CABDA Midwest 2021: Back in Gear!

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by Craig Lepkowski, PCI #1180-B/ EMSCI #272-B
Lake Forest (IL) Police Department (retired)
IPMBA President

In February 2020, I attended the CABDA Midwest Expo in Schaumburg, Illinois. The Chicagoland Area Bicycle Dealers Association (CABDA) re-launched its trade shows in 2014, and has since expanded beyond Chicagoland to include locations in Southern California and Metro New York. At that exposition, there were more than 200 vendors present hawking their goods and services.

The CABDA event scheduled for February 2021 was delayed by COVID and was held in September instead. Unfortunately, the response from attendees and vendors was affected by the pandemic. Only 74 vendors were listed for the event; I do not know the final attendance numbers. While the smaller turnout made for a more intimate occasion, I’m sure the organizers and businesses were less than pleased. Although the expos are retailer-focused and industry-participant events, IPMBA is granted access through CABDA’s generosity.

While IPMBA is a training organization, having access to those who manufacture and design for cyclists is a great opportunity to view new products, learn about new services, discover new businesses, and build relationships that help the Association serve its membership, and help our members do their jobs.

As in the past, participating companies ran the gamut from large distributors and companies like Midway Bicycle Supply and ABUS Germany to family-owned shops like IPMBA Corporate Member ISM Saddles. Even with the small turnout, the show featured seminars, clinics, and product displays from manufacturers, service companies, distributors, and sales groups. I was on a mission to strengthen connections with current vendors and establish relationships with businesses of potential interest to public safety cyclists.

Once again (as in 2019 and 2020), I tried to entice those I met with to exhibit at our next conference, donate items for the silent auction, participate in the Product Purchase Program, and/or provide an item for a evaluation and subsequent review in the IPMBA News. I had the pleasure of visiting with the following vendors (listed in alphabetical order).

ABUS Germany: Provides helmets for road and mountain biking with German engineering and in multiple designs, colors, and sizes. They also design innovative security for bicycles, including multiple gauge-sized cable, chain, u-lock, and plastic locking systems. A couple of their products also have alarm systems.

Arsenal Cycling: This company bills itself as providing the “arsenal of lighting” every cyclist needs. Their technology (SYNCT Lights) sync multiple lights to highlight to approaching motorists that you are a cyclist and assist them in gauging the distance, which one taillight cannot do.

BiKASE: As its name implies, this company out of Milwaukee provides multiple cases and holders for phones and GPS units, top bar and handlebar cases that can be removed and become sling bags or waist packs, and beverage cages and wraps. They offer front and rear racks, panniers, hard case baskets, and even pet-carrier kits (but not quite big enough for a standard K9 bike partner!).

Bike Rags: This small company is doing well and staying strong despite the pandemic struggles so many businesses have dealt with. Tony Burnett joined the Product Purchase Program within a week or two of speaking with me at the 2020 CABDA show. His company does custom screen printing and is hoping to help fulfill our penchant for camaraderie and love of t-shirts.

Bliz Eyewear: As I’ve found with most eyewear companies, Bliz offers a large selection of styles and designs of eyewear for all sports, most of which would be suitable for public safety cycling. Many of their prices are well within a normal budget for the quality they provide. For those who do more than cycle in their personal time, Bliz also has ski goggles and helmets. Since the show, Bliz has joined the Product Purchase Program via a company called EnjoySummer, which offers 35% off Bliz eyewear as well as KinetiXx gloves.

Boeshield T-9: A regular at all the expos I’ve attended, Boeshield T-9 focuses on one product and has perfected it for use on bicycles, automobiles, and any other equipment that requires cleaning, corrosion prevention, waterproofing, and long-lasting lubrication.

Camelbak: Once again, Camelbak brought plenty of newly-introduced mugs and bottles to the show. Some models can be engraved with logos or messages and some offer cold/hot technology for various liquids. They also continue to produce hydration packs for more active cyclists.

EcoSheep: Another vendor with lubrication and cleaning products, but this one with its own twist – they are made of lanolin. They promote their biodegradable and non-toxic sheep oil in a regular-sized bottle but also had miniature one-use packets of “sheep on the go” that takes up very little room in your bike pack or pocket. They also have cleaning kits, because “a clean bike is a happy bike.” Since the show, EcoSheep has joined the PPP, offering 20% off retail when purchased on their website.

Galeo Group: With bike theft incidents increasing every year, Galeo offers a solution to the problem. The company sells motion sensor, motion alerts, and cellular-based GPS technology to protect bicycles (and pretty much anything else) from rolling away without permission.

G-Form: For those public safety personnel in crowd control or Bicycle Response Teams, G-Form may have a product to assist in protecting your most valuable asset – yourself. Their SmartFlex pads boast “patented technology that is exceptionally flexible during use, instantly hardens on impact, and can provide more comfortable, low-profile, lightweight, and waterproof protection that outperforms existing gear solutions.”

ISM Saddles: Laura and Steve Toll were once again in prime position at a bicycling show, and, as always, very supportive of IPMBA and public safety cycling. Their saddles are growing in popularity as riders discover the benefits of their research and technology. They are expecting to attend the 2022 IPMBA Conference, June 20-25, in Dayton, Ohio.

Kask America: This company is based in Italy but has a location in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kask manufactures helmets for cycling, snow sports, and equestrians.

Kryptonite: Along with other vendors providing security systems for bicycles, Kryptonite has expanded its selection of products and increased the variety of locks and materials. They have also entered into the lighting arena with a number of LED head- and tail-lights.

Kuat Racks: Since the 2020 CABDA show, two product reviews have been published on the IPMBA website. The first was made possible by Craig Metcalfe (“Kuat NV Base 2.0 Passes the Pothole Challenge”: https://ipmba.org/blog/comments/kuat-nv-base-2.0-rack-passes-the-pothole-challenge); the second was volunteered by a member (“Kuat NV Base 2.0 Receiver Mount Bike Rack: The Solution for Transporting Your E-Bike”: https://ipmba.org/blog/comments/kuat-nv-base-2.0-receiver-mount-bike-rack-the-solution-for-transporting-yo). Both were very satisfied with the rack. They (and we) have contacted Kuat with hopes of the company joining the Product Purchase Program.

LactiGo: This company promotes its product as a topical gel to help people maximize their athletic performance and muscle recovery. The products I saw included a tearable 10ml paper packet and a 100ml spray bottle.

Lezyne: This company offers a multitude of products geared to cyclists. They seem to offer everything from bottle cages to floor pumps, from LED lights to GPS units, from hard cases to phone/GPS mounts, and from bike tools to valves and valve caps.

Magnum Bikes: E-bikes are the only product offered, but they have a large selection of styles in the touring, fat tire, cargo, folding, cruiser, and trail categories. Several of the trail styles appear to be suitable for public safety use.

Muc-Off: This company offers everything from a pressure washer to liquid washes and from concentrates to biodegradable drivetrain cleaners and brushes. Anything and everything you need to keep your best friend clean and operating smoothly.

Polar Bottle/HydraPak: These two divisions of water delivery systems focus on mostly bottles (Polar) and primarily bladders (HydraPak). Both seem to have a large high-quality selection of options to store, carry, and deliver water or other hydration liquids for everyone from the everyday person to the extreme athlete. Since the show, they have enrolled in the PPP, offering 30% off retail prices.

Retrospect Bicycles: Retrospect was focused on promoting their selection of bicycles and e-Bikes, but their website boasts a wider range of products, including paddle boards, skateboards, snowboard helmets (but not ski or bike helmets?), yoga mats, and youth balance bikes. The e-Bikes are not suitable for public safety, but their two mountain bikes could be, although the low pricing suggests the sturdiness and component quality might be questionable.

Serial 1 e-Bikes: Serial 1 bikes are “powered by Harley-Davidson” but unlike the motorcycle, they do not seem suitable for public safety use. While they appear to be high quality for commuter use, none of the five configurations seem ready to support public safety needs.

Serfas: Serfas offers a collection of headlights and taillights, along with helmets and bells, bags and other miscellaneous items that could be used on- or off-duty. With new developments in batteries and LED lighting, the products last longer and get smaller every year! For discounts on Serfas products, shop 4Bike-Police or Bicycle Patrol Outfitters.

SKS/SqLab: German company SKS produces high-quality fenders, tools, pumps, bags, bottles and holders, and lubes and cleaners. Sister company SqLab Ergonomic Products offers saddles, bars, stems, grips, insoles, and more. Both companies participate in the PPP, offering 20% off to individual IPMBA members and wholesale pricing to departments.

Untapped: One of the more innovative vendors I encountered in 2020, Untapped was still going strong and had a larger offering of flavored products. They use organic maple syrup as an all-natural source of sports nutrition. They were offering samples of flavored syrups and waffles, and visitors at the booth all seemed to have a favorable impression of the offerings.

A new attendee at the Expo, Anderson’s Maple Syrup, offers sports nutrition made from maple syrup as well. I’m looking forward to trying that one, too.

Once again, the CABDA Midwest event was a great time to peruse the new wares on the market, check out innovative products, meet with established contacts, and make new connections. The 2022 show was originally scheduled for February, but unfortunately, it was cancelled “out of an abundance of caution.” The next one is slated for February 8-9, 2023. CABDA West is scheduled for January 10-11, 2023, and CABDA East is on the calendar for March 8-9, 2023.

It takes more than stopping by a booth to develop a relationship. The best way to encourage companies to get involved with IPMBA and public safety cycling is to purchase their products. I ask all of you to actively contact these companies, purchase their wares, invite them to join the Product Purchase Program, and thank them for their support. Be sure to tell them that IPMBA sent you!

Craig retired in 2021 after 29 years at the Lake Forest (IL) Police Department. He is currently influencing students of all ages through part-time teaching at a pre-school, a law enforcement training organization, a community college, and 1six3 Consulting. After completing the IPMBA Police Cyclist Course in 2009, he attended the Instructor Course in 2010 and has enjoyed teaching IPMBA courses ever since. Craig was elected to the IPMBA Board in 2013 and served seven years as Secretary. He is currently serving as President and can be reached at CraigLepkowski@comcast.net.

Photos courtesy Craig Lepkowski.

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