Today I was listening to #81 The Fredcast podcast and two things perked my ears up. David was interviewing several manufacturers at Interbike in Las Vegas about products they plan to launch or are launching.

The first was a product called Tire Balls for mountain bike tires. These will replace the single tube in the tire with up 29 individual inflated cells. The beauty is that if one or two cells are punctured the tire does not go flat. Pinch flats go away. For mountain bikes the cells will be more of sausage shape than a ball. The product is not available for the general public yet but they are seeking beta testers.

The other product replaces the chain with a carbon fiber belt. Spot Bikes is introducing bikes with this belt drive. Quietness, weight and cleanliness are major selling points. This not ready for cassette use yet but for wheels with internal gearing this could be the cat’s meow.