New products unveiled at Sea Otter

MONTEREY, Calif. (BRAIN) — Brands traditionally save their new product launches for the Sea Otter Classic in the spring, and the latest festival had its share despite being held in the fall because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are some of the new products BRAIN came across:

• Aeroe: The rack, bag and accessory company based in New Zealand will now distribute to retailers in North America. Aeroe products will be in all 22 MEC stores in Canada in the next couple of weeks. BTI also distributes Aeroe, and U.S. retailers are being sought. Its bags, which also includes a hard-shell pod, attach via the Spider Rear Rack that fits any frame, from mountain bike to road bike. The attachment system is adjustable to accommodate any seatstay and allows the bag to be positioned out of the way, allowing for pedal/foot clearance and distributing weight evenly. The rack can accommodate any bag or a sleeping bag. Additional racks are also available for the handlebar and fork mounting.
• Yakima: The bike rack and cargo accessory company unveiled two racks that will be out later this year: The StageTwo tray (two and four bike) and the HangTight vertical. The StageTwo has a refined finish and is available in two color options (anthracite and vapor). E-bike compatible, each StageTwo tray is designed to hold up to 60 pounds. It's RV-rated to carry any bike, the first Yakima tray rack to achieve the rating. The StageTwo replaces the Dr. Tray in the lineup. Additional accessories include a kit to carry fat bikes and the SafetyMate brake light and turn signal kit with license plate mount. Also available is an adjustable ramp kit that attaches to the tray to make loading e-bikes easier. The StageTwo was supposed to hit the market about six months ago but was delayed so the company could focus on manufacturing existing racks to meet demand. The HangTight (four and six bike) joins the HangOver vertical lineup. Unlike the HangOver, the HangTight will carry drop-bar bikes and kids bikes with handlebar attachments.
• TASCO: Added a trail pant shell to its Scout line. Made with Repreve, which is a performance fiber made from recycled materials, with 23 water bottles making up one trail pant. It features a Lycra Fly Closure, spring snaps, adjustable waist size and a tapered leg with elastic ankle cuff. For summer riding, the enlarged hip pockets double as ventilation ports.
• Ergon: Introduced the SR Allroad Core Pro Men's saddle, featuring vibration dampening material developed by BASF called Infinergy, an expanded thermoplastic polyurethane. It's designed for gravel/comfort riding or general road use. Used previously on comfort models, this technology is now applied to a racing saddle. Available with carbon, titanium and chromoly rails.
• Bimotal: The Elevate is a removable 750-watt electric drive system that mounts above the rear disc brake mount. Weighing 5.9 pounds, including a 250Wh water-cage mounted battery, estimated range is between 15-30 miles. Assist is modulated with a programmable thumb throttle, and pedal-assist is in development. The $1,950 price includes delivery and professional installation.
• Fox Racing: The Mainframe helmet features many of the same features as the Speedframe but at a lower price ($89.95 adult, $79.95 youth). Like the Speedframe, the Mainframe is MIPS-equipped and awarded Virginia Tech's best safety rating of 5 stars. It optimizes venting with channeled and in-molded EPS to provide cooling. The helmet has extended coverage in the back and a removable liner.