Tech Roundup: Garmin, De Marchi, Craft, Torq...

Magnic Light iC reaches Kickstarter target

The Magnic Light iC, billed as the intelligent successor to the Magnic Light dynamo with the addition of micro-controlled steady light, has easily reached its $40,000 goal on Kickstarter. When we last checked with 22 days to go, the project had  pledges totalling $104,300.

We covered the original Magnic Light back in February 2012. The designers call it, “The first contactless dynamo-powered bike light system that works without any additional components attached to the wheels.”

It is designed to fit on a universal bracket to the front forks or rear stays of any bike, and to generate its own electricity by the wheel rim's movement. A 60g light unit generates never-ending bright light without any batteries, wheel-contact, cables, or resistance. How does it work? Magic? Nope, eddy current technology. 

The Magnic Light iC adds microprocessor-controlled steady light, intelligent energy control and non-blinding light technology. If the Magnic Light iC project reaches $200,000 in pledges, inventor Dirk Strothmann will add an anti-theft adaptor system to each light.

As usual, the more you pledge the more you’ll get in return. You need to pledge at least $69 to get one of the lights.

The Kickstarter period ends on 31 January. Here’s the video... 

Garmin Connect gets an update

Garmin has announced a complete overhaul of its free online fitness community, Garmin Connect – the website where you can store all your training data, plan future sessions and so on.

Garmin say, “The new Garmin Connect has a completely updated look and feel, with improved navigation and a customisable widget-style dashboard. The updated fitness features include enhanced reports to track performance over time and free training plans that can be sent straight to compatible Garmin devices.

“With the all-new segments and leaderboards feature, users can run or ride against past efforts or against others to see how they stack up against the competition.

“The new look and feel of Garmin Connect will make it even easier for users to upload their workouts, track their progress over time, and meet their fitness goals.”

"Ah," you say. "But I use Garmin Connect and I haven't noticed any changes."

Well, hold your horses. That’s because they’ll be rolled out in phases during the first quarter of the year. The Garmin Connect mobile app will also be updated to reflect the new look and feel of Garmin Connect.

Visit Garmin Connect here. 

New Saturae full carbon clinchers on the way

The guys behind MEKK Bicycles, Mark Edwards and Ken Knight, are about to enter the full-carbon clincher wheel market with Saturae Carbon C50 clinchers.

That’s unidirectional carbon and, as the name suggests, the rims are 50mm deep. The aluminium hubs are anodized black, the rear one, which is Shimano/SRAM 10/11-speed compatible, using a three-pawl engagement mechanism. They’re built with DT Competition stainless steel spokes, 24 at the front and 28 at the rear.

The wheel weights we’ve been given are 690g (f) and 950g (r) – a total of 1,640g in total. Brake pads and quick release skewers are included in the £799.99 price.

Ken Knight told us, “To enter the full carbon clincher wheel market we need to have tested these wheels beyond normal tests. We are very happy with the wheelset’s test data. We are now looking to [expand] into different rim depths and tubular rims and grow the range.”

Full production is scheduled to begin in early March and we’re promised a pair to test before then, so we’ll keep you informed.

De Marchi opens online store

Italian bike clothing company De Marchi has opened an online store. It features De Marchi’s Authentic line which consists of modern replicas of historical racing jerseys manufactured both originally and today by De Marchi.

They are slim-fitting team jerseys made in Italy from 100% merino wool. The jerseys are embroidered and come with YKK vintage zippers and mother of pearl buttons.

This one (above), for example, is a reproduction of a jersey worn by Sean Kelly in 1982. It’s priced at €140.

New products from Torq

Sports nutrition brand Torq have announced that they’ll be launching three new products towards the end of the month.

First, their energy gel will be available in a new apple crumble flavour. Apple crumble, huh? They already have rhubarb & custard and raspberry ripple and both taste great to us, so we’re expecting good things here.

Second, there’s Torq Energy Drink in a new natural blackcurrant flavour.

Finally, Torq’s Recovery will be available in a new cookies & cream flavour.

Functionally, all of these products are identical to existing products in the Torq range, it’s just the flavours that have changed. They will be available from Torq’s website from 27 January. 

New Orica-GreenEdge jersey

Craft has replaced Santini as the clothing supplier to Orica-GreenEdge and here is the new jersey. The colours are the same as before – white and navy blue spiced up with Orica-GreenEdge’s signature green – but the design is pretty different.

The clothing will make its first official appearance at the Australia Road National Championships this weekend, then in the Santos Tour Down Under from 19 January.

Santini, meanwhile, will sponsor Belkin for the next two years. It’s a merry-go-round out there.

Lampre-Merida to use Rotor

In yet more WorldTour team news (1 January is when all the new contracts begin), Team Lampre-Merida has aligned with Rotor, producer of Q-Rings, 3D+ cranks, Flow cranks and the new Power Meter chainset.

Each rider gets to choose from  a wide selection of chainrings and (non-round) Q rings for their best performance set up. Rotor will support the transition with one-on-one testing and set up sessions during training camps.

The official presentation of the new bikes and team will be held at the annual Merida press camp in Mallorca, 13-15 February. Mat will be there on behalf of road.cc.

Garmin-Sharp switch to Poc

One more World Tour team story before we sign off? Why the hell not? Team Garmin-Sharp are now using helmets and eyewear from Swedish company Poc, moving from Giro and Oakley. This is the first time that Poc has been represented at this level.

Poc is a leading manufacturer of skiing and mountain biking helmets, body armour and accessories. Team Garmin-Sharp will be using the Octal helmet, the Octal Aero and the Tempor TT helmet.

When it comes to the eyewear, the team will choose from a number of different frames including the soon-to-be-released DO Blades which have apparently been developed in collaboration with 2012 Giro D’Italia champion Ryder Hesjedal and 2008 Olympic TT silver medalist Gustav Larsson.

For improved visibility team riders will be using orange versions of the helmets while training.

Sorry to be all juvenile but we’re still not sure how well that logo reads in certain situations.

For more info on the Poc range visit www.pocsports.com.