Week in Tech: Navigation simplified, Shimano shoes go limited

Published May 29, 2015 08:21AM

Here’s your Week in Tech — all the gear news, tips, and announcements you need and none of the marketing gibberish you don’t.

Shimano offers limited-edition road shoes

Keep an eye on the pros this summer and you might spot them in Shimano’s new Premium SH-R321B road shoe. They’ll be sold in limited distribution starting in June and shouldn’t be hard to spot: They sport an eye-catching limited-edition “electric blue” upper.

They feature Shimano’s new Surround upper made from Teijin AVAIL 100 material for fit and comfort, and Shimano claims the Dynalast sole is its stiffest layup available.

These 489-gram (size 40) shoes will be offered in whole sizes from 38-48, and half sizes from 40-46. E-widths are available in whole sizes from 42-48. Look for them starting in mid June at a retail price of $380.

PowerTap shaves 180 grams off new G3 Rear Disc Hub

PowerTap is starting its rollout of new products, and the leadoff hitter is the G3 Rear Disc Hub, a sleeker and lighter version of the previous iteration. It’s 30 percent lighter, in fact, after dropping 180 grams.

A wider flange design and straight-pull spokes are said to improve wheel stiffness as well. It’s available in 24- and 28-hole options, and it includes a proprietary 160mm rotor.

For more versatility, the G3 comes in either a 142×12 iteration or a 135mm quick-release version. They’re available now for $989 straight from PowerTap.

Firefly Bicycles sponsoring raffle for 2015 Ride On Chicago

Former cyclocross national champion Tim Johnson founded Ride On Chicago (originally Ride On Washington) in 2011 to get the message out about PeopleForBikes, and for the fifth year in a row, Firefly Bicycles is sponsoring a raffle to raise funds. For every donation of $50 to any rider, donors have one chance to win. For example, $100 gets you two chances to win.

PeopleForBikes strives to increase awareness of cycling and bike advocacy. Ride On Chicago has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in the past as riders make their way across a nearly 500-mile route from Minneapolis to Chicago.

Hammerhead simplifies on-bike navigation

As more Americans take to bicycles to get from point A to point B, accurate and quick navigation becomes vital to the safety and effectiveness of bike commuting. Hammerhead has taken this to heart with its simple navigation device that mounts to your handlebars and takes only a split-second to let you know where to go.

The Hammerhead uses a pattern of lights to direct your route, flashing on corresponding sides to indicate turns, and even a circle for U-turns. There’s no screen to scroll through, just a pattern of lights that navigates based on information from Hammerhead’s app. Use it for commuting, discovering new training routes, avoiding hills, or otherwise tailoring a ride to your needs.