As We See It

Interbike’s ‘candy store’ has the next wave of safety innovations

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On a September Saturday, hundreds of cyclists rallied in memory of Matthew Hunt, his August death the eighth bicyclist fatality in Clark County this year. The community is crying out for better safety measures, from awareness of road-sharing laws to use of visibility gear. No doubt, this will be on the minds of retailers at Interbike.

“Interbike is the largest bicycle-industry trade event in the Americas, and what folks will see when they come in are more than 1,500 brands and the latest innovations in the world of cycling,” says publicist Justin Gottlieb. While the expo hall is limited to industry members through the week, Friday the doors open to “the cyclists who power our industry.” Attendees will be welcome to wander the displays, talk to reps and test badass new bikes on an indoor track, but some of the quieter triumphs of tech may grab even more attention. Of the many safety products Gottlieb highlighted, these are my favorites:

Garmin Varia Rearview Radar Touted as the world’s first cycling radar, Varia attaches to a handlebar stem and warns of cars coming from behind up to 153 yards. It detects multiple vehicles and indicates relative levels of speed and threat, and the taillight unit brightens and flashes accordingly.

Revolights Arcs of LEDs built into the wheels cast 360 degrees of illumination around a cyclist, maximizing visibility to drivers and projecting light onto the ground, signs and obstacles.

Giro Empire ACC Reflective The Santa Cruz company makes fantastic helmets, but its latest safety innovation goes on your feet. The Empire ACC packs performance and now reflectivity, its microfiber upper electrifying when light hits. Basically, your kicks are like glowsticks in the night.

Interbike Custom Appreciation Day September 18, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., $20. Mandalay Bay Convention Center, interbike.com.

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