The bike industry will converge on Las Vegas next week for the annual Interbike trade show, where brands from around the world will roll out their 2012 product

lines for stores and distributors in the U.S. We got a preview of several product highlights this summer at an industry retreat in Utah and tried them out on roads and

trails above Park City. Here are a few of our favorites. Above: PowerTap G3 The power-meter category is exploding this year. These devices measure a rider’s direct power output in real time, measured in watts. For training purposes and for gauging effort in races, power is vastly superior to heart rate as a measure of effort, as it’s not affected by temperature, diet, stress, and other factors that can tweak your pulse. PowerTap, one of the dominant players in this category, has completely revamped

its system for 2012. The heart of the setup is still the sensor integrated into the rear

hub. But that new hub, called the G3, is about 20 percent lighter than the current

top-end PowerTap hub and also much easier to service. All of the key electronics are

housed in a cap that unscrews from the hub body. The G3 hubs will start at $1,199 and will also be offered in complete high-end wheel

sets starting at $2,999. Entry-level PowerTap hubs and wheel sets will be $799 and

$999, respectively.

Ridley Noah For price-is-no-object cyclists, Ridley has released a refined version of its Noah

aero-road bike. The Ridley FB features front and rear brakes integrated into the fork

and frame. The fork legs and seat stays (the tubes that extend from the rear wheel to

the seat post) are much wider than you’re used to seeing and feature a split design.

The front half of each looks normal, but the back half hinges at the top. These are the

brake calipers, tucked completely out of the wind. The Belgian company claims the

design—three years in the making—reduces weight, increases aerodynamics, and

actually improves braking performance. We didn’t get a chance to test the bike. And

given it’s $5,395 price for the frame and fork alone, we probably won’t be riding one

anytime soon. But it’s fun to look at.

NuVinci on Ellsworth This carbon-fiber Enlightenment hard tail from Ellsworth is lust-worthy on it’s own. But it gets even better when you realize it’s built around a NuVinci N360 hub.

Unlike standard internal hubs, which use interlocking cogs to provide up to 14

gears without the need for derailleurs, NuVinci hubs use a “planetary” design built

around interlocking spheres. Gearing isn’t incremental but, rather, progressive, like

a dimmer switch. The hubs are heavy (5.25 lbs) but getting lighter. NuVinci’s first

model was well over 8 lbs.

Lazer Magneto Laser was showing off a prototype setup that eliminates sunglass temples in favor

of magnets integrated into the glasses and the helmet straps (the patch on the red

strap). The glasses were very rough prototypes, so we weren’t allowed to take

photos. But they are basically just wraparound lenses with magnets at each end

that cling to their counterparts in the straps—no temples. It’s a slightly odd-looking

setup, and it’s difficult to see how flexible straps would be a more secure purchase

for eyewear than our ears. But we won’t be able to make a final call until we get a

chance to ride in production samples.

GT Zaskar 100 GT is putting its storied Zaskar name on a full-suspension bike this year. The full-

carbon Zaskar 100 features four inches of suspension travel, front and back, and is

about 1 lb lighter than the Marathon model it replaces in the GT lineup. The build

includes a RockShox Reba RL fork and a mix of parts from Shimano, SRAM, Formula,

and others. Price will be $4,200.

Assos Fugu Speer Socks Yes, socks. And $60 socks, at that. The Speer features two types of insulating fabric

plus a layer of wind-proofing material over the toes to reduce the foot-numbing cold

that accompanies every winter bike ride.

Enve System wheels Utah composites company Enve has unveiled a new approach to aero wheels.

Designed in collaboration with Formula 1 aerodynamics engineer Simon Smart,

the wheels feature not just different wheel depths for the front and back, but also

different widths. The rear wheel in each pair is narrower than its counterpart up

front (24mm vs 26mm). Smart told us that, given the vastly different turbulence at

the rear wheel, versus what the front wheel encounters, this setup reduces drag and

enhances stability. Enve has three wheel sets in the line, all tubular only. The System 6.7, designed for all-around road racing, features a 60mm-deep front wheel and a 70mm rear. The

lightweight, climbing-specific System 3.4 has a 34mm front and 45mm rear, and the

8.9, designed for the triathlon market, boasts an 85mm-deep front and 95mm rear.

Prices will start at around $3,000.

Camelbak Charge LR Camelbak may finally have a challenger for the M.U.L.E., the hydration pack that has

dominated the company’s product lineup for years. The all-new Charge LR utilizes a

2-liter hydration pouch nestled down at the bottom of the pack and in two wings

the wrap around the wearer’s hips. This shifts the load down to the lower back (LR

stands for lumbar), and the wings can be cinched down via two handy straps to

prevent the bladder from sloshing around as it empties. A perforated foam exoskeleton stabilizes the pack and does a decent job of

circulating air against your back. There are enough pockets for extra layers, a day’s

worth of food, and essentials like tools and tubes. Zippered pockets on the hip

pads keep your phone handy for quick calls or photo opps on the trail. We haven’t

touched our trusty M.U.L.E. since getting our test sample. The Charge will be available in February for $100.

Wahoo Fitness Georgia-based Wahoo Fitness’ Bike Pack comes with a bike mount and sensors for

turning your iPhone into a full-on (and gigantic) bike computer. The sensors all

work on the popular Ant+ protocol, which means your iPhone will be able to read

speed, cadence, heart rate, and power data from several devices already on the

market. And the company claims that there are currently more than 60 third-party

apps using the Wahoo API for integration with the system, from MapMyRide to

RunKeeper. The company claims that with iOS 5, AirPlay support will let users project their

data on their TVs for a fun twist on indoor training (not that indoor training is ever

exactly fun). The Bike Pack costs $150.