Table of Contents
Firstly, I would like to award a special Alleykat prize to our favourite bit of touring bike gear at Eurobike 2013:
Ortlieb High Visibility Bike Panniers
These new panniers employ not only a high visibility colour, but reflective yarn is interwoven into the thick Cordura material of the bag. The result? They effectively glow at night under car headlights or maybe even a full moon! Just like everything Ortlieb these bags are 100% waterproof, and as we’ve proven time and time again, they are durable enough for both your ride to work or a world tour! Available in your local bike shop soon.
Eurobike Gallery
Our good friend Mick was able to snap some pictures of the Eurobike highlights while we went hiking in Kyrgyzstan. Thanks Mick – you rock!
Brooks
Famous for their saddles but Brooks also have a decent range of bags for cycle tourists too. Check out the new Gold Award winning ‘Cambium’ saddle. It’s design is the same as Brooks’ leather saddles, however it employs rubber as a replacement material and is covered with organic waterproofed cotton! The advantage? It feels and rides like a Brooks, but it’s waterproof: perfect for tropical regions where Brooks saddles age very quickly.
Busch and Müller
The usual cost effective but brilliant lighting and electrical gear from B&M.
Cinq5
Hiding in the Tout Terrain stand were these new Rohloff trigger shifters from Cinq5: one lever shifts up, and the other down. They are perfect for if you run a Rohloff with road handlebars. Available for 2014 in anodised silver, check out their catalogue HERE which also features the latest USB dynamo charging device, the Plug III.
Gates Carbon Drive
Now fits on all gear hubs. The maintenance free design is certainly our choice for bicycle touring on sealed roads. HERE is our 20000km review.
Gilles Berthoud
Classically designed French bike gear by GB. The bags aren’t to our taste, but the mudguards, seats and Rohloff shifter certainly are!
Idworx
Always nice and very ‘clean’ looking touring bikes at the idworx stand!
Patria
One day we’ll swing a leg over a Patria. We really like what this company does with their touring range, especially the Pinion 18s gearbox equipped model!
Pinion Gearbox
We think Pinion has a place in the bicycle touring market. We still hope to review a Tout Terrain or Patria with the Pinion Gearbox soon! HERE is our write up on why we think Pinion is a good idea.
Rivet Cycle Works
Kat owned a Rivet saddle which she quite liked, although we swapped it out for a Brooks recently because her feet kept going numb. The numbness is still with her on the Brooks saddle unfortunately, so she only has good things to say about the Rivet! You can read Kat’s reviews HERE and HERE.
Rohloff
One of the best things a bicycle traveller can own. Rohloff had a nice looking stand this year complete with their 24ct gold hub!
Schmidt
Schmidt had cookies at their stand! Although they would have needed to lure us in: they arguably make the best dynamo hubs around. SON review HERE.
Supernova Lighting
We always love seeing Supernovas stand; this crew knows design. Check out the fully submerged E3 lights running perfectly in the fish tank! Don’t forget to read our post about when we visited the factory HERE.
Surly
All the good gear from one of our favourite bicycle touring manufacturers – they still really need to upgrade the brakes on the LHT though! Never mind, just get the Disc Trucker instead. LHT review HERE.
Tandems: Pedal Power
One of the few tandem-only stands at Eurobike!
Tandems: Santana
Spotted on the street. Lots of bling on this one…
Tandems: Stevens
One of the only big manufacturers with a tandem on display. Probably wouldn’t be too bad for touring either…
Tout Terrain
We didn’t get any shots from Eurobike, but check out the Metropolitan Xplore from their 2014 catalogue! Pinion gearbox, belt drive… delicious.
Tubus
The best rack maker in the world had a great looking stand this year! Here are our reviews of the TARA and CARGO.
Velotraum
German manufacturer Velotraum had a great looking stand this year. Their Pinion bike looks wonderful!
If you have any touring gear pictures from Eurobike in a gallery elsewhere – please let us know with a comment below!
The Ortlieb panniers aren’t light but they are awesome.
We’re interested what panniers you run, Kirk? Are they that much lighter than Ortlieb?