Newlane named BikeBiz Product of the Year 2026
Getting an award is always nice. For an emerging business like ours, it can be especially valuable. It tells retailers, distributors and riders that what we’re doing deserves to be taken seriously.
Last week, the Mips version of our folding helmet was named BikeBiz Product of the Year. We were both excited, a little bemused and, above all, proud.
What the judges were looking for?
So what criteria did the panel of industry experts use to judge the shortlist? They looked at three things:
- Originality and design
- Market impact and success
- Industry reputation and reception
Originality and design is where Newlane began. We spent six years developing the helmet before our 2024 launch. Much of that time went into getting our patented Flip-Clip™ folding mechanism right, so the helmet folds flat enough to carry around and still meets EN 1078 safety standards when it’s on your head.
On market impact and reputation, it seems our marketing cut-through and glowing customer reviews have made the industry sit up and take notice. Becoming the first folding helmet ever to integrate Mips technology has no doubt added another layer of credibility. For many riders, Mips is now a mark of a serious helmet and showing that a folding design can carry it has changed how people see the category.
In good company
As winners, we found ourselves alongside established names in the UK cycling sector - distributors Madison and Extra UK, e-mobility brand Tern and Retailer of the Year Paul’s Cycles. The awards also celebrated the country’s best mechanic, Ashley Smith, and Matt Jones from the Bike Shed, an unsung hero championing all things on two wheels.
For a young brand like Newlane, being recognised in that company was a coming-of-age moment.
A sign of a changing industry
Historically, this kind of room has been filled with brands and dealers used to selling bikes and accessories to a highly engaged core of dedicated riders. That core still matters enormously. But to thrive, leaders in the UK sector are recognising that they need to welcome newer riders too, including the thousands being introduced to cycling through the many share-bike schemes now landing in our towns and cities.
These riders don’t always think of themselves as “cyclists”. They might hop on a hire bike for the last mile of a commute, or ride to meet friends and then head out for the evening. What they need is safety that fits their day, not a helmet they have to leave dangling from a handlebar or carry awkwardly into the office.
That shift might well explain why our lifestyle product resonated. Newlane was designed for exactly these people. It’s also encouraging to see the industry backing products that make cycling feel easier and more accessible to more people.
Thank you
Awards like this are never won alone. Thank you to our customers, whose reviews and word of mouth have done so much to put Newlane on the map. Thank you to the partners, manufacturers and advisers who’ve helped us get from prototype to production. And thank you to BikeBiz and the judging panel for recognising what a folding helmet can do.
We’re proud of this one. Now it’s back to work, helping more people ride safely, wherever their journey takes them.
