Abus are launching a new city helmet called the Kranium Ecolution that uses dual layer wood-cellulose fibre honeycomb board to provide the shock absoption. The German brand also have several innovative new locks on offer.
The Kranium Ecolution is a really interesting new urban helmet that started out as a project by London student Anirudha Rao. We first told you about the design last year although we didn’t have any information about the manufacture at the time.
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Most helmets are essentially EPS (expanded polystyrene) with a shell around the outside. The Kranium Ecolution comes with an internal EPS layer but between that and the shell you get the wood-cellulose fibre in a honeycomb construction.
Why? Abus reckon it has significantly higher shock absorption than EPS. Plus, it’s a green option: they say it’s fully recyclable or made from recycled material.
![](https://cdn.road.cc/sites/default/files/cropped/node-gallery-display/images/Eurobike%202012:%20Abus/Eurobike%202012%20Abus%2009.jpg)
It’s weatherproof and the wood-cellulose board is humidity resistant, and there’s padding inside that you can remove for washing.
![](https://cdn.road.cc/sites/default/files/cropped/node-gallery-display/images/Eurobike%202012:%20Abus/Eurobike%202012%20Abus%2007.jpg)
The new helmet is likely to cost around £89.99 (subject to confirmation) and will be available from about February.
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While we’re talking about helmets, this is a new Abus Cyclonaut lid. That textile cover comes from a UK mill and those removable leatherette ear pads have an opening for earphones. The normal version will be around £109.99 with the ear pad version coming in at £139.99.
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The uGrip range of locks is new, all of the models coming with silicone covers to prevent damage to your bike’s paintwork. The uGrip Plus 501 lock looks like a meaty piece of work and that’s backed up by the Sold Secure Gold rating. It measures 225 x 95 x 13mm and is likely to cost somewhere between £79 and £89 when it becomes available in February or March.
![](https://cdn.road.cc/sites/default/files/cropped/node-gallery-display/images/Eurobike%202012:%20Abus/Eurobike%202012%20Abus%2003.jpg)
The uGrip Chain 585 features a 5mm square chain and will probably cost £27.99 while the uGrip Cable 560 is an 8mm cable that’s 65cm long and it’ll probably be £17.99.
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Finally, Abus are expanding their foldable steel lock lineup with the Bordo 6000 Ecolution. It’s 30% recycled fibre from wheat production and it’s fully recyclable. It should get a Sold Secure Bronze rating, although that has yet to be confirmed. The price will be around £79-£89 when it becomes available in the spring.
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