Recently, thousands of bike riders pedaled into Monterey’s Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the Sea Otter Classic, an annual festival that’s been celebrating all things bikes since 1990. Racing of all types highlighted the weekend — road, downhill mountain biking, cross country and even e-mountain biking — but hundreds of companies were also in attendance displaying the latest bike products that they’ve spent the last few months (and years) perfecting. Here are ten of our favorites.
Specialized Roubaix
Specialized learned on the hallowed cobbles of Paris-Roubaix that if riders aren’t comfortable, they can’t go fast. So, the company took the experience of riding those uneven stones at 28mph and created a bike that’s comfortable enough for the most poorly maintained roads, without compromising rigidity or aerodynamics.
Ortlieb Atrack BP
Ortlieb’s original Atrack is an award-winning backpack-duffel mash-up of an adventure bag. It’s completely waterproof, thanks to an impregnable TIZIP zipper that’s on the back panel instead of the top, and uses a simple system of straps and attachment points to add customization for lots of outdoor activities. The new BP version focuses on bikepackers; it has a slimmer profile, minimal waist strap and places for bike-focused accessories (like a helmet).
Velocio Recon Micromodal Jersey
It doesn’t matter if they’re covered in logos are stylishly minimal, cycling jerseys aren’t anything like the shirts you wear when you’re out of the saddle. Velocio’s Recon blurs the line some; it’s made of modal, a semi-synthetic fabric material derived partially from beech trees, and it wicks sweat and resists stink but is as soft as your favorite t-shirt.
Thesis OB1 Omni
Thesis is a direct-to-consumer bike brand focused on versatility. Each of its frames comes with a range of options that allow you to create a highly personalized bike for whatever riding suits you best. An excellent example of its intentions is the Omni edition, which comes with two sets of wheels; one for trails, one for the road.
Orucase B2 Bike Travel Bag
Airlines have spiked the cost of traveling with a bike recently, so Orucase created an innovative bike travel bag that skirts their classifications for bikes. It’s below the maximum dimensions that most airlines use to categorize a standard piece of luggage, and its intentional shape makes it look less like a bike too.
Dakine Descent Bike Duffel
When one of Dakine’s product designers decided to create his own duffel for biking, it earned enough attention from his colleagues that the company decided to make a full run. What drew them to the bag? A zip-out changing platform, separate stinky shoe pocket and specialized sleeves and pockets for bike tools.
Diamondback Sync’r Carbon
Diamondback has long separated itself from other bike companies with its approachable prices. As a result of that, many equate the brand with entry-level, but recent models have proven that it’s as serious about riding as it is about savings. The Sync’r is Diamondback’s new carbon hardtail (a bike without rear suspension), and it’s equipped with great parts — including a modern frame geometry, plus-sized tires, a 1×12 gearing and a quality fork — but costs $3,000.
Tubolito S-Tubo MTB
You probably don’t think about the tubes encased in your tires until one of them pops. You should though, and if you’re of a mind to seek out an upgrade to an essential element of your bike then check out Tubolito. Its orange inner tubes are lighter, stronger and pack down smaller (when you’re carrying a spare) than any other available.
Enve 3.4 AR Wheelset
Enve designed its new wheelset to set the standard for modern bike wheels. There’s a lot of science behind that claim, but it’s easier to sum it up like this: the 3.4 AR retains the brand’s signature high-quality construction and adds a wider rim bed that’s optimized for the current tubeless tire standards, and uses a hookless rim to ensure a stable and reliable tire-rim interaction. Still confused? Our tester rode 150 miles on these wheels and said, “they were notably stable descending, provided a comfortable ride, accelerated fast, and provided impressive crosswind performance.”
Canyon Grail AL
For less than $2000, Canyon’s Grail AL gravel bike offers a spec that doesn’t have any notable compromises. It includes a robust frame and a set of tires and wheels that could take you anywhere you want to ride, which makes it the perfect bike for the gravel-curious (and one of the best deals in cycling).
