Just having a ponder, with all the new innovations having seemingly smaller and smaller gains at the sharp end, I'm thinking 650b and xtr di2 but not knocking, just recognising that these aren't revolutionary, merely small evolution and how long it can go on for before manufacturers stop focusing on increases in performance because realistically they can't go any stiffer/lighter/stronger and more on things like feel handling and things that can't be quantified, rather than stats.
I know Spesh have started down this path with the (iirc) 2015 Roubaix, so is his a sing of things to come for mtbs?
I think the last real revolution was 5-6 years ago with those uppy downy seat posts and carbon frames that don't die at the mere mention of rough trails but can't see what the next ground breaker will be?
Thoughts?
Electric motors to help enduro riders get up hills will be the next big thing.
26" wheels.
The thing about revolutionary jumps is that you don't see them coming. There will be evolutionary improvements to the kit we have just now, and then there will be the suspension that senses the terrain you're riding in, the tyres that never puncture or tear, wireless electronic gearing and pivots that never need new bearings.
They are just bikes, though.
Automatic width adjusting handlebars that sense the gap between the trees coming up and adjust to fit through it the return to their normal width after.
It'll be virtual mtbing ala star trek holo rooms that will be the pinnacle.
Computerised bikes which dont need a pilot to ride them. Your bike can take itself for a ride on the trails whilst you sit back and have a beer!
As above, you won't see it coming.
Tyres made of a material able to change shape with the application of electric current.
Brakes that recover lost energy.
Intelligent frame materials that become compliant on demand, or change various angles; we'll wonder how people used to buy bicycles by the inch.
Airbags
Just having a ponder, with all the new innovations having seemingly smaller and smaller gains at the sharp end...
It does seem like that, but I remember reading something very similar about 20 years ago. Change will happen, we just don't know what it will be.
But what does this have to do with Concorde? Aircraft have developed a lot since then, just not in the same direction.
someone will make the belt drive work
at ft bill today......
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Surely gearbox bikes as standard is the next major step.
'Concorde' moment
One crash and all bikes get canned?
One crash and all bikes [s]get canned[/s] are never quite as brilliant.?
Yep.
IanMunro - Member
Electric motors to help enduro riders get up hills will be the next big thing.
Has anyone attempted SPDs for handlebars?
Must be worth a pop, if they can successfully market three very similar wheel sizes they can probably market a good reason for being attached to your handlebars somehow... 8)
Things are still improving, and they make a big difference to how well bikes work. The big jumps at the moment are in geometry (slack, long, low) and suspension. Then there's the gradual improvement in making MTBs less like adapted roadies and more capable, with wide bars, short stems, single ring drive trains, dropper posts, etc.
I reckon the gearbox thing will be it. Looked at my Shadow+ today after a stupid fall and thought 'How exposed is that...'
A gearbox bike would be my personal want, I've lost count of the amount of mechs, hangars and chainrings I've trashed over the last few years (Lake district area)
I suspect dual chamber tyres are going to be the next "big thing"??
they can't go any stiffer/lighter/stronger and more on things like feel handling and things that can't be quantified, rather than stats.
I know Spesh have started down this path with the (iirc) 2015 Roubaix, so is his a sing of things to come for mtbs?
What you are talking about there is "Marketing" it's like the "Sciency" bit where a model waves their hair and someone to beautiful to be a scientist waves a clipboard and says "Yes Betterer"
Not as major as gearboxes and workable belt drives (the Cavalerie stuff has me really hopeful though), and basically an optional part of riding for most people, but I can see a lot of gadgetry moving toward integration and sensing. Look at all of the shaded out icons that sometimes appear briefly in the top bar of Shimano's camera app:
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(The settings in the app also include wheel size).
The first few generations of this integration will probably be awful to use, but as they pass and elements of it become cheaper, I also think it'll become more automated.
No gear shifters
Maybe not a shift to singlespeed but my money is on fully enclosed gear boxes with sensors that automatically change gear depending on cadence, elevation, terrain etc (probably even programmable before you leave on a particular ride)
Natural extension to both the automatic adjusting shocks/forks and the internal gearboxes we are seeing already (slightly less of the latter admittedly but it is out there - the internal gearbox 18 bikes rig featured in the mag last month having seen it in their shop is lovely and compact)
Why mess around with electronic shifting when all the technology needed for this already exists in various forms it's just managing to fit it into a compact efficient package
Unsure if this would be a good thing or not....
Auto adjusting wheel sizes. That would kill the forums to death
My only wish is whatever revolutionary thingy gonna happen to MTB, I hope it won't go electronic thingy route. I will always take joy and pride the simplicity of my bicycle and that as long as I have just a spanner in my hand everything will be alright 🙂
Or how about 1 tyre to rule them all 🙂 multi death of forum threads
Forwardy backwardly saddle adjustment.
Auto in tune with the height of the uppy downy seatpost.
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Next big change in biking will be disc brakes on road bikes..
Kill off the rim brake, only make disc wheelsets available and remove canti bosses from New frames, big marketing push with the pro riders and bingo...
Concorde moment? If I went any faster, I'd miss the views 😉
Lots of evolution is beauty in the eye of the beholder. I just can't go for the single ring thing. Whilst we are still using a cassette we have to have gaps between sprocket sizes which is just horrible. We went away from that in the 70's on road bikes, and mountain bikes soon followed suit with 6 speeds turning into 7 etc. There wasn't an issue with not having low enough gears or high enough, just not enough to avoid gaps. This is just one example of things going in circles, the same as bar width. Early MTB bars were motorcycle ones and plenty wide enough. then we went narrow , now wide. Hmmm
I would like to see durability be a factor not disposability. Endless new standards that are not retro compatible is not good not are components that are designed with performance over longevity.
It's not just my pocket talking there but environmental sustainability. For all its hype about being an environmentally sound hobby compared with many, cycling is not especially good in that respect. Huge amount of waste (see above) and huge amounts of fuel spent to go somewhere to play. Not suggesting it's only cycling of course. the big step I would like to see is Shimano instigating a trade in on old parts to recycle the materials.
The next big innovation will be riders rather than equipment. The big bike companies have realized that if riders get fitter and try much harder then they won't need any more utterly pointless new innovations that make no difference whatsoever.
With this in mind they have been experimenting with making people's legs almost imperceptibly slightly longer and replacing their tendons with batteries. Initial impressions from test studies have showed that the guinea pigs believed that with very slightly longer legs they would be easily as fast as top enduro riders but felt that battery powered pins were great on dry roads but rubbish in any kind of moisture or mud. 😀
The next big innovation will be riders rather than equipment. The big bike companies have realized that if riders get fitter and try much harder then they won't need any more utterly pointless new innovations that make no difference whatsoever.
I thought they'd been trying this with Gee Atherton. Seems there are side affects that kill your sense of humour 😉
The next big innovation will be riders rather than equipment. The big bike companies have realized that if riders get fitter and try much harder then they won't need any more utterly pointless new innovations that make no difference whatsoever.
However will the bike industry cope if everyone begins training instead posting on here? Then starts riding £500 steel hardtails just as fast as £5000 carbon ego chariots when they realise it's legs not linkage position that make the difference.
