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Koo launch the Billy, a stem-mounted storage solution for your sunglasses

Short of space in your jersey pockets, weather took a turn for the worse? The Billy from Koo is the thing for you...

If you thought any storage system called Billy was just a wooden flat-packed thing from Sweden to keep books in, think again... because there's a new Billy in town, and this one from Italian sports eyewear brand Koo sits neatly on your stem to provide "a handy storage location for your sunglasses" when you're not using them. 

22 of the best cycling sunglasses

Weighing just 4g, the clip attaches to the bike's stem or handlebar with a rubber band. Koo say it offers a more convenient place to stow your shades quickly and easily without having to fumble about sticking them in your helmet vents or jersey pocket. They recommend it as a decent shade-storing solution for when the light is fading, on particularly hot climbs or during cafe stops. It could also prove particularly useful for triathletes and time trial riders wearing vent-less TT lids and pocket-less skinsuits.  

koo billy shades holder 2

Koo say the Billy was born out of customer feeback, with their marketing director Ylenia Battistello commenting: “Koo has been working on a project to add convenience and practicality to every cyclist’s ride. We so often heard tales of riders wanting somewhere dedicated to keep their sunglasses safely and conveniently, and Billy is the result of that project.”

What do you reckon, useful or a bit of a silly Billy? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments... 

P.s. if you happen to need a Billy bookcase click here to buy one, apparently that way we get a small commission... 

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

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10 comments

Avatar
Pilot Pete | 4 years ago
2 likes

I’d love to add another rubber band held plastic clip around my stem. I think it will really add to the sleek look of my super bike. Oh, and even more so if I clip some specs in there to enhance the aerodynamics. 

Whats wrong with using the helmet vents? Works just fine for my sunnies.

PP

Avatar
handlebarcam | 4 years ago
1 like

Presumably they had to come up with a quirky name like "Billy" because some jerk had already taken, and ruined, the obvious name of "Opti-Grab".

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Ssco | 4 years ago
0 likes

Not a bad idea. I’d quite like one turned 90° so I could put it on my top tube with the glasses sideways 

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Bmblbzzz | 4 years ago
0 likes

Coo! Or is it woo?

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Mb747 | 4 years ago
0 likes

"vent-less TT lids and pocket-less skinsuits. "

I believe you mean visor-less?

Avatar
Jack Sexty replied to Mb747 | 4 years ago
0 likes
Mb747 wrote:

"vent-less TT lids and pocket-less skinsuits. "

I believe you mean visor-less?

Yeah and that - personally I always go with shades for TT's, feel claustrophobic in a visor.

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Mo1959 | 4 years ago
3 likes

Would be handy for a little pair of ready readers too for those of us of a more advanced age!

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ConcordeCX replied to Mo1959 | 4 years ago
2 likes

Mo1959 wrote:

Would be handy for a little pair of ready readers too for those of us of a more advanced age!

what's good enough for Prof. Branestawm is good enough for the rest of us!

 

Avatar
slappop | 4 years ago
1 like

"It could also prove particularly useful for triathletes..."

Not necessary, just slide them in your Speedos.

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ktache | 4 years ago
3 likes

At least they are not trying to fund it on KickStarter.

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