Kali Maraka Brad Waldron worked on composite materials for the B2 bomber and helped design products for Specialized Bicycles. Now he wants to build you a helmet. The co-founder of Kali Protectives seems well-suited to the job. He’s got a passion for gravity, he cares more about thoughtful design than slick marketing, and he won’t build a lid that he wouldn’t have his children wear. The Maraka features something Kali calls Supervent, which allows it to use lower-density foam for lighter weight while remaining strong enough to withstand impacts. The Maraka is super vented, with enough air flow to keep your noodle cool on even the hottest rides. It’s a looker, too. Look for it in shops soon with a price of $189. A high-end road helmet called the Phenom is in the works.

We are in a golden age of cycling. Almost every bicycle made today is top-notch. Advances in fabrics and thoughtful, innovative design has made cycling clothing fit and feel better than ever. Helmets are cooler, sunglasses are more comfortable, wheels are lighter as well as more aerodynamic, and tires are more durable.



There’s no better time to be a cyclist and no better reason to become one if you aren’t already. Whether you’re an old hand who hasn’t upgraded your kit in awhile or a rookie just getting started, there’s no shortage of great gear out there. Here are some suggestions to get you rolling in style. Above: GT Edge Ti GT has brought back the Edge Ti road bike, and it is a thing of beauty. With damn near everyone churning out carbon frames these days, it’s nice to see a beautiful bit of craftsmanship with impeccable welds and thoughtful details. You can’t help but look at this $2,000 rig (frame and fork) and remember the days, not so long ago, when titanium was all the rage. My buddy Byron over at Bike Hugger threw his leg over an Edge Ti and judging from the grin on his ugly mug, this is one sweet ride indeed.

Camelbak L.U.X.E. NV Hydration packs are awesome ... unless you’re a woman. I can’t speak from experience, but I’ve heard the shoulder straps have a tendency to interfere with, well, let’s just say sensitive areas./p> Camelbak is racing to the rescue in 2013 with the $135 L.U.X.E. NV. The shoulder straps are mounted a little bit closer together to suit smaller frames and they tighten at the bottom to keep hardware off the chest. The S-curve harnesses keep weight and pressure off the areas where you don’t want weight and pressure. This all-day, go-anywhere hydration pack holds 100 ounces of your favorite beverage and has plenty of room for snacks and other odds and ends, making it as practical as it is comfortable.

The Cannondale Claymore 1 Cannondale continues cranking out lustworthy rides, and the Claymore is no exception. The innovation here is the ability to change from 100 mm of suspension travel to 180 mm at the flip of a switch, making the Claymore two bikes in one. Cannondale calls the two positions “elevate” and “flow.” New-agey names aside, from all reports this rig can go up, over and around damn near anything you might find at the big drop park, but also provide all-day comfort out on the trail. This being a $5,000 ride, Cannondale spec’d the Claymore with a mix of quality stuff: SRAM bottom bracket and cranks, Shimano XT shifters and rear derailleur, Avid Elixir 9 brakes. I can’t wait to abuse, er, ride one.

Lazer Electron Lazer? Sunglasses? Doesn’t Lazer make helmets? Yes, yes it does. They’re making some great lids: stylish, lightweight and innovative. Now the company has turned its attention to sunglasses. The Electron ($95) provides a whopping 140 SPF protection, using a substance Lazer calls Melanin. These specs also sport photochromic lenses that change the amount of light permitted through the lens based on the amount of sunshine or lack thereof. They’ll let as much as 35 percent of the light reach your eyes, or as little as 12 percent. That might sound like a teensy amount, but you still get a surprising amount of clarity and definition. You can wear these in almost any riding situation. If you hate changing your lenses mid-ride, find yourself riding all day in mixed light situations or experience a lot of eyestrain, Lazer’s just ended your hunt for great eyewear.

Assos Summer base layer I admit that uncontrollable lust for a base layer seems beyond ridiculous. But the Assos base layer is so beautifully made and so comfortable you can actually embrace the feeling. Cyclists have been spending money for base layers during cold weather, but I’ve become a big fan of summer base layers. It’s great to have a wicking layer between my skin, the straps of my bib and my jersey. It keeps you drier and cooler. Assos has redesigned its base layers for 2013 and they look amazing. They’re sewn much like socks, with the only real seam being at the top to maximize comfort. This base layer will be available in the short-sleeve version pictured, as well as a sleeveless and a long-sleeve version for fall. $109.

Hutchison Atom The Hutchinson Atom just might be the holy grail of tires. It provides all the advantages of a tubeless setup and all the ride characteristics of a tubular. The Atom is a lightweight, race-oriented tire coming in at under 300 grams (10.5 ounces), yet it still offers a strip of flat-resistant materials for durability. Hutchinson has been pushing tubeless tech for a while and argues, rather convincingly, that the bicycle is by and large the last place you’ll find tubes. The ability to run lower pressure, essentially eliminate flats and enjoy a smoother ride all point toward a road without tubes.

Reynolds Aero 72 Paul Lew knows a thing or two about composite wheels, having designed wheel sets that have won everything from Tour de France stages to the Ironman triathlon. His latest innovation is something he calls Dispersive Effect Termination, or DET. DET is a new rim shape that includes a small lip at the edge of the wheel where the tire meets the rim. It may not look like much, but Lew says it decreases the effect of crosswinds and smooths airflow, reducing drag, improving control and increasing speed. We haven’t ridden a pair yet – and at $2,875 a set, we’re waiting for them to send us a review pair -- but the reviews we’ve seen say they work. The Aero 72s weigh in at a scant 1,680 grams (59 ounces) for the pair and is built using Reynolds-branded DT hubs and spokes. You can also get them in 58 mm and 90 mm depths for $2,775 and $2,975 respectively.

SheBeest The SheBeest is back. The company that made functional, fun and stylish bicycle attire for women has returned with a little help from the folks at LeeMarc Industries, which brought the wildly popular brand back from extinction. The $65 S-Cut jersey, shown here in orion blue, is a perfect example why the brand has such a cult following. It’s comfortable and thoughtfully designed, with an 11-inch zipper for maximum venting, and cut with plenty of room across the chest and a slight taper at the bottom to go over the hips. But don’t take my word for it. Listen to my wife. She loves the Beest.

Gore Xenon GT AS Jacket short Here's a solution for a problem you didn’t realize you had. The Gore Xenon GT AS jacket is a packable, breathable waterproof jacket with what Gore calls an "active shell." It's designed for warm summer days when it is raining — or threatening to do so — but too hot to wear a full rain jacket. If you're headed out under gray skies, or planning an epic ride and don't know what the weather will bring, the $300 Gore short-sleeve jacket will fit the bill.

Dahon 2012 Curve D3 One of the biggest complaints people have about folding bikes is they often offer a flimsy frame and nervous handling. That’s what happens when you put a hinge in the middle of a bicycle with 16-inch wheels. That said, Dahon has done an impressive job with the $699 Curve D3. It is remarkably stable, with a solid feel and confident handling. The internal three-speed hub works beautifully, and the Curve D3 is incredibly fun to ride. It’s just the thing for urban commuters or anyone else who needs a functional folding bicycle.