Cycling

Back in 1959, the Mini automobile first hit public roads. The Mini motor company is now commemorating that milestone with a 1,959-unit limited run of its first-ever ebike, which sports turn indicators, a built-in touchscreen and an anti-theft system.

If you've gone and bought a high-end ebike, you won't want to tow just any ol' bicycle-camping trailer behind it. With its lowerable floor, sharp lines and composite construction, the Expeditions Trailer may be just what you're looking for.

Two years ago, we heard how the Ohio-based Smart Tire Company was developing shape memory airless bicycle tires. Well, the resulting Metl tires can now be purchased via – you guessed it – a Kickstarter campaign.

When it comes to high-end, high-performance bicycles, most people look to materials like carbon fiber and titanium. Thanks to a technique utilized in the building of the Hypocrite gravel bike, however, aluminum can also fit the bill quite nicely.

Rear suspension systems make a big difference on mountain bikes, but most such setups are a bit "much" for use on regular commuter bikes. The Type 57x bicycle was made with that fact in mind, as it features low-profile frame-integrated rear shocks.

Even though tubeless tires have pretty much become standard on mountain bikes, most riders still carry a separate multitool and tire plug kit. Crankbrothers' new F16 combines the two – along with a chain tool – in one device.

Smart shades have not had the best run (sorry, not sorry, Google Glass), but there have been aspects of the tech that have shown potential when the focus has been on functionality over fad. It's what the creators of Minimis Glass have made a priority.

Light-equipped bike helmets are becoming more popular, but not everyone wants all that extra weight, all the time. The Lumos Ultra Fly is made with that fact in mind, as it works with a tail light that can be magnetically attached only when needed.

Although virtually all hub-motor ebikes offer a zero-assistance mode, the hub typically remains engaged with the motor, creating resistance when pedaling. The Lemmo One addresses that problem with a unique motor-releasing clutch mechanism.

Bike helmets can be bulky things to carry around, which is why we've seen ones that fold or collapse when not in use. The Inflabi takes yet another approach, however, in that it simply gets deflated and rolled up.

Handlebar-mounted smartphones can really help cyclists navigate, but the phone-mount devices themselves may look kinda gawky when not in use. That's where the Micro Mount comes in, as it simply replaces the bike's stem cap.

For 11 years now, German company Pinion's sealed mid-mount gearbox has offered a tougher alternative to derailleurs. It's now been combined with a motor, resulting in a two-in-one ebike module called the Motor.Gearbox.Unit – or MGU for short.