Wheels | Evolving Consumer

Holiday Gift Guide: Lightning Strikes for Cyclists

Here’s Johnny! White Lightning has expanded its “Johnny” line of transport products with a new Wheel Johnny (MSRP: $49.99), which is specially designed for transport and storage of a bike wheel. Made of water and UV-resistant two ply rubber/nylon material it will product those wheels when they’re off the bike, while a zipper enclosure still allows for quick access. A padded divider protects rims and hubs from scratches and scuffs.

The Johnny features hand and shoulder straps to make for easy carrying while a large interior pocket can hold a cassette, chain whip, lock-ring tool, adjustable wrench, and spare tubes or just about anything else. The Wheel Johnny accommodates road, hybrid, and mountain bike wheels, including 29er wheels.

White Lighting Official Website

Getting Personal… Wheels

Many parts of a bike can be truly customized, but at a cost. While custom-built wheels have been rolling for a while, the German high-end wheelmaker Lightweight is now offering a limited edition that can be truly personalized as well as customized.

Whatever users would like to see laser engraved on the rims can be done. The white text will be applied in capital letters on the rims, and the shorter the text the larger the font! The program applies to the company’s Meilenstein or Fernweg wheel models. Orders must go through an authorized Lightweight dealer, and there is no additional charge for the personalization service.

The personalization program runs through Nov. 22, with delivery by Christmas guaranteed.

Lightweight Identity Official Website

Lose the Tube on the Road

One of the most annoying “common” problems with cycling is that flat tires are all too, well common. But a solution could be to ditch the tube. Last week Bontrager showed off its new wheel models and tires that essentially allow riders to hit the road without tubes.

This might seem like a strange way to tackle the problem of flats, but it actually does work. First the tubeless tires require a special wheel, and a sealant for tube-free operation. The tires that Bontrager are introducing this year as part of the 2013 line up also feature a Kevlar bead instead of the more common carbon fiber one, and this should be strong enough to resist blowouts. Flats are also addressed by the use of the sealant, and the fact that these run on lower inflation pressure.

Sounds like a way to avoid flats and it means less stuff – like tubes and pump – to bring on the ride. Of course if you do get a flat you’ll need a phone to call for a ride.

[Via BikeRadar: Bontrager road tubeless wheels and tires hit the road]

ARIS Rolls With New Wheels

There has been a lot of development with skateboards – including composite decks – but now ARIS Sports is taking a new turn that will allow riders to change the way they turn. The ARIS Blade Runner features conical wheels, which also feature carving wheels with the diameter or regular wheels at the trucks, but become narrower towards the outside.

The boards, which will be available in three models including a snowboard styled deck, long and short boards. Each will cost about $200 and these will be available later this year.

ARIS Sports Official Website
[Via Gizmag: ARIS Sport throws a new curve at skateboard wheels]

Wheels Keep Turning, and Now Are Spinning Green

This month Deltron, Inc. announced that its Elasco Inc. manufacturing subsidiary has taken skateboarding in a new – and greener – direction. This latest move has enabled Sector 9, a manufacturer of skateboards and apparel, to offer eco-friendly skateboard wheels. Sector 9 has become one of the market leaders in design and manufacture of skate long boards, which is a fast-growing segment in the skateboard market. And now the company’s boards with have organic-based wheels to let them do the rolling. The new Elasco wheels are actually made with a soybean-based polyols.

“Founded in 1993, Sector 9 has a long and distinguished history of leadership in the boardsports industry,” said Deltron CEO Henry Larrucea. “The Sector 9 team has demonstrated a strong commitment to the environment, providing sustainable products as well as offering information on ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption in its corporate materials. When Elasco developed proprietary formulations to produce polyurethane wheels using soybean polyols, Sector 9 seized the opportunity to be the first skateboard company to offer more sustainable wheels. Increasing sales this year show that the ‘green’ wheels have strong appeal for environmentally conscious customers including surfers, skateboarders and the broader youth market.” Continue reading Wheels Keep Turning, and Now Are Spinning Green

Wheels Keeping on Turning and Turning

While the general economy in the United States seems to be barely moving, Elasco, Inc. is just wheeling along. The company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deltron, has seen a significant increase in the sales of its high performance roller skate wheels. And we thought roller skates were as dead as disco.

But in fact Elasco has increased sales of its proprietary polyurethane wheels to existing quad skate OEM customers by 116 percent this year. Although part of this could be that consumers are replacing wheels on old skates, as roller skating as a retro activity is catching on, the other part of the equation is that roller derby is also hot again. Continue reading Wheels Keeping on Turning and Turning