially a wide strap that can be hooked onto your bike, backpack, or anything one can think of. It goes without saying – Ray is an outdoor essential accessory that’ll never let you down. The ease of use and portable credentials make it one accessory I would want in my absolute essentials for a trip anywhere. The portable LED light can be charged with a USB-C compatible power bank or via a wall outlet. What’s got me hooked on here is the cool choice of colors the designer has penned for Ray.

Among hundreds of entries for the YD x KeyShot Design Challenge that asked participants to redesign the Envoy Helmet to make it safer, António Martins’ redesign turned the bicycle helmet into a versatile piece of headgear that could even offer full-face protection while riding motorcycles. “To make ENVOY Helmet safer, I designed a removable chin protector along with a practical snap system. Its clean design makes the chin protector look like part of the helmet”, said Martins about his Silver Award-winning design. The redesigned Envoy proposes having a separate, detachable chin-protector that can easily and securely be snapped in place using tabs on either side of the helmet. Just attach the chin protector and the Envoy goes from being a cycling helmet to something perfect for motorbiking, quad-biking, and even snowmobiling in.

Among hundreds of entries for the YD x KeyShot Design Challenge that asked participants to redesign the Envoy Helmet to make it safer, Jonathan Hatch’s redesign presented a clever feature – a pair of pull-tabs that allowed the helmet to split into two, making it easy for emergency medical technicians to easily and safely remove the headgear in the event of an emergency. “My addition to the Envoy helmet concept is to improve safety for the user after an accident occurs”, Jonathan told Yanko Design. “Typically, removing an injured user’s helmet after an accident requires one EMT to stabilize the head and neck and another to cut the chin strap and pull the helmet off. The helmet removal often results in accidental repositioning of the head and neck, potentially causing additional injuries or taking up precious seconds during the rescue.”

Christened Airban, the urban bike helmet aims to take on the unavoidable air pollution crisis. The advanced helmet sucks polluted air, filters it, and then beams pure air onto the fixed face shield that’s at a slight distance from the face. As the rider keeps moving forward, the air passes through the front vents on the front and enters the air channel. Simultaneously air is drawn from the rear via a small brushless fan that projects the air to the breathable position. Air entering the Airban helmet from both these channels is filtered through the HEPA filter which removes 99.97% of 0.3 μm particulates. The activated carbon layer eliminates any smoke, odors, or other pollutants – therefore, beaming the rider with clean air even in the most polluted environment.

Just when you thought tubeless bike tires are the best thing on the road for your bicycle, the next revolution has arrived. The very technology that NASA uses in its Mars rover and lunar mission, has now made it through to the consumer-oriented arena in the form of METL tire developed by the startup Smart Tire Company, which has licensed the technology to bring to the bicycle lanes in the near future. The airless METL bike tires are crafted out of the Shape Memory Alloy Radial Technology (SMART) – made from strong (like titanium), lightweight yet ultra-elastic material (like rubber) known as NiTinol+. This magic material according to Smart Tire Company, “rearranges its molecular structure when you bend it, but instantly goes back to its original shape, perfectly.” In fact, these tires are so good, they can last your bicycle’s lifetime – meaning you don’t even need to bother about flat, tires, or ones with the tread wearing – needing to change to a new one.

German startup DroidDrive wants to brush off all the reasons that make users shy away from such trailers with the Trailerduck. This electric-powered cargo trailer is a great option for urban deliveries as it syncs its speed and direction of propulsion with the bicycle or e-bike that’s towing it. This way the four-wheeled trailer is able to haul much more cargo than the current conventional options. In a way, it is a standalone trailer that in the coming years may not even require a towing vehicle to do the job.

More than 700 cyclists are killed every year by other motorists in the U.S. alone, and the graph hasn’t seen any significant drop in the last few years. Thinkable Studio wants to curb this with an innovative helmet design that equips cyclists with their own set of spatial awareness tech to avoid accidents. Called the savAR helmet, this piece of bicycle accessory is loaded with augmented reality and artificial intelligence components to naïve the traditional helmet protection methods. The ever-evolving smart software of the helmet and the AR waveguide technology enhances the rider’s awareness of the crowded streets and other motorists nearby by quite a few notches.

This bike-friendly soft-top umbrella is designed to keep cyclists clean and dry on rainy days!

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RainRider’s soft-top cover was designed to attach to e-bike and road bike handlebars to protect cyclists and their bikes from rainy weather conditions and reduce CO2 gas emissions by keeping cyclists on the road even in the rain.

While many of us choose to ride bikes and e-bikes to help mitigate the effects of carbon emissions released when driving in cars, weather conditions like rain and snow get in the way of a smooth ride, keeping more casual cyclists off the road. To keep cyclists on the road, RainRider, a Germany-based startup devoted to sustainable mobility, recently launched its soft-top cover for cyclists to attach to their road bikes and e-bikes during rainstorms.

Whenever the rain comes, cyclists can simply strap the soft-top cover onto their handlebars and fork tubes and ride as usual. RainRider’s cover follows the steering of the bike and its streamlined design makes it less sensitive to crosswinds that might blow through rainstorms. Like an umbrella for your bike, the RainRider’s soft-top cover is designed with an aerodynamic shape to keep rides speedy and safe even on rainy days. Lightweight by design, the soft-top cover from RainRider only weighs 1.5kg and can fold down into a backpack when not in use for easy storage and portability.

Constructed from UV-resistant window film and coated polyester fabric, the plastic cover not only keeps the rain at bay but the sun rays as well. The soft-top cover’s frame is made from aluminum/carbon rods and plastic connecting joints, adding to its lightweight, flexible design. Additionally, RainRider equipped each soft-top cover’s window film with an adjustable ventilation system to prevent the window from fogging and keep riders cool with some fresh air. Whenever riders want to park their bike with the soft-top cover still attached, it can fold down into a parking position, which covers the entire length of the bike.

Describing the inspiration behind their new soft-top cover, RainRider explains,
“With the RainRider Soft-top, you can save a lot of money by using your bike all year round and therefore do without your car or use it less often. In addition, you contribute to relieving municipalities and cities from car traffic and reducing CO2 emissions.”

Designer: RainRider

RainRider’s Soft-top cover protects cyclists and their bikes from rainy weather to help reduce CO2 emissions given off from cars. 

To keep cyclists from driving their cars on rainy days, the Soft-top cover from RainRider protects cyclists from almost every angle. 

Bicycle Racks designed to perfectly fit + store your bike even in the tiniest space!

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Bicycles seem to be all the craze right now! And we at Yanko Design totally support it, because not only are bicycles eco-friendly but they’re a great source of exercise as well. But storing bicycles in our modern-day cramped apartments can be a bit of a hassle. In such situations, bicycle accessories such as a handy and ergonomic bike rack are a Godsend! And we’ve curated some of the best bike racks for you. These functional and visually pleasing designs promise to be the best storage solutions for your precious bikes. Not to mention, they rate high on aesthetics as well, so they won’t be total eyesores in your home!

Designed to look like an abstraction of a wall-mounted animal trophy, the Longhorn is hand-crafted in Portland, Oregon, using Evergreen Wood, a leather bicycle seat, and bull-style road handlebars. The wall art isn’t just aesthetically pleasing, but it serves as a functional bike rack too! Equipped to hold any standard-sized bicycle (weighing up to 65lbs), the Longhorn suspends itself using 3.5″ screws to bring unquestionable stability no matter what wall material you hang it on.

The Berlin Bicycle Rack is not only is a stunning, Nordic-inspired bicycle rack, but also a storage system for other household possessions; the Birchwood assembly lends itself to the storage of magazines, bicycle accessories, books, and office items. The hand-finished, contemporary design allows for the Berlin Bicycle Rack to be introduced into a wide variety of interior décors and to be seamlessly integrated into space. And, if you’re a bike lover like me, it’s also a great reason to keep your bike in the house!

The ARTIFOX RACK Vertical Bike Storage is a unique bike mounting system that allows you to store your bike vertically. The bike rack can be levelled and placed across any flat surface. Built from solid hardwood and powder-coated steel, the rack has a sturdy build, ensuring it lasts for years to come!

The Kryon I Mono helps you keep your bike secure at all times! The bike rack also doubles up as a lock, ensuring that your bike is stored safely, and isn’t at the risk of being stolen. Featuring a stainless steel build, it also sports soft padding to support the bike, and looks super sleek as well!

Built from virtually indestructible roto-molded polyethylene and equipped with an integrated locking mechanism, the Alpen is a custom home for your bicycle, made to protect your ride from the sun, rain, sleet, rust, and obviously, theft too. The Alpen can be secured to a floor, wall, pillar, or even the back of your truck, letting you carry your bike along with its own home wherever you go. No more storing your bike in the living room, leaving tire marks on the floor, or hanging it on your wall, making it the focal point of all your decor, or simply dumping it in your garage beside your car or motorbike.

Pedal Pod is probably the most creative bike rack I have come across! Not only does it securely store your bike, but it also doubles up as a cool shelving unit for your bicycle accessories and other items. Featuring a geometrically intriguing form, the storage unit is not only functional but visually pleasing as well!

The Genus has been inspired by tree trunks! Designed by Vadolibero, the bike rack features seven ‘branches’ that can be used to store bicycle accessories and gear. The leather wheel hook can be used to adjust and hold almost any bike, irrespective of model and size. It is easy to install and durable as well!

Designed by Vadolibero as well, the Origo bike rack features a tubular stainless steel base with a small cabinet on top. The cabinet hides the bike hangar while providing extra space to store accessories and other items. It consists of two drawers and looks like a little cubicle!

Airlok is an award-winning bike rack that stores your bike safely and securely! A steel frame and a lock make it a sturdy wall rack that can store any bike size and model, and not to mention it has been rated at the maximum Gold Sold Secure standard!

The Zadel Bike Rack by Lignum looks more like a wall-mounted shelf than a bike rack! It perfectly merges with the aesthetics of your modern home. Amped with soft-connect, it protects your bike from any damage and also provides additional space to store your key, helmet, gloves and etc.

Bicycle accessories designed to that make your cycling experience safe, secure, and exciting!

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If in this era of pollution, pandemic, and panic, you aren’t already a bicycle person, it’s high time you convert into one! Bicycles are slowly becoming people’s preferred means of transportation. People are ditching the fossil fuel consuming and air pollution causing automobiles for the more eco-friendly option of bikes! Not only are bicycles a boon to the environment, but they also promote good health and ensure we get our daily dose of physical exercise done. In fact, you can even upgrade and amp up your bicycle with some fun and functional accessories! From a detachable bike bag that incorporates a rear signal light to a minimal wall mount that truly showcases your bike – these accessories are the perfect sidekicks to your bicycle!

This minimal bike wall mount truly showcases your ride! Bike wall mounts are usually eyesores because of their clunky form. You rarely find a wall mount that is aesthetically pleasing but this one by Alexander Yoo is what visual zen looks like. The wooden brackets and metal base works with any interior set up and the CMF gives it an evergreen style. This bike wall mount puts your ride in the spotlight. It keeps it visually clean and clutter-free!

The Lumis Bike Bag from Happy Buddha integrates a translucent compartment area and accompanying rear signal light for their storage bag to assure riders that they’ll be seen on the road even at night. To attach Happy Buddha to their bicycle, users simply slide the Lumis Bike Bag’s translucent plastic covering onto the rear light and both can then be connected to the bicycle. The rear light projects onto Lumis Bike Bag’s plastic top to increase its visibility and brightness for nighttime riding and packed city streets. Whenever the user’s bike is left unattended, the Lumis Bike Bag itself can easily be dislodged from its joined rear light, providing portability and an added sense of security.

Litelok Go Flexi-U is the world’s first insurance-rated, flexible U-lock for bikes. Unlike conventional U-locks that come with a rigid design, the Go Flexi-U sports a flexible design that can easily wrap around poles, fences, and other objects. It matches the strength and durability of traditional U-locks while being incredibly lightweight (641 grams). Moreover, it easily straps to your bike’s frame, making it rather easy to carry around with you as you ride!

Don’t let its unseemingly tiny design fool you, Canyon’s Fix 3-in-1 tool houses a veritable bicycle-fixing tool-shop in a compact yet extremely versatile form factor. Combining 3 tools into 1 small, light mini-tool, it features a ratchet with 4 double-sided bits, a Dynaplug® tool to fix punctures on tubeless tires, and a CO2 inflator to pump up flats. With a CNC-milled aluminum body, it weighs just 45g yet can deliver up to 30 Nm of torque, helping you pull apart your cycle and fix it together with no fuss. Plus, it’s about the size of your finger, so you can easily stash it anywhere while riding.

The Corky by THE BEAM gives you the literal power of hindsight. Designed to snugly dock right into your bike’s drop bars, Corky’s universal design retrofits into any bike’s handlebars, giving you an instant flip-out convex rear-view mirror that lets you occasionally get an idea of what’s behind you. The Corky’s design weighs a mere 16g, adding functionality to your bike without adding weight. The ABS body is lightweight and impact-resistant, while the PC mirror is robust and can resist scuffs and scratches. Within the ABS body lies a steel bolt that lets you tightly fit the Corky into your bicycle’s drop bar.

Vanity is one of the main reasons why cyclists ditch the helmet and ride without any head protection. I understand their point of view, but don’t agree with them. You could be a safe cyclist, but there is little that you can do about an inefficient driver. Solving the issue of using a helmet that mars your appearance, the Porsche Vuelta Smart Cycling Helmet looks sleek and sexy. It almost makes you feel like you’re riding a Harley Davidson or a Porsche Bike! The goodness doesn’t stop here, designer Jihwan Lee has also included smart functions like front and rear lights, hard brake and turn signals, onto the helmet. The Porsche Vuelta pairs up with your phone via Bluetooth and intuitive buttons are on the side to adjust volumes without having to take your phone out.

The UFO Lights are a pair of pretty standard-looking pedals, albeit with a key difference. They come with detachable lamp modules that sit flush at the end of each pedal, and you can switch them on to help other vehicles on the road see you better. The lamp units come with 300-lumen LEDs on the inside that automatically switch on when you begin riding, and turn red when you decelerate, just like a taillight would. The lights move as your pedals rotate, creating a motion pattern that makes them easily visible in the dark – allowing cars, bikes, larger vehicles, and even pedestrians to be alerted of your presence. Beams are even cast on the road below to create a 1-meter halo, giving other vehicles a buffer zone as they overtake you.

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bosch_kiox_4

The Kiox is an onboard computer for your e-bike that lets you visualize data such as your speed, cadence, distance, battery level, and even access more niche features like indicating when your bike needs servicing, as well as rider’s health stats like heart rate, etc. Kiox’s main device sits right between your handlebars, while its control (a separate unit) can be mounted near your left or right hand for ease-of-use. A 1.9-inch screen comes with vivid colors that can display data in all weather and daytime conditions, and it even comes with a GorillaGlass cover to protect it from scratches, bumps, or even grit that may get on it as you cycle through demanding conditions.

berlin_bicycle_rack_layout

berlin_bicycle_rack_01

Wall-mounted bicycle storage appeals to two demographics, the first being fanatics who view their bicycle as a piece of art and would love for it to become a feature in the home. The second is for people who live in compact, inner-city apartments where space can be limited and having to store a bulky and awkwardly shaped bicycle can be a hassle. The Berlin Bicycle Rack caters to both these demographics, as not only is it a stunning, Nordic inspired bicycle rack, but also a storage system for other household possessions; the Birch wood assembly lends itself to the storage of magazines, bicycle accessories, books and office items. The hand finished, contemporary design allows for the Berlin Bicycle Rack to be introduced into a wide variety of interior décors and to be seamlessly integrated into the space.

Designed to look like an abstraction of a wall-mounted animal trophy, the Longhorn is hand-crafted in Portland, Oregon, using Evergreen Wood, a leather bicycle seat, and bull-style road handlebars. The wall art isn’t just aesthetically pleasing, but it serves as a functional bike rack too! Equipped to hold any standard-sized bicycle (weighing up to 65lbs), the Longhorn suspends itself using 3.5″ screws to bring unquestionable stability no matter what wall material you hang it on. No bicycles were harmed in the making of this rack… I assume.

For more handy and innovative bicycle accessories, check out Part 1 and 2 of this post!

Bicycle accessories that’ll make your next cycling experience safe, secure, and fun: Part 2

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Slowly and steadily, people are ditching the fossil fuel consuming and pollution causing automobiles for the more eco-friendly option of bicycles! Bicycles are a means of transportation that are not only healthy for the environment, but for us too! They’re a fun way of completing leg day without actually visiting the gym! Amping up your bike with handy and innovative accessories always adds on to the cycling experience. From bike tires that can last a lifetime without any punctures to a foldable bicycle helmet, we’ve got you covered with a whole range of fun and functional products. Bike on!

retyre_4

“You’re used to changing your shoes and jacket to match the location or weather. Why shouldn’t you be able to do the same with your bike?” reTyre’s zippable tire-tread system gives your city bicycle the versatility to work off the road too. A simple zipping mechanism allows you to add a secondary, tougher tread on your tires, letting you go from riding on smooth asphalt to traversing through tough terrain. No matter the speed, the distance, or the condition, reTyre’s selection of treads make it the only set of wheels your bicycle needs… and in turn making your bicycle the only bicycle you’ll need too. reTyre’s special bicycle tire comes with a zipper lining and a selection of treads or skins that you can clad on your existing tire. The original tire works great on asphalt, and the wide variety of skins allow you to ride your bicycle on mud, gravel, rocks, or even snow.

Just when you thought tubeless bike tires are the best thing on the road for your bicycle, the next revolution has arrived. The very technology that NASA uses in its Mars rover and lunar mission, has now made it through to the consumer-oriented arena in the form of METL tire developed by the startup Smart Tire Company, which has licensed the technology to bring to the bicycle lanes in the near future. The airless METL bike tires are crafted out of the Shape Memory Alloy Radial Technology (SMART) – made from strong (like titanium), lightweight yet ultra-elastic material (like rubber) known as NiTinol+. This magic material according to Smart Tire Company, “rearranges its molecular structure when you bend it, but instantly goes back to its original shape, perfectly.” In fact, these tires are so good, they can last your bicycle’s lifetime – meaning you don’t even need to bother about flat, tires, or ones with the tread wearing – needing to change to a new one.

At Hövding they thrive on the impossible. The brainchild of industrial designers Anna Haupt and Teres Alstin, the Hövding: an airbag for urban cyclists has progressed from an idea to a groundbreaking and certified product! Since its conception in 2006, the product has been renewed again (and again), and today it is rated the world’s safest means of head protection for cyclists. But after four years of vigorous R&D, the Swedish company has released its third generation of airbags: The Hövding 3. Worn around the neck like a collar, it is considered to be 8x safer than traditional bicycle helmets. In the event of an accident, the airbag inflates and forms a protective hood around the head and neck within 0.1 seconds! The airbag forms a protective cushioning around the neck, fixating it and providing extremely gentle shock absorption. The pressure remains constant for several seconds, enabling the airbag to withstand multiple impacts to the head, during the same accident. Once its job is done, the airbag quite simply deflates.

The TorchONE hopes to alter a scary statistic around cycling. In 2019, 56,000 cyclists lost their lives worldwide, and an estimated 60-70% of them were during low-light conditions. By integrating lights right into the helmet, the TorchONE approaches this problem with a two-fold solution – Prevention and Protection. A finalist at the 2020 EuroBike Awards, the TorchONE boasts of a streamlined, aerodynamic design that weighs a mere 382 grams with large, highly visible, removable lights on the front and back. Designed to provide 360° visibility, these are the largest lights to ever be fitted onto a bike, ensuring that they’re sufficiently visible even in bad weather. Attach them when you need and the lights can run 24/7, detach them during the day and the helmet’s weight drops to an incredibly lightweight 266 grams.

Many modern bikes come with a rear light, signaling to the trailing traffic behind the rider that they must share the road. Often, when bike storage bags are attached to a bike behind the rider, that rear light ends up getting covered, making for unsafe riding at night and busy streets. The Lumis Bike Bag from Happy Buddha integrates a translucent compartment area and accompanying rear signal light for their storage bag to assure riders that they’ll be seen on the road even at night. To attach Happy Buddha to their bicycle, users simply slide the Lumis Bike Bag’s translucent plastic covering onto the rear light and both can then be connected to the bicycle. The rear light projects onto Lumis Bike Bag’s plastic top to increase its visibility and brightness for nighttime riding and packed city streets. Whenever the user’s bike is left unattended, the Lumis Bike Bag itself can easily be dislodged from its joined rear light, providing portability and an added sense of security.

The Dual Beam has an interesting take on a pretty common problem with being a bicyclist. A majority of bicycle accidents don’t occur because of bad roads, or because of faulty mechanics, but rather because of a lack of visibility. Given how slim they are and how quietly they drive, most bicycle accidents occur because they’re difficult to notice in low-light settings, effectively putting the biker at risk. Dual Beam takes on this problem with a rather innovative approach. Unlike bike reflectors that just passively reflect light, the Dual Beam is, in fact, a headlight for your bicycle… but instead of just shining on the roads to illuminate your path, the Dual Beam also shines on the rider like a spotlight, making you, as well as the road ahead of you visible. A literal two-birds-one-stone scenario. The sheer genius of the patent-pending Dual Beam is that it makes its rider visible without distracting or blinding others.

Discarding the notion that a helmet needs to be a sturdy, stiff, singular form, the FEND One is, in fact, foldable. With two segments on either side that fold inwards, the Fend becomes rather portable, occupying a fraction of the volume it would when opened. Its folded design makes it relatively flat, allowing it to slide easily into messenger bags and backpacks… a feature that makes carrying helmets so convenient, you’re more likely to wear/carry them everywhere. The FEND One reduces the number of moving parts in its original design by ditching the bellow-style fold for something more simple and secure. The helmet exceeds US CPSC and European EN1078 safety standards for bicycles, skateboards, and e-bikes/scooters under 20mph, and comes with an impact-resistant outer shell made from ABS and PC, and a cushioning EPS inner that’s both lightweight as well as shock-absorbing.

Crafted from solid wood and sheet steel, B-spot is a wall-mounted bike stand. It comprises of a matte black panel protruding from the wall, with a layer of solid wood on top. The lower portion of the hanger is characterized by two hooks. However, the B-spot doesn’t simply hold bicycles! The black steel and solid wood panel duo can be used to hold planters, vases, your wallet, keys, and other miscellaneous items. The two little hooks can be used to hold your clothing items, caps, coats, umbrellas, and more. The hanger’s most interesting feature would be how its black panel curves in the front, forming a long rectangular slot. The slot serves as a little nook to hang your bicycle on! So once you’re done riding your bike, simply lift it up and place it within the slot. The sturdy steel structure holds your bike effortlessly.

Designed to be the most universal grip ever, CYCLYK works with every smartphone, with or without a case. Multiple bands hold your smartphone in place without overlapping or blocking the screen, and the act of docking or removing your phone literally takes two seconds, allowing you to hop on or off your two-wheeler with ease. The CYCLYK’s universal design even allows it to be used with motorbikes, scooters, mopeds, or even the odd Segway. Heck, you could even mount it on the handles of your shopping cart or baby-pram if you wanted to, but I believe that isn’t the product’s intended purpose. The silicone construction stretches to accommodate any sort of setting, while providing enough friction to hold your smartphone in place (and even at the same angle) on all sorts of terrain, allowing you to traverse through the city or even go off-roading on your mountain bike. It gives you the freedom to use your smartphone the way you see fit, transforming it into a GPS while you’re riding, or a handlebar-mounted action camera, or even run your fitness apps like STRAVA or music apps while you cycle/work out!

Fitted with bright LEDs on the inside, the BLINXI works as a head-worn tail-light and indicator, allowing you to be more visible to drivers/riders behind you. A single on/off button on the BLINXI allows you to toggle the taillight while even letting you cycle through the product’s three modes (flashing, steady, and daytime). The indicators are powered by a wireless controller that straps right to your handlebars, giving you the experience you’d have with motorbikes and their accessible indicator controllers. Fitted with incredibly powerful LED lights with visibility as high a 100 meters, the BLINXI works both at night and in the day to help you, the wearer, be visible (and predictable) as you drive down roads and make turns along your route. BLINXI’s internal battery gives it up to 24+ hours of use on a single charge while in daylight mode (or conversely 10 hours in flashing mode), and a MicroUSB port allows you to charge the accessory with any standard charger or power bank.

This sleek detachable bicycle bag holds all + incorporates a rear signal light to ensure safe and comfortable rides!

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Bicycle accessories can make or break any ride. Bulky bike bags or finicky water bottles can be distracting and make the ride a lot less enjoyable, and a lot more stressful. Sometimes the aesthetic of an accessory outweighs its functionality and its unique look isn’t able to ditch the stress it causes. In designing a bike storage bag that’s as mobile as it is sleek and simple, Happy Buddha Design Studio has created Mix Bag, a multi-functional and detachable bike bag that also integrates a rear light for safe travel come night.

Many modern bikes come with a rear light, signaling to the trailing traffic behind the rider that they must share the road. Often, when bike storage bags are attached to a bike behind the rider, that rear light ends up getting covered, making for unsafe riding at night and busy streets. The Mix Bag from Happy Buddha integrates a translucent compartment area and accompanying rear signal light for their storage bag to assure riders that they’ll be seen on the road even at night.

To attach Happy Buddha to their bicycle, users simply slide the Mix Bag’s translucent plastic covering onto the rear light and both can then be connected to the bicycle. The rear light projects onto Mix Bag’s plastic top to increase its visibility and brightness for nighttime riding and packed city streets. Whenever the user’s bike is left unattended, the Mix Bag itself can easily be dislodged from its joined rear light, providing portability and an added sense of security.

Ensuring that the Mix Bag is weatherproof, the designers at Happy Buddha constructed it from waterproof nylon fabric, as well as PC and ABS plastics. Pairing its durable build and slim design with intuitive assembly and attachment, the Mix Bag does not require tools or instruction for setup. With weatherproof tailoring, a clever space-saving design, and portability made simple, the Mix Bag was designed for smooth rides.

Designer: Happy Buddha Design Studio

To install the Mix Bag, slide the storage bag onto the detachable rear light and connect both to the underside of the bike’s seat.

The Mix Bag is detachable to allow for portability when your bike is left unattended.

Coming in either black or white, the Mix Bag embraces a neutral color scheme for ultimate adaptability.

Even at night, the Mix Bag’s translucent plastic top signals to the traffic behind you that you’re sharing the road.

The Mix Bag’s compact, yet roomy build allows for accessory storage for smartphones, keys, wallets, and the likes.

Bicycle accessories that’ll make your next cycling experience safe, secure, and fun!

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Bicycles are slowly becoming people’s preferred means of transportation. People are ditching the fossil fuel consuming and air pollution causing automobiles for the more eco-friendly option of bikes! Not only are bicycles a boon to the environment, but they also promote good health and ensure we get our daily dose of physical exercise done. They’re a fun way of completing leg day without actually visiting the gym! Amping up your bike with handy and innovative accessories always adds to the cycling experience. From a smart self-sufficient helmet to award-winning reflector lights, we’ve curated a collection of accessory designs that’ll make your biking journey safe, secure, and fun! Bike on!

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“You’re used to changing your shoes and jacket to match the location or weather. Why shouldn’t you be able to do the same with your bike?” reTyre’s zippable tire-tread system gives your city bicycle the versatility to work off the road too. A simple zipping mechanism allows you to add a secondary, tougher tread on your tires, letting you go from riding on smooth asphalt to traversing through tough terrain. No matter the speed, the distance, or the condition, reTyre’s selection of treads make it the only set of wheels your bicycle needs… and in turn making your bicycle the only bicycle you’ll need too. reTyre’s special bicycle tire comes with a zipper lining and a selection of treads or skins that you can clad on your existing tire. The original tire works great on asphalt, and the wide variety of skins allow you to ride your bicycle on mud, gravel, rocks, or even snow. Working on straight roads, curved paths, and even on tough downhill trails, the tire treads give you exactly the grip you need, and the industrial-strength zipper system perseveres through rain, snow, or even rocky terrain… every single time. And when not in use, the treads easily fold up and go right into your backpack!

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It seems rather strange that the bicycle doesn’t come equipped with the basic accessories that motorbikes do. For example a brake (tail) light, indicators, or even rearview mirrors. Even with the relatively slower speeds of bicycles, compared to motorbikes, accidents do occur and can be pretty ugly. Here’s the RearViz, an arm-mounted convex rear-view mirror that allows you to look behind you. It comes flat-packed and can open out to reveal the mirror and even adjust in 360° to point wherever you want it. The Velcro fastener means one size fits all, and the curved mirror gives you a pretty wide-angle view of what’s behind you so you don’t have to turn to look around and risk having a bad encounter. Just remember, objects in the mirror are closer than they appear!

WertelOberfell, a Germany-based designed studio, recently debuted their energy self-sufficient bicycle helmet, ESUB Tracks. The helmet is designed to keep cyclists safe and the creative team at WertelOberfell certainly checked all their corners when considering the different obstacles cyclists face on the road. Built-in smart features buzz through this helmet and they’re powered by organic photovoltaics that gives this helmet all the energy it needs to keep you safe. In order to turn the ordinary helmet into an energy self-sufficient, smart helmet, the designers turned to science. Printed organic batteries and a Nano Arduino, a microcontroller, contained in one unit at the rear of the helmet, run the whole show and all the incorporated electric components, but the helmet’s surface provides the energy. The designers achieved the futuristic look of this helmet by wrapping flat, organic, printed photovoltaics all around in order to use the outer layer of ESUB Tracks as a PV module that absorbs sunlight and turns it into energy.

Now, this isn’t really a piece about the map per se, but rather is about being able to use your map more efficiently. Say hello to the NRG Power Stem, a power-bank that’s designed with an extremely well-defined purpose. The NRG Power Stem was designed to fit right on your bicycle’s handlebars, allowing your phone to remain charged while you have it mounted on your bike. The NRG Power Stem isn’t designed like your conventional power banks, because when your phone is attached to your bicycle, it isn’t really a conventional smartphone either. The smartphone takes the role of your bicycle’s dashboard, so the NRG Power Stem makes sure that this dashboard (and navigation system) runs efficiently and effectively, allowing you to cycle and navigate for hours without needing to charge your phone separately.

Meet the FLECTR 360 WING, from the two-time Eurobike Award-winning and German Design Award-winning company. The FLECTR 360 WING is superiorly engineered adhesive reflector panels that provide 360° coverage. From wherever a car headlight may hit the bike, FLECTR 360 WING will grab the driver’s attention making the biker visible with a stunning glow. Designed to be mounted on the rims of a bicycle’s wheels FLECTR 360 WING requires no electronics, battery, or upkeep. Their unique 3D form allows them to easily wrap around any bike wheel rim, while the extended wing design offers more visibility than before, keeping bikers safe and avoiding collisions. The FLECTR 360 WING works right out of the box, catching and scattering any light that shines on it. The reflectors come in 2 high-reflection formats, and 4 standard reflection variants in different colors.

The UFO Lights are a pair of pretty standard-looking pedals, albeit with a key difference. They come with detachable lamp modules that sit flush at the end of each pedal, and you can switch them on to help other vehicles on the road see you better. The lamp units come with 300-lumen LEDs on the inside that automatically switch on when you begin riding, and turn red when you decelerate, just like a taillight would. The lights move as your pedals rotate, creating a motion pattern that makes them easily visible in the dark – allowing cars, bikes, larger vehicles, and even pedestrians to be alerted of your presence. Beams are even cast on the road below to create a 1-meter halo, giving other vehicles a buffer zone as they overtake you.

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It’s a pain to store your bike outside because it might get damaged or stolen. It’s a pain to store your bike indoors because it carries all the outdoor grime and dirt inside along with it. Quite a dilemma, isn’t it? Velo Sock is like a massive sock for your bike that sits snugly over the tires and most of the body, making sure none of that dirt makes it to your freshly cleaned floor, or those rubber tires don’t leave skid marks on your pristine white wall. Made from a polyester and spandex blend (that are incredibly easy to wash), the Velo Socks can fit bikes that are anywhere between 1.6 to 2 meters long. What’s better is the fact that they come in an absolutely mesmerizing set of patterns that turn your bike into a piece of decorative art to liven up your indoors!

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It’s true that we have garages for our cars and motorbikes, but somehow, all the bicycle got was a bicycle rack. There are objects to tether your bicycle to, but not a dedicated space to store your bicycle in, to protect it not only from theft but also from the elements. This revelation led to Eric G. Pearson creating the Alpen, a compact, secure cocoon of sorts for your bicycle. With a hood that slides open and closed quite majestically, you can easily store one bicycle within the Alpen, and given its small framework and pleasantly sleek design, the Aspen itself can be placed (and even displayed) indoors or even outdoors. Built from virtually indestructible roto-molded polyethylene and equipped with an integrated locking mechanism, the Alpen is a custom home for your bicycle, made to protect your ride from the sun, rain, sleet, rust, and obviously, theft too. The Alpen can be secured to a floor, wall, pillar, or even the back of your truck, letting you carry your bike along with its own home wherever you go.

The TorchONE hopes to alter a scary statistic around cycling. In 2019, 56,000 cyclists lost their lives worldwide, and an estimated 60-70% of them were during low-light conditions. By integrating lights right into the helmet, the TorchONE approaches this problem with a two-fold solution – Prevention and Protection. A finalist at the 2020 EuroBike Awards, the TorchONE boasts of a streamlined, aerodynamic design that weighs a mere 382 grams with large, highly visible, removable lights on the front and back. Designed to provide 360° visibility, these are the largest lights to ever be fitted onto a bike, ensuring that they’re sufficiently visible even in bad weather. Attach them when you need and the lights can run 24/7, detach them during the day and the helmet’s weight drops to an incredibly lightweight 266 grams.

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Chances are, if you’ve ever had a bicycle breakdown, you haven’t had your tools handy to make the repair. Designed for casual and serious cyclists alike, Velojackr includes everything you need to make basic repairs and handle maintenance on the road… all squeezed into one compact case that fits any regular bicycle bottle holder! Better yet, the “tool bottle” itself transforms into a stand to protect handlebars, shifters, and handlebar-mounted tech from dirt and ground abrasion. The unit includes the case, a saddle cover, tire levers, puncture patches, and task gloves, and extra storage for other essential items. Just set it and forget it until you need to make a fix!