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What will be the new hot trend for bikes in the coming year ? Personally I can't really see anything major on the horizon .Wheel size is pretty sorted as is MTB geometry and dropper posts . Possibly more and more people moving from SPD's to flats but I can't see much really .
Road bikes are going to be seeing more and more disc brakes , possibly tubeless getting more of a hold , bigger tyres run at lower pressures perhaps , but again just tinkering rather than any real new innovation .
Elactric bikes will certainly become more popular but again I can only see slight weight decreases with slightly more energy dense batteries but again I don't see any major advances on the horizon .
Anybody have anything to add ?
My lbs (probably the biggest, most well stocked in Scotland) is rattling out ebikes more than any other bike. That's the growth market for sure.
MOR offset forks MOR electronics MOR steeper seat angles.
MOR bimbling?
MOR expensive
Super boost 157?
All shimano will gradually change to 12speed, so that new freehub design will need to be a thing on more wheels and groupsets?
Wider stanchions and stiffer forks.
32 for kids,
34 for skinny grown ups,
36 for normal trail riding,
40 for enduro
44 for downhill.
Seat tubes will start getting wider to accommodate wider dropper posts now that front mechs have finally died.
More tyre inserts made from wonder materials that cost more than your tyres.
currently the growth is ebikes & "adventure/gravel" bikes going by recent sales.
Buying direct rather than via a LBS as they are soon to be gone.
When the manufacturers realise that their "modern trail geometry" has slackened out head angles to the same as a 1920s roadster, they'll complete the job by reintroducing rod-brakes and 650A wheels.
I can see the campaign slogans now "modern anti-lock brake technology", "makes even the most ordinary trail more exciting".
I can make myself available as a consultant to any manufacturer wishing to get ahead of the crowd, or maybe I should cut back on these cold medications I'm taking...
That Spanish geezer with no teeth will be able to advise
Beige will be the new neon. Skinwall tyres were merely the start of it. You have been warned.
Short chainstays, long stems an U-brakes.
High Pivot Points
Dual Crowns for Enduro
Internal bypass dampers or dampers that act like them (eg the Extreme Shock dampers and Vorsprungs smashpot)
Bigger and more powerful brakes
Auto pilot, set your motor away and control it from your smart phone to try and get a better time.
But for 2019 you have seen most of it already, Shimano will move the XTR 12 to the lower ranges slowly.
Could they perhaps make rear mechs any uglier? The current crop don't look quite gangly or insectile enough...
I want to see:
Mixed wheel sizes being fully explored,
Dual crown for 29 +160mm travel and 27 +170mm travel forks coming to market,
Short sleeve coats for British summers,
A new seatpost dia. standard which will render all previous dropper posts obsolete but promise to solve all those problems we think we have,
A CVT drivetrain bike to send gearbox bikes to betamax town.
Buying direct rather than via a LBS as they are soon to be gone.
We were just discussing this at inners last week, used to be capraland down there, then it was striveville for a while, never seen a single direct sales brand all day, Not even an airdrop or a bird.
I hardly know anyone with one now come to think of it...
More of those sequins that change colour when you brush them the other way.
Spokey dokeys
Wondergravel
Mountaincross
Midskinny (1.65)
A bit of a niche but I think products aimed at the riding a trail bike but doing skatepark tricks such as crank arm slides on logs etc crowd. Some of which will filter to the mainstream in another year or so.
Otherwise gravel variants and as mentioned above more 29/27 mixed size bikes like the old 69ers
Proper wireless stuff hopefully on droppers, forks, shocks, and main stream 12 speed.
Probably more standards
Riding bikes and less time on internet....
26"
High pivots and idler pulleys.
Alu frames making a resurgence.
Mixed wheel sizes.
Maybe ditching the whole tubeless and foam insert thing altogether for foam filled tyres mounted to tubeless rims to allow a bit of airpressure tuning.
D12 SLX
12 Speed XT
Fox dropping out of the OEM market completely in favour of Marz branded stuff that’s in no way a fox fork with a ‘m’ shaped bridge and black stancions.
SRAM buy a frame maker or just design their own line from scratch, every other brand in the bike world throws their hands in the air and starts looking for a new job.
Wondergravel
Mountaincross
Midskinny (1.65)
Pork cylinders
Bonbonbons
During dinner mints
TheBrick didn't you just describe Slopestyle? Man, that really took off...
More bullshit
Full (astronomically expensive) electronic packages for changing gear, dropping the saddle, locking out/firming up suspension based on crank sensors, with programmable, button operated, multi override options.
Ebikes becoming a more mainstream form of transport, both for commuting and to a lesser extent leisure. Sort of modern mopeds for youths, budget conscious and short distance transport. Growth in city centre/holiday rental and ebike tours here and abroad.
Shimano acquiring a suspension partner and introducing cheaper 12 speed ranges to compete with SRAM at OEM level.
Even slacker bikes with steeper and shorter seat tubes, partly enabled by the now common 150mm plus length droppers. Maybe a few more manufacturers offering different length frames for a given standover/seat tube length. More high pivot frames. They can't really go any lower without becoming a rotavator in need of dwarf cranks!
Re-emergence of a tub tyre and rim system with a composite foam twist that will be ridiculously expensive for what it is and won't catch on.
Whisper silent bikes being a new pointless one-upmanship. Combine this with electronic controls and you will become a trail sex symbol to end all sex symbols 😉
Any new bikes with less than 2.6 front tyres and rear clearance will be considered old skool, near unridable by the biking press. 31.8 handlebars will be deemed antiquated and too flexy compared to "modern" 35mm.
If we're doing wireless and electronics, could I have a jacket with an E-zip that can be operated from the bars? Perfect for those changeable weather days.
As someone said, new standards....always new standards.
Holistic synergy of Modern Geometry coupled with Maximum Breathing With the Trails FTW.
The industry hasn't milked the current 'standards' dry yet, so not much will change.
Now there are suspension grips we’ll see suspension dropper posts, cranks, brakes, stems, handlebars etc. Basically every component will have suspension added to it and the cost will quadruple
Now there are suspension grips we’ll see suspension dropper posts, cranks, brakes, stems, handlebars etc. Basically every component will have suspension added to it and the cost will quadruple
I vaguely remember suspension hubs; I wonder if they'll make a comeback!
Commuting to be rebranded as Workpacking along with whole raft of lightweight tailored accessories.
More helmets trying to look like hats. MIPS equipped fedoras to dominate the EWS.
Trail cats and trail cat accessories
Tubeless frames using only precision magnetic fields to hold the components in alignment.
Bio Tyres made out of halloumi.
I can see someone coming out with a bike with 1.95” tyres and flat bars and a lightweight frame and non-slack geo (basically the next step on from that gravel bike nonsense) and not a single person noticing it’s basically a 1994 Kona Lava Dome.
Proper wireless stuff hopefully on droppers, forks, shocks, and main stream 12 speed.
I really hope this doesn’t happen tbh. Last thing you need is part of your bike stopping working because it hasn’t downloaded the latest ****ing firmware. Cables are ace.
I love the term "workpacking" and am going to use it.
I can see someone coming out with a bike with 1.95” tyres and flat bars and a lightweight frame and non-slack geo (basically the next step on from that gravel bike nonsense) and not a single person noticing it’s basically a 1994 Kona Lava Dome.
Hmm. I may have been rumbled.
Brant.
Bring out a steel framed, dual crown compatible, high pivot and idlers, 29 front wheel, 27.5 rear wheel, 180mm and 170mm of front and rear bounce and 500mm of reach, gnarpoon.
Please.
Pretty please.
Build us something ****ing mental and undercut Nicolai.
The Ass Pounder 4000
Longer, lower, slacker, more expensiverer. More dipsticks dressed like Power Rangers to ride on canal paths. Even more idiots calling their bikes 'Whips' and claiming to be 'stoked'. Honestly, wtf?
Dual crown forks for trail/enduro and e bikes.
E bikes getting real e bike components as more failures are seen of standard components.
I’m looking forward to 12 speed Shimano XT and 27.5” EXO casing Maxxis Assegai
Yep loving workpacking
I think Kona Lava Dome makes sense. Perhaps with short travel forks. We'll see more and more gravel bikes with 50mm tyres and front suspension
Front baskets for shopacking? Does that need a double "p"
2.7 will be the ultimate compromise mtb tyre size
Oh and £109 being an important price for 2.7 tyres
76 degree seat tube angles. Makes a massive improvement for climbing.
Ebikes on turbo trainers powering dynamos powering ebikes. You'll be able to do all the cycling you want without needing to step outside or to put in any physical effort.
Stanchions won’t get fatter. No benefit - just more seal drag.
Wireless gearing, droppers and suspension adjust to simplify bars. Maybe a central standard to allow them all to interact (e.g. Samsung smart things)
Trail bikes making a resurgence
Maybe a central standard
LOLZ!!
Personally I’m hoping this drop bar off road thing disappears up its own back end this year. Unless you are John Tomac on a carbon Raleigh USA with a Tioga Disc Drive it’s just wrong.
drop bars off-road isn't about to disappear given it's been going on for decades.
Handlebars narrow enough to fit between gateposts.
Front baskets for shopacking? Does that need a double “p”
Basketpacking is already a thing..
It would be good to see gearbox bikes do better. It would be nice to have a lifetime geartrain rather than the disposables we now have dangling off the rear of the bike.
I can see someone coming out with a bike with 1.95” tyres and flat bars and a lightweight frame and non-slack geo (basically the next step on from that gravel bike nonsense) and not a single person noticing it’s basically a 1994 Kona Lava Dome.
That's exactly what I wanted my Salsa El Mar to be but with bigger wheels, which are unquestionably better, and other improvements such as discs, carbon fork and wide rims for big tyres.
Ironically they don't make them any more 🙁
^ pretty much like me with my Karate Monkey OPS (albeit with 2.4 tyres and currently a 100mm travel fork).
Linkage dropper posts.
scotroutes
Subscriber
If we’re doing wireless and electronics, could I have a jacket with an E-zip that can be operated from the bars? Perfect for those changeable weather days.
I'd buy that.
Like the idea of linkage dropper posts , would solve a few of the problems .
Surely, following the no-deal Brexit in March, everything Shimano/Sram will become prohibitively expensive and only for someone on the salary of a premier league footballer due to the squillion percent import tax, and British brands will take over the world 😜
and British brands will take over the world
Not sure Britain ever made a groupset so better learn quick, come on Hope and all the other UK bike component manufacturers (can't think of any of the top of my head so not a good start)
If we’re doing wireless and electronics, could I have a jacket with an E-zip that can be operated from the bars? Perfect for those changeable weather days.
I’d buy that.
That's two of us. Any more?