Spoiler alert. The fundamental design of the bicycle was literally perfected over a century ago.
Companies need "reasons" to sell bikes. We like new and cool, so if it's also a tiny bit "better" that's enough to justify giving in for new and cool.
All of the marginal gains supposedly added since this picture would have certainly increased the speed of pro cyclists by at least 50% by now right?
Wanna know the year an hour record rider broke 45km per hour? 1935.
What year was 50kph broken? 2014.
80 years with a 10% increase in speed.
Meanwhile in running, the closest thing I can think of to the hour record is the half marathon, which has improved around 9 minutes since 1960, which is around a 15% increase in speed in 60 years.
I think new bikes are cool, I like the new technologies, but to think the bike has drastically evolved is kind of silly.
