- The Consumer Electronic Show is the place
for tech brands to launch new products.
So phones, TVs, computers, and then also weird stuff
like electric surfboards and smart hairbrushes.
But it's also becoming more and more important for bikes.
We've seen loads of gadgets and tech
launched there as well.
So, coming up are some of our highlights.
(soft jazz)
First up, aimed at city riders and commuters
is the Ellipse bike lock from Lattis.
Now, as well as being a lock, obvs, it's also a smart lock.
Meaning that it can send you an alert
if someone's even trying to tamper with your bike.
Now, they restrict that alert to a range of 200 metres,
which is pretty much within
comfortable running distance, I think.
It's also keyless, so you use your phone to unlock it.
And then, best of all, I think, it's solar-powered
so you don't need to charge it.
Which, to my mind, is the constant
downfall of smart products.
Who would want to charge their bike lock, after all?
Now, another one for commuters and city riders
is the Wair anti-pollution mask.
It has a built-in filtration mask to try
to protect you from harmful pollutants.
But then it also has a sensor that constantly
measures the quality of the air.
But it gets bad enough, it'll send you an alert
via your phone, which means that you only need
to put the scarf over your face when you really need it.
All right, what about bikes then?
Well, last year, tech giant Leeco
showcased their smart bike.
And then, for 2017, they were back
with this, the new smart bike.
And it even won an award.
Let's get past the initial hurdle, shall we?
It frankly looks a little bit
like a ripoff of a Trek Madone.
But the frame isn't the important bit here.
The fact that it has a built-in 4.5-inch display
into the integrated bar and stem unit
that houses an Android operating system is quite cool.
Now, it basically functions
as a standard high-tech GPS unit.
There are a few added extras, like a walkie-talkie.
And then there is also this: handlebar-mounted laser beams.
Yeah, yeah. Handlebar-mounted laser beams.
Right, moving on.
Another brand that does smart bikes
that we might be more familiar with
is the Chinese company SpeedX.
And they were showcasing their latest prototype,
the Unicorn.
It's supposedly going to be the first production bike
to have an integrated power metre.
Yeah.
Right, who fancies a smart cycling helmet?
Well, if you do, there's this, the Coros Linx.
Now, its smartness lies in its ability
to connect to your phone
which will allow you, therefore, to listen
to music and also take calls hands-free while riding.
And it's able to do this through one of its other features
which is built-in bone conducting headphones.
Now, many people feel that these are the only really
safe way of listening to music whilst riding
because they don't interfere with you hearing ambient noise.
Much, in fact, like these ones as well,
which are called the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium.
They are Bluetooth-enabled bone conducting headphones.
And, apparently, they're already available to buy
should you wish.
Okay, this smart cycling backpack really
caught our attention.
The makers, Royole, actually won a couple of awards
at the show for their flexible smart electronics.
And one of them was because they built it into this backpack
designed for cycling, giving you, wait for it,
lights and indicators.
Yeah, you control them by moving your hand
over motion sensors that are
housed on the rucksack straps, apparently.
You know what?
I quite like that.
Genuine innovation, there.
Okay, what about e-bikes?
They are as electronic as it gets, surely.
And yes, the show did not disappoint.
Falco took the opportunity to launch their new Edrive Wheel.
Put it into any bike, and it will give you a range
of up to 100 miles and up to 28 miles per hour.
Although it must be said, you definitely wouldn't
want to forget to charge this.
The motor alone weighs 5.9 kilos and the battery 2.5.
So, I'll just put it out there.
And then, the thing that I can't quite get my head around,
is that it can also act as a smart trainer.
That's right.
Instead of just being able to power you forward,
it can also provide up to 1,000 watts of resistance.
And it can also connect up to Zwift.
(applause)
Well then, there are our top tech gadgets from the CES.
Nothing, I'll admit, to excite me quite as much
as whale-inspired carbon wheels
or indeed wireless grip sets.
But nevertheless, some really, really interesting
bits and bobs.
And I think stuff that will genuinely be of use
to some cyclists out there.
Just all I can think of now is if only
poor old Dan Lloyd still had use for a smart hairbrush.
Nothing.
Okay, right, make sure that you have
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We've got loads of tech stuff on the channel.
And there's going to be more coming
from all the shows and the product launches
that are coming out this year.
So, subscribe and then you're always into the right place.
If you want a little bit more content now on tech,
then if you click just down there,
you get through to Lloyd out of Vegas
but at a bike show this time.
Checking out the trends for this year.
Or, indeed, we've got some really weird tech
that I found at the Taipei show
going back nearly a year now.
That one is just there.