Product Briefs: The Beam, WAU, Ortlieb and Porsche

Paris, France

French start-up The Beam has launched an eye-catching new helmet that, at first glance, resembles a full-face downhill helmet but is designed very specifically for urban commuters.

The Virgo is a full-face helmet weighing just 650 grams and styled for the urban market, including an LED light at the back.

It is specifically designed for the safety needs of electric bikes and meet new European regulations formulated for to address speeds up to 45 kmh.

WAU CYBER

US company WAU is the latest start-up with ambitions of revolutionising the electric vehicle industry, with its CYBER e-bike.

WAU unveiled the CYBER last week and is touring prototypes around the US and UK but says it cannot yet reveal all the bike’s features because there are still some patent applications pending.

Ortlieb

German cycling and outdoor equipment brand Ortlieb has calculated and published the carbon footprints for all of its almost 400 products, to further enhance its sustainability status.

Visitors to the Ortlieb website can see how many kilometres they need to cover by bike, rather than car, to compensate for the emissions effects of a particular product.

The calculations extend from the sourcing of raw materials, through the completed production of items such as bike panniers, backpacks and travel bags.

The company already has a strong focus on sourcing materials from within Germany and designing products such specific parts can be replaced or repaired.

Porsche

Porsche has teamed with German MTB brand Rotwild to add to new models to its e-bike cross range, the Cross Performance and Cross Performance EXC.

Studio F.A. Porsche has created a distinctive carbon frame, fitted with Crankbrothers carbon wheels, a four-piston Magura brake system, Fox Factory suspension and a price tag upwards of A$21,519.