Sea Otter Classic: E-Bike Accessories You Definitely Need

Much of the Muc-Off lineup can be used on an e-bike.

Not specifically e-bike related, but Muc-Off’s iconic pink cleaner is now available in powder form so you can reuse the same bottle — an eco-friendlier option.

A clean and well-lubed e-bike is a happy e-bike, and U.K.-based Muc-off has been a pioneer in making a line of lubricants and cleaners made specially for the unique application of e-bikes.

The company’s e-bike specific lineup includes a waterless wash (for those afraid of getting their e-bike wet), protectants and anti-corrosion sprays that can actually protect your battery terminals. But the real standouts in the Muc-Off e-bike lineup are their specially-formulated chain lubes.

When it comes to e-bikes, not all lubes are created equal. Traditional bicycle chain lube can have a tough time tolerating the sustained power and torque generated by modern e-bikes, which leads to quicker component wear and annoyingly squeakier chains. Muc-Off’s e-bike lube formula, among other things, uses boron nitride, which helps the lube stay on the chain for longer at high torque.

Muc-off sells e-bike specific bike care kits and their e-bike lubes are available in all-weather, dry-weather and wet-weather formulas.

And though the act of washing your e-bike can feel a little sketchy (electrical components and water don’t traditionally mix well), you can in fact wash an e-bike. The waterproofing varies by make and model, but by and large e-bikes are water resistant and can be sprayed off with a hose. Check with your manufacturer to be safe.

The Proxim saddles lean on Prologo’s depth of saddle-making knowledge while incorporating new designs specifically thought up for eMTB riding.

The Proxim saddles have broader noses designed for comfort as eMTB riders scooch up on the saddle when climbing.

Proxim’s special “multi-sector system” silos the saddle padding into sectors of different density foam designed to adapt to rider movement.

An e-bike specific saddle designed to stand up to the rigors of EWS-E racing, the lineup of Proxim eMTB saddles are thoughtfully made, tough and very, very cool.

Proxim is a new spin-off company from already well-known saddle maker Prologo, which has traditionally made lightweight and high-performing saddles for road and cross country mountain bike racing. The Proxim lineup takes Prologo’s depth of saddle making knowledge and applies it to the relatively new world of eMTB.

The saddles are constructed of a nylon chassis and alloy rails for strength. There’s also a small molded handle in the rear of the saddle for lifting the bike — a small detail that anyone who’s lifted a weighty eMTB knows is important.

The nose of the saddle is broad so that eMTB riders can scooch up on the saddle on climbs and remain comfortable. The saddle’s padding is a patented system Proxim calls the “multi-sector system,” or MSS for short. This design silos the padding into different sections, with each sector featuring different density foam that’s specially designed to adapt to rider anatomy and movement.

I got to ride the Proxim saddle during Sea Otter and can attest that it’s really, really comfortable. Definitely worth a look.

Spoke safety is a mobility company that aims to help cars and cyclists see each other on the road.

The Spoke sensor we saw at Sea Otter was tucked underneath the bottle cage on the downtube.

Information about vehicles around you is shown on a heads-up display mounted to the handlebars.

Spoke is a mobility platform with the goal of making roads safer for bikes. Essentially, they aim to make bikes see cars better and cars see bikes better.

The technology essentially works through an on-bike senor that communicated with a display on the handlebar and the vehicle, which would alert both car and rider to each other’s presence. Spoke is not yet on the market and was being previewed at Sea Otter. We spent some time with the Spoke team so stay tuned for a more in-depth preview of the technology.

Spoke is currently partnered with T-Mobile and Audi, and the technology is expected to come stock in Audi’s cars by 2025.

The ABUS Bordo 6500 is a keyless folding bike lock that offers ABUS’s highest level of bike protection.

Despite its hefty anti-theft rating, the Bordo folds up pretty nicely.

It’s a keyless lock, meaning it pairs with your smartphone and is unlocked through an app.

At the 2021 edition of the Sea Otter Classic, someone accidentally set off the alarm on the ABUS Bordo 6500 Smart Lock, but unfortunately nobody knew how to turn it off, so it just kept going and going….

This year, the rep giving is a demo on the lock assured us he had the app downloaded on his phone and paired with the lock, so should it get tripped again he’d be ready.

The ABUS Bordo 6500 Smart Lock is a folding style lock that syncs with your phone and will squelch out a 100db alarm should it get messed with. The main body of the lock is made of riveted hardened steel shanks that fold up compact when not in use, but unfold and wrap around your bike’s frame for some of the highest level of protection ABUS soffers.

It’s totally keyless, so anyone in your family or friend group can pair with it and use it.