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TECH NEWS
2023 CES Innovation Awards7 cutting edge cycling gadgets from CES 2023 featuring Garmin, Samsung, Jabra, a 'smart bed' + more
The CES Innovations Awards is an annual competition honouring outstanding consumer technology products. There are always some interesting bike-related products, so we've picked out some of the most interesting award winners.
Of course, the word 'interesting' can cover a lot of different things but these include smart tyres, a smart bed and smart watches, as well as, noise-cancelling earphones and "the lightest turbo trainer" on the market.
Space-age METL airless bicycle tyre
What do you think of these blue tyres originally developed and tested by NASA for future Mars Rover missions?
First up on our list of winners are tyres from The SMART Tire Company. The METL bicycle tyre is made from Shape Memory Alloy Radial Technology (SMART), a superelastic material called NiTinol+.
Due to the elasticity and high energy return of these alloys, The SMART Tire Company says that METL is the first airless tyre to feature low rolling resistance and a smooth ride for cyclists, in addition to eliminating flats.
> Check out the best road bike tyres 2023
We've covered these before in one of our biggest 2022 tech stories, but this version comes with integrated rubber treads and may be retreaded, making for a more sustainable solution, as well as providing "the longest-lasting tread and grip, for all weather conditions." The SMART Tire Company promises no leaks, tears or punctures.
It says these are suitable for "the modern bike enthusiast to pro-level cyclist", and for all types of cycling: commuting, road, gravel, MTB and e-bikes. Could this be one tyre for the life of your bicycle?
The estimated price for the METL tyre is $100-$150 at launch.
EgoSportive smart bed for "fitness-focused individuals"
Taking Bike at Bedtime entirely literally, This ErgoSportive bed by Ergomotion promises to help you recover faster and improve your sports performance by tracking your sleep activity using advanced smart sensor technology. You can access your personalised sleep data along with recommendations for recovery through the ErgoSportive app or Garmin wearables.
This bed is adjustable with three preset positions and features biometric health sensors, an integrated app and tech headboard with dimmable LED lights. Advanced features include anti-snore, relaxation mode and underbed USB ports.
> How to maximise your recovery — 7 ways to boost recuperation and build fitness
This technology does come at a cost with a double bed setting you back €3,990 (∼ £3,500)... and that's without an ErgoMattress. However, at the time of writing this, Ergomotion is offering a free Garmin wearable alongside the purchase of an ErgoSportive bed. A bedtime bargain!
Garmin Enduro 2 mutisport watch
We saw two Garmin watches feature in last year's CES show, so it was no surprise to see the Garmin Enduro 2 solar-powered multisport GPS watch as a CES Honoree for 2023.
Garmin says that it's purpose-built for endurance athletes and features include built-in mapping, an LED flashlight to help you keep an eye on surroundings and Garmin’s SatIQ technology which claims to secure superior positioning accuracy in any environment while optimising battery life.
Garmin says: "Solar power provides best-in-class battery life for the longest races." In GPS mode with solar charging, you can get up to 150 hours of battery life to track performance in training and race. In smartwatch mode you can get up to 34 days of battery life - with an additional 12 days when solar charging.
The Enduro 2 is one of Garmin's most expensive wearables, costing £929.99.
TrueTrainer indoor cycling trainer
Up next we have the TrueTrainer by TrueKinetix, which is said to be the most advanced and easy-to-use indoor cycling trainer thanks to its patented robotics-based technology.
TrueTrainer's aim is to mimic outdoor cycling with better accuracy and responsiveness than traditional equipment, which should mean you can get a better workout, avoiding the difference between on-road and trainer efforts.
It features virtual gears meaning you can ride any gear without changing the cassette, a design with a slight rocking motion and a power meter with a claimed accuracy of 0.5%.
There is also WiFi connection for Zwift and other apps, the turbo trainer is self-charging when training and the max resistance is 2,600 watts, which we don't think will trouble many of us!
> Check out the best turbo trainers 2023
TrueTrainer says that this is one of the lightest turbo trainers on the market with a claimed weight of 15kg. If accurate, this is lighter than the Wahoo Kickr Core which we have weighed in at 18kg here at road.cc.
There are three editions of the TrueTrainer starting at €1,499 (∼ £1300), which can be returned within 30 days if you decide it isn't for you.
Jabra Elite 5 wireless earbuds
Jabra Elite 5 true wireless earbuds are the newest addition to Jabra’s flagship Elite lineup, designed for music in any environment with hybrid active noise cancellation and IP55 dust and water resistance rating for sweaty sessions.
These definitely seem to include some useful tech for staying alert whilst cycling and listening to music, such as Jabra's transparency HearThrough technology which is said to allow you to hear your surroundings.
There is also wind noise reduction and 6mm speakers for "powerful sound", so you won't need to worry about missing any lyrics on those blustery rides.
They are available in three colours and are priced at £149.99 but are currently on sale for £119.99.
DOTS.bike "all-in-one" safety device for cyclists
The DOTS.bike by ConnectLab S.r.l is said to combine safety and security for your bike.
It aims to help protect your bike from theft via motion detection sensors, a built-in siren alarm and instant notification to your smartphone or smart watch.
You can also monitor your bike location in near real-time with the world’s first “fusion location technology” (a blend of GPS, WiFi LBS, and BLE5), which is said to omptimise power consumption and increase battery life.
> Check out the best bike lights 2023
The rear light doubles up as a brake light that automatically activated when you're riding and there are crash/fall detection sensors and algorithms triggering requests for help in case of an accident.
Galaxy Watch5 Pro - Samsung's "most durable and feature-packed" watch
Samsung's Galaxy Watch5 Pro has been created for the outdoors offering turn-by-turn navigation so you won't get lost on rides and IP68 and 5ATM water resistance which is more than enough to withstand sweaty turbo sessions.
Samsung says that the Watch5 Pro has the biggest battery in a Galaxy Watch, double that of the Galaxy Watch5 with typical usage of up to 80 hours. The battery is also said to let you charge from 0 to 45% in 30 minutes.
You can also measure your body composition with Samsung BioActive sensor and make calls, message and pay from your watch with Samsung Pay.
The Watch5 Pro has a 16GB memory and costs £329.
What are your favourite cycling related gadgets? Let us know in the comments section below...
Emily is our track and road racing specialist, having represented Great Britain at the World and European Track Championships. With a National Title up her sleeve, Emily has just completed her Master’s in Sports Psychology at Loughborough University where she raced for Elite Development Team, Loughborough Lightning.
Emily is our go-to for all things training and when not riding or racing bikes, you can find her online shopping or booking flights…the rest of the office is now considering painting their nails to see if that’s the secret to going fast…
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29 comments
That's a strange mattress claiming to be new and unique.
They were available on beds when my parents bought one from a very expensive bed company back in about 1985. It cost more than that one, but I've only just got rid of it, both parents having expired recently, and the bed finally being worn out by nephews and nieces bouncing on it and breaking one of the mattresses.
Ah, but this mattress is optimized for road cyclists.
The gravel specific version comes out next year.
Better suspension, I'd guess
Nope, a layer of gravel rather than rubber foam.
Including the built-in sensors ?
I am intrigued by those tyres, but very sceptical as it's incredibly difficult to improve on pneumatic tyres (tubed or tubeless) for price/weight/performance.
Tyre for Life though ?
Except when they are nicked !
I seem to remember those "solid" tyres making alot of appearances at cycle shows and in the news. A different type every other year, yet never seen them ever sold though no matter how much the sales people advocated they were "just as comfortable as normal tyres".
I did try a pair of Tannus tyres many years ago and they felt really horrible to use. They had far less shock absorption than pneumatics and they felt deader than the Tories' chances of winning the next election. The main issue is that pneumatics can distribute the bumps around the whole tyre/rim and solid/foam tyres can only distribute them for a very small area around the contact point.
Whatever happened to those Bridgestone tyres that were due in 2019?
AFAIK Tannus and Schwalbe are the only solid tyres you can actually buy, and the Schwalbe ones are only available in Germany and the Netherlands for some reason.
(I've got Tannus on my commuter eBike, they're OK but I'd like something better)
Whatever happened to those Bridgestone tyres that were due in 2019?
[/quote]
the idea fell flat
See the UK company, "Greentyre" (https://www.greentyre.co.uk/). I fitted a pair to my commuter/2nd road bike - seemed OK, never went flat of course, but gradually get tattier and tattier. I perservered until they wore down to the rims and looked like my grandad's old WW2 boots. These tyres seem like a fantastic idea for wheelchairs and other contrivances where a puncture is really problematic.
I'd say acceptance depends on many factors (longevity, comfort, grip in various conditions, appearance, acceptance by governing bodies, price) and at that price I'd want to see a whole lot of good reviews before I'd fork out the dough. Might be great in all respects, then ride through a puddle of oil (or anything else not encountered on the surface of Mars) and it all disolves into sticky sludge; then whoopee 300 quid down the drain.
I remember them showing up on Tomorrow's World in the late 80s/early 90s. Yep, I'm really old!
I suppose there are two issues, does it survive the stress of a pinch puncture hit, and how do they set the compliance, given that there is no optimal pressure for a tyre, but it depends on load and riding conditions.
Promising no tears seems optimistic too, we've probably all had deep gouges in tyres caused by debris and unless that carcass is Kevlar the springy thing may survive but I doubt the carcass is real-world proof.
However, is like it to be successful (at a reasonable price - which given they are offering a retread service, I am dubious of).
I can't understand why anyone would wear earbuds of any kind whilst cycling. You can't hear anything around you, I think they should be banned for cycling. I hate cycling past walkers and joggers wearing them on the canal towpaths too as they are oblivious to bells and shouts.
I can't understand why anyone wouldn't wear earbuds of any kind whilst cycling. You can only hear wind noise without them, I think they should be mandatory for cycling. When cycling past walkers and joggers wearing them on the canal towpaths I sometimes have to raise my voice or take more care... Just like if they were deaf.
I don't notice an issue with wind noise whilst cycling, although I've heard complaints from a colleague that he always had issues with it when cycling. Maybe it's something to do with the shape of your ears?
Or just the speed (or lack of) at which you are travelling?
Well, now I feel attacked
Apologies, it was more aimed at myself. The only time I have issues with wind noise is when I am riding into a head wind (i.e. all the time in the Fens)
I can't hear hardly anything other than wind noise down hill, so rely on a mirror (and recently radar).
I do wonder if cycling has damaged my hearing - something has. My dad had the excuse of being in the artillery in WW2.
Some days the wind noise can be very loud.
I used to use a pair of cheap in-ear bluetooth (wired but only between the two buds) ear buds. However I would leave the right hand one out to listen for traffic and as I only listen to podcasts / audio books, sound quality wasn't an issue. Now I use Shokz so I can still listen for traffic but also hear the podcasts even with wind noise. However I also look over my shoulder regularly as well.
As others have mentioned, wind noise is an issue for cyclists anyway so you can be just as deaf to approaching vehicles with earbuds or not.
You need those so your WiFi rear light can tell you that it's radar says the hoon in the rapidly approaching car 50m behind is about to interfere with your future.
would like to see video on those tyres - curious how they deal with potholes and hard impacts - crawling slowly on mars is very different than a high speed impact on british roads.....a normal tyre might rip or puncture - will these permamently deform?
Unlikely - NiTINOL has been around since the 80's. It's renowned for returning to its original shape after deformation.
The METL airless tyres look interesting, maybe us Marathon plus users will finally find something to replace them.
The DOTS.bike "all-in-one" seems just like the Vodafone Curve tracker but if the app works OK then it's already better.
What they don't tell you is you need a TiG welder to get them on. Still easier then fitting Marthon Plus tyres though.
Thankfully I run wide rims now so they go on and off by hand but I remember using motorbike levers and giving up completely on trying to get them centered.