Another roundup of smaller items that we found in Vienna at the Wiener Fahrradschau, this time we’ve picked out a few things to wear to make cruising around town more fun. Like its Berlin older brother, the Vienna show focuses a lot on urban cycling and since it is targeted at consumers there tends to be more things most of us can actually afford on display. Whether it is a baseball cap-style helmet, some fancy around town jackets, cycling friendly denim, or just something fuzzy to keep your hands warm, we’ve got the details below the crease…
Radkappe
The Radkappe helmet uses pretty standard in-mold EPS construction but in a design profile that doesn’t really scream cyclist. In fact it looks to me a lot like a baseball batters helmet, but here with the same lightweight foam construction that you’d find in a normal helmet.
For 80€ you won’t get any ventilation holes so it is definitely suited for lower intensity commuting, but the helmet does have a ponytail-friendly rear cutout. Available in three subdued colors and two sizes, plus both EN & CPSC certification, the Radkappe uses a basic but adjustable webbing retention setup.
Rad-Kappe.de or ShopAllThatIWant.com
Katusha Sports
We were introduced to the performance cycling clothing line-up from Katusha Sports earlier this year, which give you the chance to wear the same kit that the pro team was racing in, even if you didn’t want to be representing all of their corporate sponsors. What we didn’t know at the time was how deep the Katusha cycling clothing lineup would end up being. Besides some good looking cold and wet weather gear like the premium 400€, fully-taped 3L Rain Jacket (right) with its breathable Schoeller C-change waterproof membrane, Katusha also has several impressive looking glove, bootie, and insulating layers to keep you warm and comfy riding through the winter.
But even when you want to slow down and just cruise around town, they’ve also got a good looking urban range of kit. The prices are still certainly on the high premium side – that taped, waterproof 3L Rain Parka (far left) with the same high tech fabric as the riding jacket sells for 490€ – but the performance and styling look up to par. A bit more reasonable in price, the 250€ peach quilted Insulated Jacket combines a classic bomber jacket look with modern Primaloft insulation, and enough reflective detailing to make it serve well on the commuting bike.
Alberto
Alberto Pants is a German company that pretty much just makes pants, but tailored for different types of sports and active lifestyles. Their Bike offerings for men & Bicicletta versions for women follow a growing trend of making regular looking jeans that incorporate enough on the bikes-specific features to make them suitable for cruising around town.
Whether for men or women, the jeans build in a no-slip elastic waistband, a pedaling friendly cut & some stretch for freedom of movement, and an ecorepel water & stain resistant treatment to stay looking fresh. The jeans also get reflective elements lining the edges of both the rear pockets and the watch pocket, plus there is the reflective logo and bike pictogram on the inside of the cuffs that you’ll roll up to ride. The Bike pants start at 120€ for the most basic denim and climb to 160€ for more hi-tech water-resistant fabrics, and come several different dark denim colors.
Basil
Lastly we’ll finish out with somewhere soft and fuzzy to stick your hands. It certainly ’tis the season to be riding around town in cold and blustery weather. We always find that it is hardest to keep our fingers and toes warm on winter rides. For your hands Basil’s synthetic shearling Hand Warmers look like a good solution. With an imitation leather outer and a fleece lining, they simply strap onto your flat bar overtop of your controls, offering enough room inside for shift and brake duties. We don’t know how much they cost (it shouldn’t be too bad based on their simple construction and basic fabrics), but we couldn’t resist wanting to ride around town with those cozy things covering our grimy hands.
