Technology News

Hm. It is going to be tough to find what you are looking for. We keep our work pretty close to the vest to avoid tipping off the competition but I CAN tell you that some of the stuff is going to pretty earth shattering.

Some of the stuff I can tell you coming down the pike is:

1) Magnesium frames coming down in price and being used on production bikes;

2) Drivetrains that will be challenging the current products;

3) More manufacturing of bikes and parts in the US;

4) A rethinking of carbon fiber as a frame material;

5) An explosion in the road and trekking segment of the market and shrinkage of the mountain bike industry;

6) New technologies that cater to multi-use bikes to be friendlier to recreational riders;

7) The introduction of some new materials into the boutique market which will (eventually) find their way to the production-level stuff;
Renewed popularity of steel lugged frames and a reduction in aluminum as a frame material.

There you go. I can’t really give you more info without blowing years of R&D.

I’d love to answer that for you, but you’re asking a question that cycling companies put millions of dollars into, and they’re not about to tell you for free. Trade secrets are closely guarded and can make or break a company.

But I will point you in a general direction. The number one goal in bicycle development is maximizing efficiency - going faster or farther on less energy. This includes lighter and more aerodynamic equipment and the use of newer composite materials.

Number two is cost. Producing quality affordable bicycles and components mean increased profits, and lets be honest, that’s the only reason they’re in business. I can tell you one manufacturer has produced a 6.6 pound road bicycle, but at a cost of $82,000, nobody will buy it. So the best innovations and technology are meaningless if they’re not profitable.

If I had to go into a specific area that one of the top component manufacturers is researching, it would be infinite gearing. That’s the ability to have any gear ratio and the ability to move seamlessly between ratios. Infinite gearing prototypes exists, but not at a size/weight/cost ratio that would make it viable for mass market.