Interbike 2013

If you've visited Gizmag at all within the past several days, then you're likely aware that we attended the Interbike trade show in Las Vegas last week. Here's a gallery of some of the cycling gadgets that caught our eye, for your gawking pleasure.

The Slidepad system allows both of a bicycle's brakes to be applied with the squeeze of a single lever, in such a way that the front brake will never lock up on its own ... welcome news for riders who don't want to fly over their handlebars.

One of the things that keeps some people from cycling more often is the hassle of changing gears. If that sounds like you, then you might like the Autobike. It shifts gears automatically based on the rider's cadence, and manages to do so without a battery.

Scurra's bizarre-looking Hard Enduro mountain bike forgoes a traditional telescopic suspension fork, and instead uses a linkage combined with a rear shock for its front suspension. The setup allows for seven inches (178 mm) of travel, along with some other claimed benefits.

Ordinarily when you prop a bicycle onto a trainer, you're in for an experience akin to riding an exercise bike. But with its new Rock and Roll trainer, Kinetic is aiming to give riders a more authentic experience when riding, with its frame that allows the bicycle to sway as the rider trains.

Germany's HP Velotechnik is adding a new special edition off road trike to its Scorpion fs range that caters for riders who want to sit back and enjoy the forest scenery from a different perspective. The Scorpion fs Enduro features chunky tires, full suspension, disc braking and 27 gears.

There’s no doubt that using a rear-view mirror makes it safer to cycle on public roads. That said, some riders may feel that a bike-mounted mirror is just one more bit of handlebar clutter. The RearViz mirror offers an alternative – it mounts on the rider’s arm.

If you make hybrid bicycles, how do you get yours to stand out from all the others? Well, it helps if customers can customize it. That’s the approach that Alter Cycles is taking with its bikes. By swapping in different down tubes, the stiffness of the ride can be altered to suit the rider.

While there are plenty of impressive high-tech e-bikes and carbon fiber whatzits on display at Interbike 2013, sometimes it’s the so-called simple things that really catch your attention. Such is the case with a clever cycling multitool known as Fix It Sticks.