9 design-oriented innovations for urban cycling
From inflatable helmets to smart lights, ergonomic saddles, and modular accessories, this selection explores a next-generation, design-oriented approach to urban cycling, where safety, comfort, and style come together to transform city riding.
Cycling today is no longer just a functional act for getting from A to B or a purely athletic activity: it has become a ‘good habit’ for moving through space – urban cycling and beyond – with greater awareness and safety. Whether navigating the city daily for work or pushing performance on the road, the bicycle has become a key mobility tool: fast, agile, and at the same time a responsible, sustainable choice.
This evolution is driven by the commitment of brands and companies investing in research and development at the intersection of new technologies, design, and contemporary lifestyles. This selection of nine products shows how innovation is redefining the cycling experience on multiple levels. From advanced safety solutions to integrated lighting systems, from smart accessories to objects designed to enhance ergonomics and comfort, each item addresses different needs -commuting, leisure, or training – with a transversal, design-oriented approach.
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Cutting-edge materials and intelligent components demonstrate how performance and ease of use can coexist in a single, unified ecosystem. The result is a vision of cycling that is more accessible and inclusive, adaptable to the rhythms of the city as well as the demands of those seeking efficiency and performance, transforming every ride into a safer, more intuitive, and, why not, joyful and creative experience.
9 design-oriented innovations for urban cycling:
LOOK Keo 2 MaxVISION – LOOK
Produced by LOOK, the historic French cycling components brand, the LOOK Keo 2 MaxVISION pedals take road visibility and safety to the next level with USB-C rechargeable integrated lights visible up to 1 km away, both day and night. Their fully integrated, aerodynamic design ensures lightness, high performance, and up to 40 hours of autonomy, with a fast recharge in just 2 hours.
The lights feature four smart modes – Day Flash, Night Flash, Power Steady, and Steady – to adapt to every condition, while the Start & Stop system automatically activates them as soon as you start pedaling. Beyond illumination, the pedals offer a large 500 mm² stainless steel contact surface, an oversized axle, and spring tension adjustment for maximum safety and control. Lightweight (300 g total) yet durable, they combine ergonomics, efficiency, and technology to deliver faster, more stable rides.
aH-1 Micro-Collapsible Helmet – Ventete
Lightweight, ultra-compact, and innovative, the Ventete aH-1 Micro-Collapsible Helmet is an urban helmet designed to deliver immediate protection with maximum portability. It inflates in seconds and collapses by up to 90%, reducing to just 3.5 cm thick – smaller than a laptop – making it easy to carry in a backpack or bag, while combining safety and everyday practicality. Designed by Ventete, a brand founded by architects, engineers, and cyclists, the product features a multi-patented pneumatic structure that uses pressurized air instead of traditional foam, absorbing both linear and rotational impacts with deeper compression.
The kit includes the Fumpa x Ventete USB-C mini pump, which inflates the helmet in under 30 seconds, while the pressure indicator ensures optimal inflation every time. Its chambered design guarantees continuous ventilation, keeping the head cool as if no helmet were worn. The Ventete aH-1 Micro-Collapsible Helmet ushers in a new era for urban cycling helmets, blending innovation, safety, and convenience into a single, smart accessory.
Lochness – Palomar
Lochness is a modular, flexible bike lock that reimagines a traditionally “muscle-bound” object as a smart and playful accessory. Designed by Francesco Toselli and produced by Palomar, a design company based in Florence, this solution adapts to any shape: it can wrap around the frame, attach to urban bike racks, or be quickly secured while riding without always having to lock it.
The theft-resistant metal core, combined with a silicone cover and plastic end caps, allows the lock to be shaped without damaging the bike frame. Its multi-shape design makes every use simple and intuitive. Measuring 825 mm in length, with a 20 mm outer diameter and a 16 mm inner core, Lochness combines material innovation and practicality, proving that lightness, functionality, and security can coexist in a technical object with a playful character.
Hövding 4 – iSi Wearables
The Hövding4 is not a conventional helmet, it’s a wearable airbag designed for urban cyclists, and why not, for the more eclectic riders too. Developed by iSi Wearables, part of the iSi Automotive group specializing in airbag technology, it brings automotive-level safety standards to two-wheeled mobility. The device is worn like a neck scarf and remains invisible during everyday use.
In the event of an accident, a network of sensors and AI-driven algorithms detects danger and deploys an airbag around the head and neck in milliseconds, providing full protection. Hövding 4 represents a new approach to personal safety: designed for those who don’t use traditional helmets, it is compact and easily stowed in a bag or backpack when not in use. Combining technological innovation, ergonomics, and a design that winks at style, it redefines the concept of urban wearable safety.
CLIP – Som Ray e Clem De Alcala
With a simple gesture, supported by an advanced mechanism, a traditional bicycle is transformed into an e-bike. CLIP is the world’s first plug-and-play device that allows virtually any bike to be electrified in just a few seconds, with no tools or complications. Designed for urban mobility, it makes tackling hills and longer routes easier, without the weight, cost, or bulk of a traditional e-bike. Based on a friction-drive system, CLIP attaches to the front fork of city, commuter, hybrid bikes, as well as some bike-share models, and detaches just as easily.
A small Bluetooth controller mounted on the handlebar activates pedal assistance, with the motor adjusting torque according to speed and rider effort. When not in use, the unit can be clipped back onto CLIP’s main body, which also integrates a regenerative braking system to recover energy on descents. Compact and lightweight (under 4 kg), CLIP offers a range of 10–12 miles on a single battery, easily recharged like a laptop. Developed in Brooklyn by Som Ray and Clem De Alcala, CLIP stands out as a more sustainable and accessible alternative to a conventional e-bike.
Curve Bike Light Set – Bookman
In the city, safety becomes design for those moving on two wheels. The Curve Bike Lights by Bookman are rechargeable lights that turn visibility into a technological and functional experience. Designed for urban cyclists, runners, and commuters, they combine a clean, minimalist aesthetic with advanced performance, making light an intuitive and easy-to-use element of everyday mobility.
The set includes a USB-rechargeable front and rear light, delivering up to 220 lumens and 37 lumens respectively, with extended battery life of up to 70 hours at the front and 32 hours at the rear. The wrap-around lens spreads light laterally as well, ensuring 360-degree visibility. Winner of the ABC Mobility Award, Curve demonstrates how carefully considered design can translate into tangible innovation and real-world safety.
Loffi 3.0 – Loffi
Loffi 3.0 are multi-season urban cycling gloves designed to deliver comfort, protection, and performance even on colder days. Created by designers and urban cyclists Jack Hudspith and Ben Pawle, founders of the Loffi brand, they combine PFC-free wind- and water-resistant fabrics with a soft microfleece lining, plus the option to add an optional liner for use in temperatures below 5 °C. The full-finger construction with AX Suede™ Fit Connect ensures touchscreen sensitivity, while the 4-way stretch palm and reinforced zones improve grip, cushioning, and abrasion resistance.
Reflective details and silicone inserts enhance visibility in low-light conditions. Adjustable cuffs, an integrated pull tab, and an ergonomic fit turn these gloves into a technical yet lifestyle-oriented accessory, designed for everyday urban riding, with a subtle touch of personality and a hint of a smile.
SLR Boost 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow White – Selle Italia
The SLR Boost 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow White by Selle Italia redefines the concept of the saddle, combining performance, lightness, and ergonomic comfort in an iconic design. Developed for demanding riders, it ensures efficient pedaling thanks to a carbon shell with +10 mm rails, allowing for a wider range of adjustment and a more personalized fit. The Superflow technology reduces perineal pressure, while the neutral shape supports both dynamic riding positions and more static postures.
The 3D-printed cover integrates differentiated cushioning zones that progressively absorb vibrations and impacts, while the compact, short-nose design improves maneuverability and pedaling efficiency, making the saddle ideal for long distances and challenging climbs. With its new white colorway, the SLR Boost 3D pairs advanced technology and ergonomics with a strong sense of style, transforming a technical cycling component into an essential element of contemporary design and performance.
Peak Design x VanMoof Phone Mount
The Peak Design x VanMoof Phone Mount turns the handlebar into a smart mobility hub – fast, intuitive, and designed to keep your smartphone securely within reach at all times. Born from the collaboration between Peak Design, experts in accessories made for movement, and VanMoof, innovators in the e-bike sector, the mount integrates seamlessly into the bike’s frame, transforming the phone into a constant companion during everyday journeys.
The SlimLink™ system combines high-strength magnets with a mechanical locking ring, ensuring stability even on uneven surfaces. The quick-release mechanism allows the phone to be mounted and removed with a single gesture, minimizing distractions while riding. Compatible with most major smartphone models, the Phone Mount offers a functional and effortless solution for urban mobility, remaining discreet when not in use and instantly ready when needed.
