Sea Otter Classic 2024 is done and dusted. It was a hectic and fun-filled four days in Monterey, California for Team Hiplok, talking all things bikes. It’s always a great chance to catch up with old friends, meet new faces and see some innovative bike tech. Talking of which, we’ve listed some of the coolest things the team saw at this year’s Sea Otter Classic:
Pivot Talon Display
Celebrating its 35th anniversary, Pivot was showcasing their new limited-edition Switchblade, which pays homage to the Sun Eagle Talon – the original Pivot, built in 1989. The display on the Pivot booth featured both bikes with the iconic pink paintwork. They both looked amazing, secured with a trusty Hiplok Z LOK COMBO!
The Gravel Race + Bianchi Bike
Hiplok Team member, Stuart, bit the bullet this year and entered the Sea Otter Classic gravel race. Travelling from the UK without a bike meant the main challenge was finding some wheels to race on. Luckily, Bianchi USA came to the rescue and kindly leant a stylish ArcadeX gravel bike.
So, how did the race go?
After a ‘full-gas’ first five miles, the Californian mist lifted and the race settled. The 2 x 25-mile circuit covered various terrain, including tarmac, sand, gravel and ending with a gruelling 2 mile dirt track climb. It was fast and frantic, but ultimately, lots of fun!
Muc-Off’s Big Bore Valves
Muc-Off revealed an addition to their tubeless valve line up, a range of ‘Big Bore’ Tubeless valves. This new valve design increases the airflow rate by up to 264%. Compared to traditional Presta valves, Muc-Off claim their new range offers less hassle when setting up tubeless, and less sealant clogging.
We’re all for maximising riding time, so this new range has a big thumbs up from us! Available Summer 2024 – keep your eyes peeled.
ODI’s New Vanquish Grips
ODI have partnered with D30 to create their new Vanquish mountain bike grips.
D30’s material technology is designed to absorb impacts and vibrations, and is used by both NASA and Formula 1! Their impact protection is also trusted by mountain bike riders worldwide, through their range of protective armour.
Utilising D30’s new grip compound, ODI’s new Vanquish grips claim to reduce vibration by more than 2x. Further enhanced by a specific grip pattern and geometry, these grips provide enhanced control and comfort for the rider.
Available from June 2024, we’ll be keeping an eye out when these hit the market.
Hiplok 1000 Series
The 1000 Series made its US debut at this year’s Sea Otter Classic.
Expanding on the success of the Hiplok D1000, the original anti-angle grinder bike lock launched in 2021, the 1000 Series now includes the DX1000, a larger anti-angle grinder U lock, developed for larger framed bikes and e-bikes, plus the world’s first anti-angle grinder ground and wall anchors.
The 1000 Series has been awarded the prestigious Design + Innovation Award for 2024. The ultimate security set up was showcased on the stand securing a fellow award winner, the Pivot Shuttle AM E-MTB.
In addition to the industry award, the 1000 Series continues to earn universal acclaim from independent testers and reviewers. And by the looks of the crowds on the Hiplok booth at Sea Otter, it’s gaining more fans in the US too!
