An Unknown Brand Tops Virginia Tech’s Helmet Safety Test

Pikio Labs, a Vancouver-based company, has released a new road helmet that has taken over the top overall spot on the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab safety ranking. The Piko Si scored a 4.61, substantially ahead of any previously tested helmet.

The ranking, which is widely seen as the ultimate benchmark for helmet safety, compiles five different measurements to create an overall score. The lower the score, the better. With that 4.61 mark, the Piko Si was two full points ahead of the previous benchmark, the Canyon Deflectr RLS mountain bike helmet, which scored a 6.82. The next best road helmet is the POC Cytal at a score of 7.51.

The Pikio Si employs Oblik impact-management technology to create a helmet that divides the shock-absorbing liner into multiple modules. These separate modules can then react to an impact in independent ways, in terms of location, intensity, and direction. This allows the helmet to better respond to both the rotational and linear forces that cause head damage during a crash.

“Conventional helmets generally rely on a single foam liner designed to crush under load,” Dr. Daniel Abram, founder of Pikio Labs, said. “Some designs incorporate a low-friction slip layer intended to help reduce rotational forces.

“While these approaches are effective to a degree, they are inherently constrained by the internal geometry of the helmet, which can limit how linear and rotational forces are managed during oblique impacts. We developed Oblik to allow the helmet structure itself to respond more adaptively to oblique impacts.”

The helmet is available in Canada and the United States and has an MSRP of $379 USD/$449 CAN.

Bontrager releases five new gravel and road tires 

Bontrager has released a new line of tires for both gravel and road, with the Aeolus, Kwaremont, and Hard-Case covering road demands, while the Girona and Betasso are the new gravel construction.

Bontrager has never been touted as a top tire manufacturer, with the brand mostly appearing on stock Trek builds. In fact, most of Trek’s professional teams have gone away from the brand as the official tire partner. That being said, Bontrager claims these new tires are their best yet, with the new and improved Aeolus marketed as their fastest tire yet.

Painting with broad strokes, the Aeolus is the race-oriented road option, while the Kwaremont is higher volume training or an all-road tire. The Hard-Case Max Pro is much more heavy-duty, built for commutes or other everyday riding. On the gravel side, it is the Girona providing the stripped-down semi-slick option, and the Betasso is built for the toughest gravel riding, offering widths all the way to 55mm.

Most of the tires are available in two different levels of performance and price. The RSL line is the faster of the two, while the Pro line is built to have more durability at the expense of cost and efficiency.  Here is the full list of sizes, construction, and costs for the new tires:

Sizing and pricing:

• Aeolus RSL TLR Road Tire ($99.99 USD): available in 26, 28, 30, and 32mm.
• Aeolus Pro TLR Road Tire ($64.99 USD): 28, 30, and 32mm.
• Kwaremont RSL TLR Road Tire ($99.99 USD): 32, 35, and 38mm.
• Kwaremont Pro TLR Road Tire ($64.99 USD): 32, 35, and 38mm.
• Hard-Case Max Pro TLR Road Tire ($64.99 USD): 26, 28, 30, and 32mm.
• Girona RSL GR TLR Gravel Tire ($79.99 USD): 35, 38, and 42mm.
• Girona Pro TLR Gravel Tire (59.99 USD): 42mm (35 and 38mm sizes are currently unavailable)
• Betasso RSL GX TLR Gravel Tire ($79.99 USD): 42, 45, 50, and 55mm.

Fizik rolls out the new Kyros helmet for cross-discipline riding

The Italian component and accessories company Fizik is back with another new helmet to add to its growing collection of headwear. This one is called the Kyros, and it is billed as the bridge between their mountain bike and road options.

Traditionally, there is a lot of crossover between both road and cross-country mountain bike helmets. All the top mountain bike athletes switch between aero and breathable road helmets during racing and training. Nevertheless, the Kyros is built to suit that need as it prioritizes adjustability, breathability even at low speeds, and a slim profile for aesthetics.

One of the most significant new features of the helmet is its three-point crown-fit adjustment system. This uses detachable pins and three different settings for a specific fit that suits a rider’s exact head shape. A dial on the back of the helmet adjusts the tilt of the helmet as well, allowing for increased comfort and eyewear compatibility. Additionally, like Fizik’s other road helmets, the Kyros has a mount for an integrated rear light and easy glasses storage through its front vent configuration.

With the addition of the Kyros, Fizik now has five helmets in its line-up. Currently, the helmet is available for $199.99/190€/£169.99 in three sizes and four colors.

Allen Launches Smart Suction Go Compact 1-Bike Rack

Allen, an American-company specializing in bike racks for cars, has released a new compact single bike rack that is designed to easily mount and dismount from most cars.

The suction-based system has two attachment points, one for the thru-axle and one for the rear wheel, which allows for a variety of configurations. All of this is managed through an app that can sync to a phone or a car console and continually monitors the integrity of the suction cup counts. Additionally, the mounts are also designed to be compact to allow for easy storing and moving between cars or to even store in luggage for travel.

The rack is available now for $299 USD / £179 (ex. VAT) / €199 (ex. VAT).