The big brands at released lots of groundbreaking products this year (five of which we covered in our聽Gear of the Show聽awards). But the little guys also brought the heat. We were so excited to find small companies pushing boundaries in both technology and style that聽we rounded up our six favorites聽below.
Search and State
Devin O鈥橞rien and Daniel Golden, the founders of聽, design and make all their kits in New York City. That鈥檚 an important detail because it both ensures an ultra high-quality product (everything is sewn in the garment district)聽and聽helps explain the sleek urban聽aesthetic. Almost everything they make is understated聽but sophisticated,聽with clean lines and simple colors. But look is only part of the appeal. Behind the design there聽are bolts of high-end materials聽(the jacket uses聽,聽for example) that make for comfy, versatile kits.
Lumenus
, founded by Jeremy Wall and backed by Outdoor Tech, will soon make a wind jacket (plus other products, including a聽pack) with integrated LED lights that can聽relay directions while you ride. The jacket pairs with an app on your phone, and that app talks with聽Google Maps to light your way. Simply set a destination, and as you ride lights will flash on the jacket,聽alerting you where to turn. LEDs in the back also function like brake lights when you slow down, and the jacket flashes as you go through an intersection to alert cars to your presence.聽The best part? When the lights aren鈥檛 flashing, the jacket looks like a normal commuter piece, not a聽gaudy safety device.
Abbey Bike聽Tools
Jason Quade started in Bend, Oregon,聽in 2012, because he wanted a set of high-end tools that would match the high-end bikes the industry was making. Now,聽the company produces a full line of products that includes聽everything from a beautiful wood-handle pedal wrench to a hanger alignment gauge with ultra-tight tolerances. Ultimate confirmation of just how good the tools are came this past summer when 15 teams in the Tour de France used his products to work on bikes.
Cadence
Dustin Klein, a Portland-based artist, started ,聽in 2003, selling a collection a聽T-shirts made for bike messengers. The company, now based in Los Angeles, California, has since developed a聽full-line of clothing for a broad range of buyers. Products like the are lusted after by the young commuter crowd, but you鈥檒l also find the company's聽Italian-made kit on the backs of old-school roadies. Some of the designs are loud, others are subtle, but everything looks good thanks to Klein鈥檚 artistic oversight.聽
Tanner Goods
, founded in Portland, Oregon, by Jevan Lautz and Sam Huff, got its start making high-quality leather goods such as聽wallets and belts. More recently, it聽released a set of elegant bike bags. Built with burly waxed canvas and beautiful leather straps, the bags are designed to age well,聽so they look better over time. They鈥檙e also bomber and should last approximately forever.聽
驰别苍诲谤补叠耻颈濒迟听
The turned a lot of heads at Interbike鈥攑artially because it鈥檚 a cargo bike with front suspension that will transport 500聽pounds, but also because the designer, Zach Yendra, was rolling around with a keg strapped on it. That鈥檚 actually how the bike,聽which YendraBuilt will try to fun on Kickstarter soon,聽got its start. Yendra聽and his dad,聽Carl,聽built one for Equinox Brewing in Fort Collins, Colorado,聽to deliver beer. It was so popular, the duo decided they had to produce a full run.聽Once the bikes goes into production, YendraBuilt will offer several different models with different cargo bays, different tire sizes, and an optional motor.
