We noted back in February that Shimano had entered the eyewear and cycling bag market, and now the company has packed it in with a new hydration system. The new Unzen Hydration pack features the company’s ACCU3D technology, which reportedly allows the bag to wrap around the wearer while moving with him/her.
The Rider Fit X-Harness also provides for a snug fit for better stability on the bike. The Unzen will be available in 6, 10 and 15-liter capacities with a 2 liter Hydrapak reservoir for the 6L bag, and either 2L or 3L for the larger bags. So this means space for water and other stuff for those on the go.
The League of American Bicyclists, Endomondo and Bikes Belong announced this week that more than 30,000 Americans took part in the 2012 National Bike Challenge, with a collective journey of more than 12 million miles that spanned all 40 states.
For 2013 Sidi will be introducing its new line of Wire shoes – which actually made its debut at the Tour de France on the feet of Peter Sagan of the Liquigas-Cannondale squad. The new top of the line shoes showed up at this week’s Eurobike in Friedrichshafen, Germany.
Urban transport bike maker Tern certainly took the folding bike market by storm in recent years, and now the company looks to swoop in again, fittingly with its Swoop series of bicycles that will feature an ultra low-step frame design. The Swoop offers a top tube that is only 11-inches (28cm) off the ground, which makes it one of the lowest step bikes on the market.
Japanese bicycle component manufacturer Shimano continues to drive innovation. The company was the first (at least successfully) to introduce electronic shifting for bicycles, with its high-end Dura Ace groupo. Now the company could be shifting gears again, as it looks to introduce an 11 speed version.
Last week our friends at BikeRadar.com got us all excited, and we helped spread the rumors that Geoff Kabush was spotted possibly riding a prototype Shimano Di2 XTR groupo – in other words it sounded like the popular electronic shifters for the road were going off-road.
Road cyclists have been able to do the electronic shifting thing for a while now. Shimano, which introduced the first successful (key word is successful) electronic shifters with its Dura Ace line that the pros seem to love, brought Di2 to its step down (but still very high-end) Ultegra line last year, and this season will see rival Campagnolo also going electronic. Meanwhile there have been efforts to develop electronic shifting for off-road, but only in the aftermarket world… until now.
If you know the name Shimano you either know the company’s cycling components or its fishing lures, but now the company is shifting gears, and will introduce a new line of products for next year – cycling bags. Our friends at BikeRadar are reporting that the company’s debut in the luggage category will arrive in October, so it won’t be on most wearers’ backs until next season, but this should certainly shake up the market a bit.
Bicycle shifting in the 21st century has gone electric. Japan’s Shimano entered the juiced up gear controls a few years ago with its high-end Dura-Ace Di2, which is favored today by many pro riders. This year at Interbike Shimano also officially introduced itsDi2 electronic system in its step down – but still high-end – Ultegra groupo. In fact, it has had many deciding whether to go with the mechanic Dura-Ace or the electric Ultegra Di2. Not an easy choice, and now one that is even harder to make as Campagnolo is getting in on the action.
