Interbike 2018: The best shoes and mountain bike apparel from Reno

Interbike found a new, slightly smaller home in Reno, Nevada for 2018. Several brands brought out new or expanded apparel lines, to make sure they were well dressed for the shows debut in the desert. Here’s five of the most runway-worthy mountain bike apparel lines on display at Interibike.

Shimano

Shimano XC7

Shimano GR5 W

Shimano Saint platforms join the XT flats released earlier this year.

Shimano has its expanded line of gravity and trail shoes for 2019 front and centre at its Interbike. Ok, XTR was front and centre, but the shoes had a prominent place in the booth, too. The company is adding the GR5 flat pedal and AM7 clipless pedal to the existing line GR7 and GR9, and AM7. There’s also a GR5 Women’s edition, with a women’s specific last on the shoe, one of the few companies to be doing so. The XC7 gets more than a super sharp red/black gradient fade. It also has low profile Boa closures. They’re not two way adjustable, but the are better tucked away from rocks, roots, and other dangers.

Ride Concepts

Ride Concepts youth Live Wire and Wildcat shoes provide full blown support and protection for your young shredder

Ride Concepts Women's Livewire shoe will be one of the first available when the line launches in November 2018

All Ride Concepts shoes feature D30 padding in high impact areas

The impact padding is built into insoles across the line

Each Ride Concepts shoe comes in an array of colour options

The Women's Skyline matches up with the men's Powerline in Ride Concepts lineup, sharing all the same features

Men's Powerline features a higher, asymmetrical ankle collar, Rubber Kinetics DST 6.0 high grip rubber outsole, and added D30 protection on the inside ankle

Ride Concepts TNT, available Spring 2019, is the brands full DH flat shoe. Higher ankle collar, also with D30 protection, and more support. Rubber Kinetics DST 4.0 Max grip rubber outsole.

The TNT also gets Rubber Kinetics DST 4.0 Max grip rubber outsole. TNT is the only shoe with only Men's sizing - 5 - 13 in half sizes - though there's plans to expand to a women's and clipless version in the future

Youth Coaster sandals sport the same DST 4.0 Max grip rubber as the TNT, to keep you planted post ride

Women's Coaster sandals come in a killer black/gold colour option

Ride Concepts is a new company, based near the Interbike Outdoor Demo area in Truckee, California. The company formed when the owner found a lack of good shoe options for his son, who was riding hard enough to need proper support and protection. Ride Concepts offers youth, women’s and men’s shoe options in a range of price points, and with several innovative features.The insoles are equipped with D3- padding across the board. Separate outsole and midsole construction extends to the youth shoes, and women’s, men’s and youth shoes have specific last. There’s three tackiness grips options for the soles, made by Rubber Kinetics, a range of colours and the nicest post ride sandals you’ll own.

Oakley – DRT5 helmet

Oakley’s expanding their mountain bike line with the new DRT helmet, as well as new mountain bike apparel. World Cup legend Greg Minnaar weighted in on the helmets design, leading to the “eyewear landing zone.” A unique locking mechanism to keep your extra fancy sunglasses safe, instead of just shoving them in a vent hole and hoping they make it to the bottom of the trail with you. More than just a sunglasses holder, the DRT5 helmet features a MIPS option and an adjustable visor.

Mission Workshop – Sans microlight rain shell

Mission Workshop in San Francisco is also growing its line of cycling clothing. The Sans microlight rain shell is a fully waterproof, lightweight jacket. It’s thin material is intended to be small and light enough to easily pack on rides. At just 5.6 ounces (medium) it’s featherweight light. Taped seams, an under-helmet hood, and fancy technical fabric should still keep you dry when the west coast wet weather arrives. Since it’s a Mission garment, it also looks nice enough to wear off the bike.

Assos – Trail mountain bike line

Assos new Trail shorts feature one side pocket lower down, to keep from chafing while pedalling

The lightweight shorts feature a clasp-less and bottonless waist to maximize comfort

Assos trail jersey is a mix of lightweight and protective. Mesh sides meed touher fabric in high-impact areas, like elbows and forearms.

There's no back pockets, but there is a small stash pocket near the cuff for essentials.

Assos Trail jersey

Assos is getting deeper into the mountain bike apparel game. The high end clothing company had its new line of trail options on display at Interbike. The new line adds to its existing XC-oriented apparel. Trail shorts, light weight jersey, padded short liners – with Assos’ floating chamois – for under the Trail shorts, and a couple other options join the existing xc ware. Assos was also showing a new XC jersey designed to be worn with a pack.