Predictions about upcoming new bike tech
 

I’m not looking to start a debate about the pros and cons of specific novel features or of bike evolution generally. I’m just imagining what a state of the art bicycle might look like ten years from now, whether we feel good, bad, or indifferent about it.

Here’s what I think is coming (along with my prediction on each feature’s likelihood):

- (Very likely) Anti-lock brakes. Should be easy enough with everything going to hydraulic discs. You just need to add some wheel speed sensors, a computer, a little valve and motor on each caliper, and a power source. This might not be a totally pointless feature. Many will argue it’s a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist--perhaps that’s true. Regardless, I will be surprised if it does not appear in the next several years.

- (Probable) Tire pressure monitoring system. Also quite simple; would follow from technology used on cars for many years. They just need to develop smaller and lighter pressure sensor/transmitter units (probably located on the valve stem), and some software for the cycling computers/smart phones. You’ll never have to wonder how many PSI each tire has, or worry that you might not know when a tire suddenly begins to deflate.

- (Absolutely certain) Smaller, lighter, and more efficient motors for e-bikes. Plus smaller, lighter, and longer lasting batteries as well. Perhaps there will be solar charging on the bike (even something like photovoltaic paint, so the entire frame is effectively a solar panel?) And regenerative braking, so instead of working hard to build up kinetic energy and then throwing it away as friction, you could recover some of that energy to put back into the battery when slowing or stopping.

- (Possibly?) Rear-view camera and cockpit display (probably integrated with the cycling computer, which is already becoming more of a multi-functional display). Garmin Varia radar already gives an audible and visual indication, but it only shows that there is a vehicle (or two or more vehicles) approaching, with a relative indication of their distance and speed. A camera will let the rider remain facing forward and see a lot more detail. Is it a dump truck that’s weaving all over the road and flinging dirt and rocks everywhere? Just a Mini Cooper two lanes to the left? Technology to do this already exists and would just have to be refined/adapted for bikes.

- (Hopefully) Much better bike locks. Better = lighter and smaller but also tougher to defeat, while not becoming outrageously expensive. It seems like lock technology has not progressed very much in the past several decades. There have been little, incremental improvements, but a determined thief can still defeat any lock without much effort. I’d like to see high tech materials change this situation, so that the limiting factor will become “how strong is the structure you’re locking your bike to?”

What do you folks think? What predictions would you add to the list?

Tire pressure monitoring already exists and is integrated into head units.https://www.sram.com/en/quarq/series/tyrewiz
It's expensive, so hopefully it will come down in price as the tech gets developed more. What I really want is the ability to remotely set my tire pressure. Like, punch in 35psi and the tire valve automatically adds or releases air until it hits that number. This would be an absolute game changer for off-road riding.

ABS? Maybe. Bikes don't have onboard computers to control an ABS system like cars do, so there's some development needed on that front, but with electronic drivetrains becoming more common maybe it's possible to start expanding this to other components and have a central computer that controls it all.

My predictions:

• Internal hub gearing that is electronically controlled and/or seamless CVT style to maintain specific power output for a given cadence (like ERG mode on a smart trainer, but for riding outside).
• Integrated lighting becoming standard on all types of bikes, even race bikes - daytime running lights are the norm in 10 years
• Integrated on-bike storage for tools/flat kits that don't require strapping bags onto seats or frames

That's what I love about the bicycle: the simplicity. :lol:

I was thinking about this as a possibility, but I'm not a mountain biker, so wasn't sure how beneficial it would be.


I had the same idea, just didn't include it in my original list. I'll be very surprised if several years from now we don't see virtually all new bikes equipped with a built-in head light and tail light.


That's anther good prediction. I can see it likely coming about.

There was ABS on rim brakes a while back, and it seemed to be pretty effective. It didn't take hold for whatever reason - not a pretty solution, not a problem that needed solving, or lack of marketing, etc.

Maybe Shimano gets to that point with their recently-patented boost-by-wire, but I like hydro as it is for the immediacy, tactile feedback and stopping power vs lever force, etc. So yeah... meh.

https://cyclingtips.com/2021/09/want...s-can-do-that/

Trek and Specialized already do that on some frames. More commonly found on MTBs. For road cycling one doesn't need to carry all that much more than what fits in jersey pockets, while a small saddle bag is not a big deal to anyone who isn't so vain as to avoid them for purely aesthetic reasons.

ABS for sure, although cancellable - racers are less likely to want a relatively conservative braking system taking over for them when they’re operating on the edge. However, for the rest of us, ABS. Fully wireless (or at least wired but no hydraulics) cockpit. Brakes will be electronically actuated, with haptic feedback to levers. Maybe not straight away, but some form of gyroscopic stability control to go along with ABS. The goal of all this will be to make cycling safer for Everyman, instead of the niche and slightly sketchy rep it has now. Add in the advent of self-driving vehicles which will make cycling safer, and the removal of cars from city centers, we’ll see a new flowering of cycling as a mainstream mode of transport…..
”Litespud! Wake up! You were dreaming again….”

Every road cyclist I know carries a saddle bag with a spare tube, co2, levers, etc in it, yet we all ride frames with oversized hollow tubes that could be used for storage. Yes, I know these exist on some bikes, but it seems rare and I'd like to see more of it.

Does calling me vain for wanting this make you feel better?

square chainrings

All of those things are going to require more hardware and larger batteries to run them as well as some sort of control module.
Will it pass the weight weenie test?

Flying bicycles.

SRAM will introduce their new 1-50 cassette, for use with their 3-tooth chain ring.

“Lighter and longer lasting batteries” is included on the list.


I think a lot of what is described above is likely to develop as the eBike becomes more and more a standard operator in modes of transport. I can see a Cargo ebike of the future having a heads up display, 360 proximity alarms, ABS, CVT, 100km range etc etc. And it’ll cost almost as much as a small car. But for a lot of families, it’ll replace a 2nd car, or even a first in city centres.

Everything that's cycling related including bikes, all parts and components and hardware such as bolts and screws will be made from carbon,, even your bibs and your padded shorts are going to be made from carbon.

Genius ! You pronounce and it's instantly done... LOL!
https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/ma...onitor-review/

yeah, visual area surround monitoring is prolly gonna happen... I'm gonna bet on a glasses Heads-up display from some bluetooth like combo unit - good reason to have those super-kool shades - and a great way to take sunglasses into the i-phone-13+ price range... LOL!

come on... 'Outrageously expensive' is the key operative for cycling... lock-step together

My predictions - Crapon wheels in Walmart... and they'll be exact dupes of stuff we're now paying $1+ - 2+K + for... (might already be there...)
ABS should absolutely happen !!! and be very beneficial for everyone, especially razors... but will be ludicrously expensive for the 1st few seasons.
a prediction - not sure about 10 years... but given some time frame - active suspension for road/gravel/mtb/even 'work'/transport bike, which is NOT some heavy coil spring-oil based Ohlins boinger....
A lot will depend on The Imperious Overlord - UCI - for competition level stuff... and the filter-down to us in the great un-washed...
Save Us !!! Obree Wan !
Yuri - (what fun!)

EDIT : oops, just saw post #2... wondering how much it all weighs - not weight-weenie - but out-of-balance weight does sometimes go 'lump-a-bump' when rolling...
an aside... Graeme is 'genius', everything he's ever worked out/done has come to pass, in some form... 'superman' to 'supertuck' and again outlawed...
and was the highest of class rider !
persistence will win out - as it always seems to; 'evolution' is inevitable - unless we do ourselves in or are helped by the SMOD....

Airless tires that are not too heavy.
Affordable CVT hubs with a coaster brake.

at some point there may be a wheel propelled by an engine to alleviate the rider from exhaustion. Higher tech might even make it AWD so it's even quicker off the line & stable in the twisties.

All that stuff already exists maybe not to the level you wish but Bosch/Magura have done ABS, Quarq/Sram have done tire pressure meters and now a electronic suspension thing (different from Fox LiveWire). The Specialized SL line up are pretty light and small but you can also get some of those cheat motors that slide inside the frame and work with the B.B. Solar may not be quite there yet and regen braking has been tried but then you need a heavy e-bike like car weight and you negate the bike at that point. Also plenty of excellent ABUS locks that are light and harder to get through. I have seen some rear view stuff out there but not sure about full connectivity for live usage or quality for regular usage but have seen that crap.

Like the Enviolo Automatiq?

Probably the same was said when the first multi-speed bike was introduced.

If Lamborghini made a bike…

Self sealing tubeless tires which do not require sealant.

Nano-tech self lubricating chains.

They will continue to become more complicated. I will be continue to become more dejected.

The simplicity is in part what makes then so appealing. Otherwise I would just own a motorcycle or dirtbike.

Higher end framesets will be set up for electronic only, with no provisions for derrailluer cable stops or routing. Double chainrings will die. We'll be up to 15-16 cog cassettes that your current wheelset will not fit so you'll have to buy some new ones. Rear spacing will be wider so your current wheelset won't fit that, either.

Everyone who dares to complain about those things will be looked down on and be called retrogrouches and boomers by the newer riders who are 10 years old right now.