Eurobike 2018 Day 2: Ridley Noah Fast, Fox Live Valve and more

More from the Eurobike floor, including stuff I can’t really tell you about. Sorry to be coy, but some cool stuff just has to wait.

Ridley Noah Fast

Ridley, the Belgian bike maker, launched its latest aero bike on the second day of the Tour de France. It’s now being ridden by the members of Lotto Soudal. To cheat the wind, the bike has a one-piece stem and handlebar. Even though the two pieces are one unit, Ridley has made sure riders have plenty of fit options. There are six stem lengths: 90 to 140 mm. Aero spacers come in 3-, 5- and 10-mm heights. The bike also has cables routed through the F-Steerer, keeping everything smooth, neat and lowering drag.

Fox Live Valve Electronic System

Scott, along with Giant, Rocky Mountain and Pivot, have worked with Fox to create the Live Valve Electronic System, automatic suspension adjustment. “If there’s a shock coming from the bottom, the system opens in three milliseconds,” says Rene Krattinger, senior product manager mountain bike at Scott. The system has two sensors on the down tube just above the bottom bracket, as well as one on the front fork bridge and one on the non-drive-side chainstay. They detect bumps in the trail as well as the fore and aft tilt of the bike. Krattinger says enduro pros have been able to shave two to three seconds off their times. “The bike is always super-efficient. When you pedal, you just move forward,” he says, as Live Valve manages pedal bob. With Scott, look for the Live Valve on the 2019 Genius 900 Ultimate.

Garmin Edge Explore

Garmin head units can help you with training and navigating. Some units do training better. Some are more focused on helping to get you to where you want to go, or to find new routes. The Garmin Edge Explore is in that latter category. With the touchscreen Edge Explore, you can pull in routes built through Garmin Connect or other apps, such as Strava or Trailforks. The head unit works well with the Varia RTL510 rearview radar to help keep you safe on the road.

Northwave Tribe flat-pedal shoe

Italian brand Northwave has a new flat-pedal shoe for the trails. It features a sole that the company developed with Michelin. It uses a compound called Gecko, which provides a sticky grip. On top of that is a thermal-plastic shank that prevents side-to-side flex but bends just enough for walking. Finally comes the insole to keep your foot comfortable.

Kurt Kinetic

So, I kinda know what’s coming from Kurt. And I kinda don’t. But what I do know is cool. But I can’t say. Hmmm, I probably shouldn’t have mentioned it. Stay tuned. More to come later this month. And even more later this year.

Shimano Breakaway Jersey and Bib Shorts

The Shimano Breakaway jersey and bib shorts are performance pieces of clothing. The jersey is perfect for hot rides in the sun. It wicks away sweat well and shields your skin with an ultraviolet protection factor of 40. The bib shorts have a seam-free chamois for excellent comfort on a long ride. The garment also has reflective elements to make you more visible if your long ride goes late in the day.

Watteam Powerbeat G3 Power Meter

The Powerbeat G3 is the next generation of DIY power meters from Watteam. What makes the Powerbeat DIY? You affix the sensors to your cranks yourself. “We want to be the Ikea of power meters,” says Ofir Gal-On, founder and CEO of Watteam. He wants his power meters to be accessible to as many riders a possible. Also, if a rider makes a mistake putting the power meter on, Gal-On views that as his company’s mistake. With the recent release of the Powerbeat G3, a training app has also come out, which aims to turn your smartphone into a head unit.