Cycling

A couple of years ago, Specialized announced its SWAT Conceal Carry multitool, that sat inside a bike's existing steerer tube. Trek sub-brand Bontrager has now unveiled its own take on the concept, with the BITS Integrated MTB Tool.

If you're a mountain biker who wants to go fast yet maintain control, then you shouldn't overuse your brakes. That's where the BrakeAce comes in, as it's a power meter that's designed to monitor your brake usage throughout each ride.

Among its many other remarkable qualities, graphene is the world's strongest human-made material. It's perhaps not all that surprising, therefore, that it's now been incorporated into a chain-protecting bicycle lubricant – and quite a pricey one, at that.

For just ripping around town, many cyclists prefer simple, low-maintenance bicycles. The ESO Bike is designed with that in mind, as it lacks a chain, cables, gears, brake pads and paint, plus it should never rust or get flat tires.

Five years ago Garmin first introduced its Varia Radar system, which warns cyclists of cars approaching from behind. The company has now announced an updated version, that offers a couple of key improvements over the original.

The pedals are a part of the bike that we don't give much thought to, but perhaps we should. Here are a few unique pedals we've come across, which show that someone out there has indeed been thinking about the things.

A new study has delved into the mechanics of muscle maintenance, finding that even short stints on a bike can boost the activity of “death marker protein,” which clears out damaged muscle proteins to keep things in working order.

Although there are now several electronics-laden "smart" bike helmets on the market, the Lumos was one of the first. Now its designers are back, with the new-and-improved Lumos Ultra.

Although most mountain bikes now feature suspension forks, road bikes are typically still rigid. That said, a few devices have been created to help them soak up unwanted road vibrations. Here are a few we've seen, that each took a different approach.

Scientists in the UK have tapped 25 years worth of Census data to track the habits and health outcomes of hundreds of thousands of commuters, finding an association between those who avoid daily car travel and a lower risk of early death.

In urban environments, it's not uncommon to see cyclists wearing masks that filter out airborne pollutants. The Iwind is a little different, though, in that it actually blows purified air onto the user's face.

While a set of lights are an essential part of night-time bicycle commuting, advances in electronics have led to a number of headlights that do more than just shine straight onto the road. Here are a few such "value-added" lights that caught our eye.