Womenspecific.com just returned from a week long cycling trade show in sin city…Las Vegas. Our first priority was to introduce our successful Scavenge-HER Hunt to the cycling industry. Our second priority was to suss out some exciting new products that exist for the ladies. We were a bit hesitant at first considering this is quite the male dominated event. Yes…we even joked that we were heading off to the ‘Man’tainbike Tradeshow. Though men tend to be the majority at this tradeshow, the women represented well and committed companies showed their dedication to women’s products in this industry.

We had approximately 30 companies participate in the Scavenge-HER Hunt. All of these companies are committed to women’s initiatives and the products they create. They all featured products that they felt women would truly treasure. Products ranged from MTB Bikes, coffee, heart rate monitors, kid trailers and apparel. Proceeds from this event benefited the OIWC. They were able to sign on many new members at Interbike. We really appreciated the response and hope you will take the time to check out the products from the following companies. Most of these products will not be available until 2008.

Burley
LE Tiger d’lite- Your kid will be the coolest kid in town with this tiger fashioned bicycle trailer. This trailer carries the quality and function that we all know in the Burley brand!

Camelbak
The LUXE and MAGIC Hydration Packs- Camelbak has been on the forefront with women’s designed hydration packs. They have everything from the larger, all day packs, to the shorter ride packs. The contoured straps are really comfortable and they look great too.

Chariot Carriers Inc
Chariot CSL Special Edition Child Carrier with Jogging kit – Check out this lightweight mulit-sport child carrier. Again, Chariot has created a product for that FUN HOG mom and dad!

Crumpler
The Headaitch Medium tote bag & Singaporean Ice Monster cargo messenger backpack- Not only are Crumpler bags stylish, cool and functional…they also served Cooper Ale and Vegi-mite crackers at their booth. This company knows how to have fun and it shows in their product.

Detours
The Guppie under the seat bag- If you are tired of the standard black bags and panniers then Detours is your company. Their products are gorgeous!! I love their colors, designs, and diversity. You need these bags…enough said!

De Soto
Women’s Forza Tri Jersey with SkinCooler- I cannot swim or run to save my life…but if I did participate in Tri’s I can only image that the Forza Tri Jersey would be a great addition to my gear pile. I really like the look and design.

Deuter
Hydro EXP 6 SL- Yes, ladies do like to go on long rides also. Deuter has created a great pack that actually has room to pack some important stuff on those longer rides. You can actually fit more than some chap-stick and sunscreen. The contoured straps feel great and the colors are awesome.

Endura
Endura Women’s Hummvee Shorts, Women’s FS-260 Pro-short, Womens’s Gridlock Waterproof Jacket- I have just been introduced to Endura this year. We pulled their line into our shop here in Jackson. Their clothing not only looks great but it is sized really well to fit WOMEN, not little girls. The product really fits well and has some great features. The Hummvee’s are capri length and are SUPER COOL!!

Fuji
Fuji Women’s Signature Cycling Short & Jersey- A really stylish and comfortable kit for spending your time on the saddle.

Giant
Arête (1) – performance hard-tail- I am so impressed with Giant’s dedication to women’s initiatives in this industry. Each year they prove more and more their commitment to quality women’s products and it is a complete pleasure to work with them. Tiffany Brown, Giant’s Women’s Product Manager, is an inspiration and asset to this industry. I did not test out the Arete hard-tail because I am a suspension junky. Therefore, if you have a suspension addiction like me keep your eye out for the Women’s Cypher…5 inches of travel baby!! Loved this bike.

Gore Bike Wear
Phantom Lady Jersey- WINDSTOPPER ® Soft Shell with detachable, raglan sleeves- Can’t deny that Gore knows breathable fabrics. This is the ultimate cool weather layer. Made to have direct skin contact you will not need another layer. The detachable sleeve makes for convenience on those longer rides. This is a great piece to add to the collection.

Harlot Clothing Company
Saving the World T- Finally, some style for us riding ladies. Harlot has created some stylish tee’s, incredibly comfortable riding shorts, and great wool-blend jerseys. You can easily step off the trail and into the bistro with this apparel.

Jamis
Xenith Comp Femme bike- Keeping in line with their growing commitment to women’s products, Jamis has introduced a great new women’s carbon road bike to their collection. This is a great ride! Test one out.

Kinetic Koffee
This coffee is awesome. Freshly roasted, organic and yummy you will not be disappointed. Great people own and operate this company. Proceeds from their sales are donated to great programs in the industry.

Loeka
Pinstripe Tech Short- Canadian women know how to ride bikes. You cannot go wrong with this great collection for women. These products are all tested and designed by women who ride…ride HARD that is. There is a style for all types of riding. Gotta love Canada!

LOOK
LOOK Keo Sprint Elle – Road clipless pedal – Another great addition to the KEO Collection. Performance pedals for the ladies.

Mace
Mace Women’s Swat Jacket- No more retrofitting MAN Jackets for the gnarly DH! Mace has FINALLY created body armor to fit a woman. Get your hands on one of these ASAP.

Rudy Project
Suby Sunglasses- I own these. I love them. These are all about style! However I did ride in them a few times because I had no other sunglasses and they held up great. Lots of sunlight protection. Mostly I love the look and the lenses are awesome!

Sigma
Sigma ONYX Balance HRM- If you are getting into heart rate monitoring this is your product. It is great looking and very simple to use. If you are trying to stay away from the overly teched out product you will enjoy this HR Monitor.

Skirt Sports
Smooch/Black Bike Jersey- Skirtsports is a woman owned company that understands women’s fit. Along with this jersey, they have a great skort that is stylish and comfortable. You will love it…maybe even live in it!

Specialized
Designs for Women Propero Helmet, Lithia Saddle, Spirita Road Shoe – If you are looking for tried and true women’s products you cannot go wrong with Specialized. Specialized is one of the first cycling companies to create a dedicated women’s initiative in the industry. Their team of women’s designers and managers are some of the best in the industry. You go girls!

Sugoi
Helium Jacket, Venus Jersey, Bravo Ride Capri – Personally, I love Sugoi. I have owned there clothing now for over 8 years and always love the fit and function. If you are performance minded but want some style also…go grab some Sugoi.

Sweetskinz
MTB Front/Rear Foldable Nightwing Bicycle Tire- Woop Woop…Sassy tires. What else could a woman want?

Terry
TRX saddle- Another AMAZING saddle from Terry. Terry knows how to make amazing saddles. The Terry line is one of the best sellers in our shop for men and women. Your butt will thank you by buying a Terry.

UVEX
Uvex Urban- Don’t dare to commute to work without a stylish new Urban. These helmets are great. Not only will they protect your bean if you get in a tango with a vehicle or curb, but they look great. The colors are awesome.

Velopress
The Female Cyclist, a book by Gale Bernhardt- Are you looking to train for a race? This book will help you on your way. The Female Cyclist contains unique information on bike fit, periodized strength-training programs, and detailed training plans—all specific to women.

WTB
Speed She saddle- One of the most comfortable saddles on the market. This saddle has been around for years and women love it!

Zoic
All Night Long short- Plaid is the new black in the industry and Zoic shows us why. Their new women’s line is SO CUTE. They have their performance line as well as their stylish Streetside Collection. They are also incorporating “green”methods into their design by using bamboo and organic cotton’s. We are bringing this line into our shop’s collection this year for sure.

Zym
The portable electrolyte drink tablet- These hydration tables are easy to store and taste great. Keep a tube of these in the back of jersey, in the hydration pack, or in the glove compartment. A little electrolyte boost never hurt anyone.

Walking around the show we also spotted a few other products that were really cool and exciting for 2008. Here is a list of a few other products to look out for in 2008.

Sidi Genius 5.5 Carbon Women’s Road Shoe
These are super spendy…but they are really cute…oh yeah, and a great performance shoe. Carbon is a girl’s best friend!

The Stick
I could have stayed in this booth all day long. This product is the answer to the lame significant other who will never massage your neck. This is also great post-race muscle therapy. The best $40 bucks you will ever spend!

Spot brand 29” frame Single speed with the new Belt Drive !!!! I could ride this steel beauty forever…well I guess for as long as my legs could endure the single-speed pain. This was some of the most fun I have had on a bike. The combination of 29”, steel, and single-speed made me want one now! The new belt-drive design was smooth and quiet. Look forward to seeing the future of this design.

Looking for a cycling jersey with a bit of flare? Check out hotvelociti women’s jerseys. These jerseys are super cute and yes; they have three pockets for great performance. Check them out.

Watch out for the new hype on the PIVOT brand bicycle. They introduced the Mach 4 (4 inch) and Mach 5 (5 inch) mountain bikes at Interbike. You cannot get your hands on one yet but I think they might be a hit. I rode both the 4 and 5 and thought they felt great!!! I have a really short torso and this geometry fit me like a glove. Disclaimer: Both the bikes I rode just happened to be set up perfectly for me, stem length, saddle adjustment, etc. Also, they were spec’d out with Fox suspension (SWEET) and XTR (sweet again)…The cream of the crop. Be sure your retailer fits you to the perfect bike before you buy. Fit is most important!
Because of the great fit I am a bit biased on the Pivot experience. The bike pedaled great and had a super plush feel in the descents. The DW link rear suspension platform had a really positive feel. Good times!

Trying to hone in those mountain biking skills? Check out Over The Bars Women’s Mountain Bike Camp and starting planning your next riding adventure!

Submitted by Stephanie Thomas