Essential Gear and New Offerings From SKS

While in Sedona, Arizona, for Magura Ride Camp, we had the chance to check out some of the latest product offerings from SKS. If you're wondering why SKS' German-made offerings were on show at the event, it's because Magura USA partners with other German companies for its Press Camp. SKS showed off its own German-made accessories to go along with Magura's brakes and Vyron wireless dropper seatpost.

If you're unfamiliar with SKS, the company started way back in 1921 with Karl Scheffer-Klute who manufactured curtain rods. Around the time his son-in-law Wilhelm Blome took over the company he also acquired a bicycle tire inflator factory and began manufacturing metal pumps. The first model proved successful and Blome began mass production at the production site in the Hubertushalle, Germany where the SKS Communication Centre, Orange World, is located today. In the 1950’s the use of plastics was implemented and in 1959, Blome's son, Wilhelm Jr., joined the family business. By 1983 SKS began production of mudguards and by the 1990’s, the company was delivering original bicycle parts to 90 countries worldwide.

We saw a wide array of products from SKS in Sedona including the new Anywhere Adapter straps. The straps use an industrial strength Velcro-like material that allow you to mount virtually anything to nearly anywhere on your bike. As we saw SKS' Mark Burgener demonstrate, the straps are incredibly tough and let you mount, well, anything anywhere, from a banana on a seatpost to a knife on a top tube. The Anywhere Adapter straps will sell for $13.99 USD.

This demonstration seems perhaps most practical. Magura Press Camp. © Cyclocross Magazine

Of course, SKS got their start with pumps and this year the company showed off the 50th anniversary edition of the Rennkompressor. We reviewed SKS' flagship Rennkompressor pump back in Issue 21 and it's for sure a Cyclocross Magazine staff favorite, thank's to it's simple operation and the fact that it is rebuildable. We've had one last 20 years, before we left it at a race, but bet it's still in service somewhere today.

Some of you may know the Rennkompressor as the Zefal Husky from back in the day. This modern, anniversary edition, only 5,000 of which were made, has a number stamp for each one and retails for $80 USD. A standard-issue Rennkompressor will set you back $49.99 USD.

SKS is celebrating 50 years of the Rennkompressor floor pump with this anniversary edition. Only 5,000 will be made. Magura Press Camp. © Cyclocross Magazine

Another inflator option good for those going tubeless is the TL Head. The tubeless pump head is meant to be used with an existing pump and features a check for a CO2 cartridge for seating tubeless tires, after which the pump can be used to fine tune air pressure. The TL Head will retail for $29.99 USD, less than a quality floor pump, and come with 2 CO2 cartridges and a tire lever and will be available in October.

The new TL Head is SKS's new tubeless floor pump head that combines a Co2 inflator and floor pump. Retails for $29.99 and fits on most other floor pumps. Magura Press Camp. © Cyclocross Magazine

Between the Rennkompressor and the TL Head, the only other thing a 'cross racer would need in her or his race bag is SKS' Airchecker digital tire gauge, featured in our 2011 holiday gift guide and another perennial favorite in the CXM offices.

Finally we saw the S-Guard mudguard. Similar to Ass Savers, SKS' S-Guard is injection molded, rather than stamped plastic and will be available with custom printing. It can be used on road or mountain bikes and mounts with or without zip ties. The S-Guard will retail for $12.99 USD and will be available this summer.

See more images in the slideshow below.

More info: sks-germany.com

See all the new products and first ride reviews from the 2016 Magura Ride Camp here.