{"id":409139,"date":"2026-01-12T23:20:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T23:20:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/409139\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T23:20:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T23:20:16","slug":"smart-adapters-sensors-and-accessories-for-better-rides","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/409139\/","title":{"rendered":"Smart Adapters Sensors And Accessories For Better Rides"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Estimated7 min read\"great<\/p>\n

Great solutions to make your rides better. <\/p>\n

Some of the most interesting cycling gear isn\u2019t the flashy stuff \u2014bikes<\/a>, drivetrains<\/a>, or carbon wheels<\/a>. It\u2019s the clever, often overlooked solutions that quietly make your bike work better and your rides feel smoother, smarter, or simply more enjoyable.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re pinning on a number or heading out for a casual spin, those solutions are everywhere. Custom adapters let you mix and match components across brands. Smart sensors help dial in fit and position. Cooling vests and shoe repair kits tackle everyday problems most riders accept as unavoidable.<\/p>\n

The ten products below are the ones that caught my attention \u2014 inventive, occasionally amusing, and, above all, genuinely useful for solving the small but persistent challenges cyclists face.
<\/p>\n

\"bike<\/p>\n

Expand the range of your SRAM XPLR 1×13 with Garbaruk\u2019s 10-52 cassette<\/p>\n

Aftermarket Cassette for Wider Range 13-Speed SRAM XPLR<\/p>\n

SRAM\u2019s latest XPLR 1×13 groups<\/a> are the benchmark for gravel riding. If there is a drawback, however, it is that the brand offers just a single 10-46 cassette option.<\/p>\n

Into that void steps Garbaruk of Poland with a 13-speed 10-52 cassette<\/a> ($409)designed to be run with SRAM\u2019s 1×13 XPLR full mount derailleur. <\/p>\n

This gives riders the 520-percent range of SRAM\u2019s 12-speed transmission for mountain bike parts, plus one extra gear to smooth jumps, and the lighter, faster-shifting XPLR rear derailleur.<\/p>\n

The Garbaruk cassette is compatible the XDR freehub mounting standard, same as the SRAM cassette, and SRAM\u2019s chain. While you will need to add a few links to the chain, the company says, \u201cWith correct setup, the stock XPLR Red\/Force\/Rival derailleur handles a 52T cog \u2013 No cage swap needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is the perfect upgrade if you love your SRAM 13-speed gravel drivetrain, but just want a bit more low end for the toughest hills. <\/p>\n

\"machined<\/p>\n

Darimo will custom make you a stem in (almost) any dimension for a perfect fit on your bike. <\/p>\n

Customizable Stem in Any Length and Angle <\/p>\n

At Bicycling, we\u2019re big proponents of bike fits. No matter what kind of bike you ride or how much you ride, you can be more comfortable and perform better with a dialed fit. <\/p>\n

In most cases, riders should be able to achieve a great fit with off-the-shelf frames and components. But sometimes, a few millimeters or degrees extra is the difference between a good fit and a perfect fit. <\/p>\n

In those cases, you may need a custom-machined stem in your specific dimensions. Darimo of Spain offers their elegant and super light IX2AL stem in a multitude of stock options for \u20ac199. <\/p>\n

But for just \u20ac40 more, you can get a stem machined in any size, angle, and length. That\u2019s a pretty great price for a custom and very light (sub 100 gram) stem. <\/p>\n

And dimensions are not the limit of the custom options either: custom colors and engraving are also offered, as is a reinforced version for heavier riders. <\/p>\n

Note that this stem is primarily compatible with hose and housing routing that runs externally from the bar into the frame. However, Darimo has been known to make internal routing options available, like they do for The Baum Celaris<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"closeupMagCAD Designs<\/p>\n

With the correct adapter, you can use Enve InRoute components on a Specialized Tarmac SL8.<\/p>\n

Mix and Match Internal Routing Adapters<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no doubt that hidden routing makes a bike look cleaner, and it has aerodynamic benefits. But hidden routing often means fewer choices for the customer because many bikes are designed exclusively for use with the bikemaker\u2019s parts: Specialized cockpits for Specialized bikes, Trek cockpits for Trek bikes, Cerv\u00e9lo cockpits for Cerv\u00e9lo bikes, etc. <\/p>\n

This is where the legions of 3D printing wizards come to the rescue. 3D printing is the ultimate solution to the question, \u201cHow do I make this work with that?\u201d With some research, you can find an adapter that lets you use, for example, Enve InRoute parts on your Specialized Tarmac<\/a> or Cerv\u00e9lo Soloist<\/a>. Or perhaps you want to run the Specialized Tarmac SL7 stem on a Trek Domane<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"bikeNeat Components<\/p>\n

One mount attaches a Garmin Varia and Apple AirTag to your bike\u2019s saddle, <\/p>\n

Many of these 3D print shops will work with you on custom adapters and spacers to let you run your cockpit of choice on your frame of choice (there are limitations, of course). And that\u2019s just cockpit routing: 3D printers also have numerous solutions for mounting lights<\/a> and Airtags<\/a> to your bike\u2014or a unified mount for a light AND Airtag<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"cyclingaerosensor<\/p>\n

A body position sensor helps you train to hold an aerodynamic position.<\/p>\n

Body Position Sensor<\/p>\n

Whenever we write about aerodynamic frames or other pieces of aero hardware, someone will invariably point out that 70 to 80 percent of a bicycle\u2019s total drag comes from the rider<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This is true, so optimizing a rider\u2019s position can make tremendous aero gains. But those gains are only maximized if you hold that optimal position. A company makes a sensor that helps you go faster by training your body to hold that optimized position.<\/p>\n

The aerosensor aerobody ($389)<\/a> attaches to a bike\u2019s stem or bars and uses lasers to detect changes in a rider\u2019s head and chest position. As your position shifts from the device (via a ConnectIQ app<\/a> for a Garmin cycling computer), provides real-time feedback as your position drifts and displays how much penalty the position shifts incur.<\/p>\n

\"cyclingaerosensor<\/p>\n

A real-time drag sensor can help you find the most aerodynamic position on your bike without a trip to the wind tunnel.<\/p>\n

Note that this device only tells you if you deviate from the reference position you fix in the setup process. Figuring out your optimal position requires a trip to the wind tunnel (the A2 wind tunnel<\/a> charges almost $600 per hour, with a two-hour minimum) or a real-time drag sensor like aerosensor\u2019s, er, aerosensor ($869).<\/a> And note that your optimal position likely is not the lowest position you can contort your body into\u2014sometimes lower is slower. Instead, it will be the position from which you can breathe well and pedal efficiently with the least frontal area.<\/p>\n

\"customjarpz<\/p>\n

Everything you need is included with the jarpz kit.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"comparisonjarpz<\/p>\n

Maybe not like\u00a0new, but certainly more presentable.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cycling Shoe Repair Kit<\/p>\n

Charlotte Jarps, AKA \u201cJarpz<\/a>,\u201d is known for customizing cycling shoes with beautiful artwork. That experience making shoes beautiful is used to inform a neat little repair kit<\/a> so riders can make their haggard but otherwise functional cycling shoes presentable again. The kit includes supplies like paint, brushes, sandpaper, and more. Jarpz\u2019s YouTube channel provides instructions demonstrating how to use the kit and get the best results.<\/p>\n

\"handlingThe Bike Sauce<\/p>\n

Save weight and reduce maintenance demands by removing the FutureShock <\/p>\n

Specialized Future Shock Delete<\/p>\n

The Specialized Future Shock rider-suspension system is found on many models across the brand\u2019s line, Most notably the Roubaix<\/a> and Diverge<\/a> families. While Specialized continues to offer evidence<\/a> proving the system’s effectiveness<\/a>, it remains a polarizing feature. Some riders complain about the weight, additional complications, expensive maintenance and repair costs. Other riders want a lower position than the system can provide or find the movement of the bars off-putting. <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re one of those riders, you need a delete kit. There are several options, but the one I recommend\u2014because it \u201ccomplies with ISO 4210-5 testing standards\u201d\u2014comes from The Bike Sauce. It offers two kits: a direct replacement for the Future Shock ($85)<\/a> and another for riders who prefer a lower bar position ($75).<\/a><\/p>\n

\"highFair Bicycle<\/p>\n

Get a more forward\u2014or rearward\u2014saddle position without purchasing a new seatpost. <\/p>\n

Seatpost Offset Adjustment Adapter<\/p>\n

Back when almost all bikes used round seat posts, there were options galore for riders who required a specific offset and\/or length to achieve their preferred bike fit. With the almost wholesale move of carbon bikes to bike-specific seatpost shapes, options are significantly reduced, and what options exist are expensive. <\/p>\n

Using the popular Specialized Tarmac SL8<\/a> as an example. The stock post has 15mm of offset\u2014If you need a zero offset post, it will cost you $250 if you buy the Specialized<\/a> post or over $300 if you pop for a Darimo<\/a>. And if you\u2019re one of those rare riders who needs more offset, you\u2019re out of luck. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s where Fair\u2019s Drop Best UC Road<\/a> comes into play. This Swiss-made widget fits onto many existing seat posts and, depending on its orientation, shifts the saddle clamp forward or rearward by 27mm. At $150, it is far cheaper than a new carbon post, though there is a minor weight penalty of about 60 grams. Fair offers several hardware options for the Drop Best to adapt to different seat posts, including dropper posts. <\/p>\n

\"blackShimano<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a way to put two-bolt cleats on three-bolt shoes. <\/p>\n

Two-bolt Cleat Adapters for Three-hole Shoes<\/p>\n

This little gizmo from Shimano allows you to install a two-bolt (mountain style) clipless pedal cleat on a three-bolt (road or Delta) shoe<\/a>. The kit also includes \u201cpontoons\u201d to protect the two-bolt cleat and make walking easier. I can think of scenarios where this adapter would be helpful like indoor cycling studios, gravel racing, or winter riding. But the main benefit is that it allows you\u2014for whatever reason you want\u2014to use your favorite \u201croad\u201d shoes with a two-sided mountain-bike style pedal.<\/p>\n

\"handFidlock<\/p>\n

Now you can twist your Fidlock bottle to the LEFT!<\/p>\n

Lefty Adapter for Fidlock Water Bottle Systems<\/p>\n

The magnetic Fidlock Twist<\/a> water bottle attachment system is ultra secure, low profile offers additional mounting locations (upside down, in particular), and some riders find it easier to use than a traditional cage. However, all Fidlock bottles are sold with the twist release operating in the same direction: Right when on the downtube (which is left when mounted on the seat tube). <\/p>\n

If you prefer a downtube bottle that releases to the left\u2014or want both the seat tube and downtube bottle to release in the same direction\u2014Fidlock finally makes a left release connector<\/a> (on the downtube, right on the seat tube). A coin is all you need to change: remove a Fidlock bottle\u2019s stock right-twist connector and install the left-twist unit. <\/p>\n

\"bicycleWolf Tooth Components<\/p>\n

Wolf Tooth lets you carry two bottles on one frame mount. <\/p>\n

Double Water Bottle Adapter <\/p>\n

Wolf Tooth\u2019s B-Rad system<\/a> offers many great products to help you haul more stuff more efficiently on your bike. If you need a way to carry more water on the bike but have run out of mounts, the Double Bottle Adapter<\/a> lets you mount two bottle cages side-by-side on a single bottle mount. <\/p>\n

Member Exclusive: Check Out Our Top Cycling Stories\"Chevron\"Chevron\"Headshot<\/p>\n

A gear editor for his entire career, Matt\u2019s journey to becoming a leading cycling tech journalist started in 1995, and he\u2019s been at it ever since; likely riding more cycling equipment than anyone on the planet along the way. Previous to his time with Bicycling, Matt worked in bike shops as a service manager, mechanic, and sales person. Based in Durango, Colorado, he enjoys riding and testing any and all kinds of bikes, so you\u2019re just as likely to see him on a road bike dressed in Lycra at a Tuesday night worlds ride as you are to find him dressed in a full face helmet and pads riding a bike park on an enduro bike. He doesn\u2019t race often, but he\u2019s game for anything; having entered road races, criteriums, trials competitions, dual slalom, downhill races, enduros, stage races, short track, time trials, and gran fondos. Next up on his to-do list: a multi day bikepacking trip, and an e-bike race.\u00a0<\/p>\n