Bicycle industry leaders descended on Las Vegas recently for Interbike, the largest annual gathering of bicycle retailers in North America. In addition to the expo and gear demos, the editors at Velo Magazine were selected to choose the winners of the 2015 Interbike Awards. Acknowledgements went to featured riders who pushed their sport to new levels as well as top new bikes and accessories in the field. Here are the top 10 gear awards. For a full list of winners and nominees click here.
Interbike Awards
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Mountain Bike of the Year
Proving it’s one of the world’s foremost mountain bike producers, the award for best mountain bike of the went to the Pivot Mach 429SL. This carbon fiber frame weighs just 5.3 lbs, cutting a full 1/2 lb. from its previous design. It uses Shimano Di2 fully integrated digital gear shifting technology. With 29 inch tires and carbon feature hollow core internal molding, this bike shreds the trail. MSRP $3,000-$6,000
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Road Bike of the Year
It’s no surprise that when it comes to road bikes, the judges at Velo Magazine chose the Cannondale EVO Force as the best road bike of the year. Cannondale’s carbon construction method on this cutting-edge road bike uses precisely placed high strength fibers to deliver an extremely lightweight and fine-tuned frame. Subtle flex zones allow the rear wheels to track the ground and a smaller diameter frame creates less drag. MSRP $3,790
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Best in Show – Mountain
When it comes to rear shocks the dilemma has been transitioning between downhill and uphill. You want it loose for downhill and firm for uphill. With Push Industries ELEVENSIX Rear Shock riders have the ability to switch between settings on the fly. Hand assembled in Colorado, these rear shocks are vacuum bled and made from spring allow. MSRP $1,200
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Best in Show – Road
One of the latest innovations in cycling today are digital or electronic shifters. Now comes the first ever wireless electronic system in the SRAM Red eTAP. This revolutionary shifter is said to deliver modern electronics standards to the demanding act of shifting, stripping the bike of any cables or wires. And as far as getting any interface, the company claims it’s more secure than any cash machine. MSRP $900
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Road Product Innovation of the Year
For a lot cyclers, the idea of going to a single front ring design was lost in the fact that it meant losing several gear options. For getting around this, the SRAM Force CX1 is a bit of a game-changer. This single-ring design allows for 10-to-11 gear riding capability and because it has gears that connect to the chain’s inner and outer links, it holds and the guides the chain flawlessly. The derailing system can either be purchased in parts to adapt to other SRAM components or by itself completely. MSRP $850
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Mountain Product Innovation of the Year
When you’re on the trail, low tire pressure allows more grip on the trail. It also increases the likelihood that he can get a flat. The Schwalbe & Syntace PROCORE Tubeless System solves this problem by creating a tire housing two chambers. There’s an inner tube that maintains high tire pressure and an outer tube that riders can keep at a lower pressure. In this way, tire pressure can be reduced to 14 psi allowing tires to virtually stick the trail and can even survive a flat in the outer tube. MSRP $300 for the a pair
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People’s Upgrade Choice Award
When it comes to helmets you want something that protects your skull and also looks cool. The Mountain Bell Super 2R Helmet was recognized at Interbike for its all-purpose adaptability. Its lightweight design and removable chin-bar makes it a game changer in the industry. MSRP $200
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E-Bike of the Year
In the field of electronic bicycles, the difficult comes when it comes to power and range. The Stromer ST2 combines Swiss efficiency with a chic urban design for one of the best e-bikes on the market. The bike comes in two styles for comfort or sport and utilizes a Li-Ion battery with a whopping 814 Wh of energy. That amounts to an ample amount of torque and a range of nearly 100 miles. MSRP $7,000
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BMX Product Innovation of the Year
Tipping its hat to the BMX world, the judges at Velo Magazine gave BMX Product Innovation of the Year to the Subrosa Street Rail. Specifically designed for BMX use, this strong and sturdy rail turns any driveway into a stunt course suitable for a beginner to a pro. This hardened high tensile steel rail is 8 feet long and up to 18 inches in height. MSRP $200
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Signature Award
Each year at Interbike they honor a company that best manages its brand without mass-market sales channel. This year the Signature Award went to Efficient Velo Tools for their unique brand of bicycle tools that stand out in the industry. Company founder Brett Flemming has a simple philosophy. Why bother making a tool unless it is superior to existing products? The result is a selective line of tools used by top mechanics everywhere.
