Team Hiplok returned to a sunny Monterey, California for four action-packed days of racing, riding, and celebrating all things cycling. The Sea Otter Classic is always an incredible opportunity to catch up with old friends, make new connections, and explore the latest in cycling design and innovation. Here are some of our standout moments from this year’s event:
60-MILE GRAVEL RACE
Hiplok’s International Sales Manager, Stuart, took on the Sea Otter Classic Gravel Race for the second year running. The 2025 route was updated to include even more miles and more elevation gain. Racers faced two 30-mile laps across a stunning mix of Californian terrain—plenty of tarmac, sand, and gravel—each finishing with a punishing 2-mile climb up ‘Lookout Ridge,’ which fluctuated between 5% and 20% gradient, plus a sprint up the iconic Corkscrew.
Stuart’s Ridley Kanzo Adventure gravel bike was fitted with the new Hiplok TRACK, allowing the team to monitor his progress from the Hiplok stand Check out the video [here].
RESTRAP MINI PANNIERS
Our friends at Restrap, the specialists in technical bikepacking gear, unveiled their revolution in easy to fit bike packing bags. Their Mini Panniers offer high quality 100% waterproof bags in both 5L and 10L configurations. Featuring a rigid backplate with the Hiplok SWITCH fitting system these panniers offering unparalleled convenience, modularity and stability. Whether you’re commuting, bikepacking, or just escaping for a weekend ride, switching between carrying water bottles, locks or bike packing gear has never been easier.
This is a project we have been working on behind the scenes for some time and can’t wait to share more in the coming months. For now, check out the feature on bikebacking.com YouTube video [here].
IT’S NOT JUST A BIKE BOARD
As cyclists, we all know a bike isn’t just a bike it’s a sense of: freedom, therapy, joy, and much more. This year, we encouraged Sea Otter attendees to express what their bike means to them…
We dedicated a section of our booth where visitors could write messages on our It’s Not Just a Bike board. It quickly filled up with heartfelt, funny, and powerful messages.
Some of our favourites included:
• “They are my jam”
• “My third and fourth children”
• “Make everybody happy”
• “The Send”
This was inspired by our ‘It’s Not Just a Bike’ brand video, if you haven’t seen it yet, check it out [here].
EVOC Road Bike Bag Pro
Modern bikes are more integrated than ever, with internal cable routing and streamlined cockpit setups, which can make traveling with them a serious challenge. We experienced this firsthand while preparing to fly with Stuart’s Ridley Kanzo Adventure to Sea Otter Classic 2025. That’s where the EVOC Road Bike Bag Pro comes in.
Its hybrid design combines the protection of a hard case with the flexibility of a soft case. Best of all, it allows you to pack your bike without removing your saddle or adjusting your bars.
Additional features include:
• A rail system with through-axle mounts for stability
• Velcro-secured brace pieces near the chainstay to prevent crushing
• Plenty of internal straps to prevent bike movement
• Additional protective bags for wheels
Installing a Hiplok TRACK on the bike gave us peace of mind during travel, letting us track it all the way to California. Check out our Instagram Reel showing how well it worked [here].
Hiplok 2025 Product Showcase
One of the best parts of Sea Otter Classic is showcasing Hiplok’s innovative security solutions to the US cycling community. This year, we launched three new products that generated a ton of interest:
HIPLOK Z LOK COMBO
The original Z LOK and Z LOK COMBO introduced a whole new category in bike security. While they’re not meant for high-risk areas, they’re perfect for trailheads, café stops, or quick pitstops. Times when you’d normally risk leaving your bike unlocked. This year we launched an updated version of the Z LOK COMBO.
Key features include:
• Improved ergonomics
• A larger, easier-to-use code mechanism
• A frame bracket for easier transport
• Reinforced Steel Core
It’s the perfect lock for short pitstops, café stops and those times you wouldn’t usually take a lock. After all any lock is better than no lock.
Hiplok TRACK
Hiplok TRACK AirTag™ holder gives riders an extra layer of security improving peace of mind when you have to leave your bike. Allowing users to keep an eye on their bike with the apple ‘Find My’ app. We put it through its paces during our entire Sea Otter trip, from monitoring airport baggage handling to tracking Stuart’s progress during the gravel race. You can check out the video [Here]
Key features include:
• Attached to bike with included security fixings
• Fits AirTag™ discreetly to bike
• Compatible with Z LOK COMBO Bracket
• Ultra-lightweight and weatherproof
HIPLOK BR1000
The 1000 Series redefined security with industry-leading resistance to angle grinders, and now the BR1000 takes carrying solutions to the next level.
We showcased the BR1000 alongside our “10 Locks vs 1 Hiplok D1000” strength test display, featuring the remains of the locks we destroyed while testing the D1000’s strength in our latest testing video which you can find [Here].
We had an incredible time at Sea Otter Classic 2025, and we’re already counting down the days until next year. Want to check out the Hiplok products we featured in this blog? Click the links below to explore each one:
Hiplok Products In This Blog Post
Hiplok SWITCH – Folding Bike Lock
£74.99 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
HIPLOK Z LOK COMBO
£24.99 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
