Oakley Fast Jacket Eyewear

Interchangeable-lens sports eyewear has been around for ages but Oakley has refined the concept on their new Fast Jacket sunnies. Called Switchlock technology, the frame has a quick release mechanism that locks the lens in place without the forcing and flexing often required with other designs. This means there is no lens distortion caused by a tight-fitting frame and the ease of handling allows mid-ride lens swaps with fewer fingerprints as a result. Each frame comes with two interchaneable lens sets and a convenient storage case. Fast Jackets meet the ANSI Z87.1 standart for clarity, optical precision, and impact resistance, while also featuring a hydrophobic coating  that makes water bead up and roll off the lens. These hi-tech sunnies retail for $300.

Garmin Edge 200

            The Edge 200 is a new, more affordable GPS based cycle computer from Garmin. It’s the same size as their existing Edge 500 but it has a more simplistic display with four data fields. Within these, three are fixed (current speed, trip distance, ride time) with the fourth able to toogle between average speed, total ascent and calorie consumption. As with the other Edge computers, all of the information can be uploaded to Garmin Connect, which then allows you to view the map and ride data in detail. This new more affordable offering from Garmin will sell for around $149.

JetBlack DynoMeter Trainer

After years in development, JetBlack Products has finally released their Aussie designed DynoMeter trainer. The resistance unit incorporates a power-measuring device that feeds information wirelessly to the bar mounted digital readout. Retailing for $699, the DynoMeter allows you to follow power based training programs without needing to purchase a $1,000 plus bike mounted power-measuring device. Additionally, you can use this power-measuring device with just about any bike that you own.

Crank Brothers Packs

            Crank Brothers gained notoriety with an innovative pedal design (not cranks) and they continue to branch out into new areas (whilst still not making cranks!). Hydration packs are the newest product line to bear their name and there are two models on offer. The $129 Ascender is the smaller pack, offering 13 litres of cargo space it should cater for most trail rides, perhaps up to half-day efforts if you don’t need to carry too many bulky items of clothing. At $179, the Descender has a much larger capacity; partially due to the 20 litres of internal space, but also because of its baffled external pockets and bungee straps that allow more bulky items to be carried. Both packs share a ventilated back panel, gear organisers and anti-bacterial TPU reservoirs.

BBB Force Mount pedals

The BBB Force Mount Ti pedals offer a lightweight alternative to Shimano’s SPD pedal system. At 244g with a titanium spindle, they are 50g lighter than the lightest Shimano XTR offering. They are SPD compartible, spin on needle roller bearings and feature adjustable rerlease tension. With the titanium axle Force Mount pedals sell for $250 and BBB also makes a 294g version with steel spindles that sells for $99.

NiteRider Lights

            Updated for 2012, NiteRider’s lighting range sees substantial gains in power output across the board. Their compact Minewt line now tops out with the Minewt Pro 750, now producing a claimed 750 lumens. That’s a lot of lumens for a compact LED that weighs less than 230g including the battery. Burn times should range from 1.5 through to 10 hours and the recharge time for the lithium-ion battery is three hourse on this model. Even greater power increases can be found with their bigger lighting units. The Pro 700 has morphed into the Pro 1500 (1,500 lumen output) and the range-topping Pro 1400 becomes the Pro 3000, putting out an amazing 3,000 lumens of light.

NiteFlux Red Zone Tail-light

            Some people invest sizeble amounts of money in the biggest and brightest headlights, and then toss a cheap $30 flashing light on the back. If anything, a good tail-light is more critical to on-road safety than your headlight, so why skimp? The Red Zone 4 is a USB rechargeable tail-light from NiteFlux – an Aussie company that also makes some very serious 2,000 lumen headlights. Two 2-watt LEDs produce an incredible amount of light that is equally bright right around to the sides – it makes virtually every other tail-light look pretty feeble. The Red Zone is so bright that it has dimming functions for night-time use and provides genuinely enhanced daytime visibility. Run times range from eight through to 200 hours and it is also waterproof and shok resistant. For $100 it is a good investment in your safety.

Velo CT Helmet

            Ever found yourself stuck out after dark without a tail-light? With the Velo CT helmet you’ll never be caught short. This Carrera helmet features a built in two-mode flashing LED light mounted in the rear. The triangular flashing light fits neatly into a matching port and it can be removed if you wish. Other features include in-mould construction with 24 vents and an adjustable internal retention system. The Velo CT comes in two shell sizes (54-57cm or 58-62cm) and four colour options – black, white, red/white and white/silver. Expect to pay around $70.

Fox Forks

            For 2012 Fox has a new 29er specific fork with 34mm diameter inner legs. The ‘34’ will be offered in Float and TALAS variants with up to 140mm of travel and should improve steering accuracy on big wheeled trail and all-mountain bikes. They have also introduced a one-piece cast 6/4 titanium crown and steerer assembly for their range-topping Float 32. It should save around 81g compared to the traditional alloy crown/steerer, taking their lightest fork down to 1,320g. Fox will offer it in 80, 100 and 120mm travel versions with either Terralogic, RLC or remote lockout dampers. Also new are the SKF/Fox designed seals and wider use of the dark gold Kashima coat on both forks and rear shocks, with the aim of improving small bump compliance. The new seals will feature throughout the range while the Kashima coat will appear on the upper end ‘Factory’ level forks and rear shoks.

Crank Brothers Mallet Pedals

Last year Crank Brothers overhauled their Candy and Egg Beater pedals with stronger spindles and more effective seals, now the Mallet gets the same treatment. Selling for $149, the mid-range Mallet 2 runs a bearing/bushing assembly on each forged cro-moly spindle. The two-piece alloy/polycarbonate body keeps the weight down to 428g per pair and replaceable 8mm traction pins ensure you stay put, even when you’re not clipped in. while it is primarily designed for gravity-fed mountain biking, the large platform and well-recessed clipless mechanism makes them equally effective as a multi-purpose pedal for use with MTB or casual shoes.

Sugoi Evolution Jerseys

These new Sugoi jerseys come in both men’s and women’s cuts. Both feature raglan sleeves, mesh inserts, elasticated herms, flat seams and angled rear pockets for easy access. The men’s version runs a full-length zip while the women’s top a 25cm zip.

            Color options include blue or white/cherry red for the ladies while the guys get to choose from white (shown), blue, gunmetal grey or chilli red. Expect to pay around $100.

RockShox SID 29er

It seems that 2012 is the year where 29ers have hit the big time, they’ve gone from somewhat of an oddity to well and truly mainstream. Now most component manufactures are busily creating new components to feed the ever-growing 29er market. The SID has long been the top XC fork from RockShox and the just released 29er variant follows the same theme. It’s offered with an optional 15mm thru-axle to retain stiffness in the longer legs, and in its top World Cup variant the SID features a tapered full carbon crown and steerer assembly. This combined with the cast magnesium sliders keeps the total fork weight down to 1,582g – and that weight includes the thru-axle and hydraulic bar-mounted X-Loc lever. That makes the new SID close to 200g lighter than previous top 29er model, the Reba XX. SID 29er pricing should start from around $799 and go up to $1,299 for the carbon equipped XX World Cup model.

Exposure Lights

LED lights just keep getting brighter and 2012 sees UK brand Exposure bump up the lumen rating on all of their new model lights. The already bright Maxx-D moves from 1,200 to 1,285, the big Six Pack goes from 1,800 to 1,925 lumens while their lightweight Diablo helmet light goes from 900 to 975 lumens. Other improvements include a rubber seal to keep moisture and dirt out of the charge port and they now make a plug that lets you power other electronic items from the built-in light battery – GPS cycle computers, mobile phones and so on. As in the past, Exposure lights feature sturdy alloy construction and an all-in-one design that leaves your bike free from wires and with no battery mounting issues.

Elite Supercrono Power Trainer

The Supercrono Power Trainer uses a fluid-filled resistance unit combined with a specially designed frame that progressively ramps up the resistance as you apply more and go faster. Elite touts it as providing the most realistic road feel possible with an indoor trainer. A large diameter elastomer roller also serves to reduce tyre wear and noise. For 2012 the pricing for this trainer has dropped and it now retails for $420.