Bontrager’s new helmets, shoes, lights… and a very familiar bat cage

Trek's in-house brand shows off its 2017 highlights

Published: August 9, 2016 at 11:00 am

BikeRadar recently had a snoop around Trek’s open warehouse event in Milton Keynes, England where we were shown the latest and greatest from its in-house brand Bontrager.

As well as an array of new helmets, shoes and lights for 2017, Bontrager has also got its hands on a long-lost mould for the ever-popular, and Grand Tour winning, bat cage bottle holder.

Quantum MIPS helmet

Bontrager’s multi-purpose Quantum helmet offers MIPS tech at an attractive price

Oliver Woodman / Immediate Media

New from Bontrager is the £79.99 Quantum MIPS, its designers say it’s an all-purpose, value-packed lid with the added protection of MIPS technology. It sure is a good price-point for a MIPS. US and Australian pricing unavailable.

Green, black, blue, yellow and grey versions are available. Should you be unlucky enough to damage the lid in your first year of ownership then Trek will replace it free of charge, too!

Lithos MIPS helmet

The Lithos is now available with MIPS

Oliver Woodman / Immediate Media

We really rate Bontrager’s current Lithos trail helmet, so we were pleased to see a 2017 version with MIPS is now available. Several colours are available and it retails for £129.99 / US$174.99 / AU$N/A.

The Bat Cage returns

The Bat Cage is back!

Oliver Woodman / Immediate Media

A long-standing favourite for those who take on the cobbles, including many professionals, Trek’s original Bat Cage is still regarded by many as one of the best designs out there. However, getting hold of one in recent years has become increasingly difficult after someone misplaced the design’s mould.

Amazingly, the original was found when clearing out a warehouse recently, and so the US$15/ £10.99 (AUS RRP TBC) Bat Cage lives on! Check out the retro logo!

Fancy footwear

Bontrager’s 2017 Rhythm shoe in plain and lairy colours

Oliver Woodman / Immediate Media

A couple of the highlights from the footwear line-up include the latest Rhythm and women’s Tario shoes, which both use a unique rubberised wrap-around panel at the front of the shoe, leaving no stitches or seams to fail in that area.

Yep, it’s the bit that (almost) looks similar to alligator skin. No vents at the toebox mean that UK riders won’t have to get the duct tape out in winter, too.

Clever lighting

Trek Bontrager lights with ANT+ wireless capabilities

Oliver Woodman / Immediate Media

Bontrager has a whole new line of intelligent lights. Ranging from small cree LED units to light-sensing auto day/night mode lamps with ANT+ wireless capabilities. We’ll have more on these soon.

Drop Line dropper

Bontrager Drop Line post is available in 100mm, 125mm and 150mm drop options

Oliver Woodman / Immediate Media

Bontrager’s cable-actuated dropper is available in three lengths for 31.6mm frames; offering either 100mm, 125mm or 150mm of non-indexed adjustment. It’s below-the-bar lever is ideal for those without a front derailleur and it’s priced at £239.99 / US$TBC / AU$TBC.

Line Pro flat pedal

Bontrager’s Line Pro flat pedal with replaceable pins

Oliver Woodman / Immediate Media

A grippy and durable flat pedal for trail and park use, that’s what Bontrager says about the new Line Pro. The platform looks on the smaller side of large and its pins are replaceable. Pricing seems fair but not cheap at £89.99 / US$N/A / AU£N/A.

Oli Woodman

SEO & Communities Editor

Now officially part of the furniture, Oli enjoys bicycles of all sorts and has a keen eye for technical detail. An unhealthy interest in older motor vehicles keeps him poor but happy