Hype The Essentials
POC Omne Eternal
Helmets are a staple for most riders but the self-powered POC Omne Eternal is seriously next level. It’s built with Powerfoyle solar cell technology, which can use, convert and store all types of light energy, daylight and indoor lighting included.Why is that a good thing? As soon as the helmet is on your head, the integrated rear light turns on to enhance your visibility on the roads – its sensors can determine when it’s in use and when light is needed. It’s also smart enough not to be the sort of light you’ll accidentally leave on overnight and wake up to a flat battery. So, being visible is covered – what about other safety concerns? The helmet also features POC’s innovative SPIN technology (Shearing Pad Inside) to protect against rotational forces in a crash. And style, do we even need to mention it?
More info: pocsports.com
Price: € 250.00
Mammut THE-Hardshelljacke
We’ve lost count of how many times our parents told us to layer up so we don’t catch a cold. That said, we’re convinced that they wouldn’t have had to waste their breath if we had grown up with this Mammut jacket. The brand doesn’t believe in bad weather, just the wrong choice of clothing. It has invested a lot of R&D in their THE hardshell hooded jacket – a hard shell designed for urban adventures, it has a super hardwearing construction using GORE-TEX PRO fabric and its “Most Rugged” technology, designed for serious alpine use. The 3-layer laminate consists of a super abrasion resistant outer layer bonded to the Gore Tex inner over a micro grid liner. The 28,000 mm water column, high collar, hood, and reinforced hood peak means you’ll stay bone dry and sheltered from the wind. If the sun does show its head in the city, the half-zip gives flexible temperature control on the fly. Whether you’re out on the daily bakery dash or commuting all year round, this jacket will not disappoint.
More info: mammut.com
Price: € 800.00
Oakley Kato-Brille
You rarely ride without glasses and it isn’t just for style. They protect your eyes from three things: oncoming wind, dirt and dust, the sun, and from looking bad, of course. Known for their statement eyewear, the team at Oakley have got so good at what they do because they’ve been doing it since the 1980s. Sure, from time to time, some of the designs verge on the absurd. The mask-like Katos could easily be defined as such: they’ve got a frameless design with a one-piece lens for superlative field of vision. In terms of fit, the wrap design is all about contouring your face to provide extremely high protection and vision. There are various nose pads to ensure you’ll find the right fit and angle for the lens, plus the lens’ Prizm technology to enhance contrast packaged up in signature Oakley quality.
More info: oakley.com
Price: € 270.00
Adidas Velosamba
Why do riding shoes always have to look so much like riding shoes? When it comes to your commute, wouldn’t it be sweet if there was a pair of trainers capable of both transferring power to your pedals and letting you traipse easily around the office? Wait a minute… they do? Adidas have just transformed their most popular sneaker into exactly this. The Adidas Velosamba looks remarkably like its non-cycling counterpart, with the very same upper and lacing design as the classic Samba that first launched in 1949. The difference is tucked away underneath, with a reinforced sole and standard 2-bolt cleat compatibility. With a leather upper, your feet should stay warm in winter, dry in the wet and cooler in summer. There are reflective accents for added visibility on the roads and six colourways to choose from.
More info: adidas.de
Price: € 120.00
Tex–lock Eyelet
Even in friendly, bike-mad Amsterdam, stolen bikes are the number one crime. So that you don’t become a statistic, German-based tex–lock have created the eyelet. It may look like a fabric lock, but it’s actually made of a composite of textile layers with a metal core. The design has two major benefits: it’s flexible and won’t scratch your frame. It features two different loops on either end, letting you use it flexibly, looping it through itself, your wheels, railings or around lamp posts, so that you can reach solid anchors that a standard lock might not manage. Catering to all tastes, the tex–lock eyelet comes in three lengths, four colourways and with two matching mini D-locks.
More info: tex-lock.com
Price: € 109.96–139.94
Tubolito X-Tubo City/Tour
Almost every relationship will hit a bump in the road, but when it happens on a bike, there’s nothing more annoying. On long rides, you should really carry a pump and spare tube, amongst other essentials. Because no one wants a bulky tube in their pocket, Tubolito have developed the ultra lightweight and compact S-Tubo using a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU). The X-Tubo is the more robust, urban evolution of the S-Tubo and specifically designed for city and touring bikes. It’s engineered to withstand whatever comes under your rubber (literally), be lighter than a standard butyl tube, and minimise rolling resistance. The team at Tubolito are so convinced by their high-tech tube that they’ve even thrown in a one-year puncture guarantee.
More info: tubolito.com
Price: € 24.90
Words: Rudolf Fischer Photos: Manufacturers
