The bicycle industry is constantly evolving. Today more than ever, technology plays a key role in developing innovative solutions that allow us to enjoy our passion for cycling even more. This is especially notable in the field of mountain bikes, where improvements in suspension, drivetrain, and materials have transformed the rider experience.
But do these advances really respond to a need of the cyclist, or are they part of a strategy to boost sales of new mountain bikes and road bikes? It's a debate that's more alive than ever. The truth is that progress is undeniable and exciting.
Below, we analyze some of the trends that could shape the future of cycling. Some are already a well-established reality, while others are based on well-founded predictions. How do you think the world of mountain bikes and road bikes will evolve in the coming years? 🚴♂️🔮
Growth of the lightweight e-bike segment
The growth of this segment is unstoppable. Electric bikes are particularly well established in the MTB category. And it is precisely the world of mountain e-bikes that could bring us the most innovations in the short term. With their emergence, an unstoppable carrera began to develop more powerful motors and batteries with ever greater range. Brands have made huge advances in the development of powerful electric bikes with good autonomy. But the market is changing, and today many bikers are willing to sacrifice some electric assistance in exchange for a more agile and maneuverable bike that delivers sensations similar to a conventional model: we're talking about lightweight e-MTBs. These are bikes with a more modest level of assistance and significant weight savings. Their 15 or 16 kg are not far off from enduro models from just a few years ago. Specialized was one of the pioneering brands, with the launch of the Turbo Levo SL in 2020. Little by little, other benchmark models joined the lightweight electric segment: the EX-e from Trek, the Orbea Rise, the Scott Lumen eRide, and others. It will be interesting to see how brands work to balance power, weight, and battery life. What will be better? A very light bike with minimal power? Or a lightweight bike with full power that drains the battery faster? Or maybe a medium-weight bike that balances power and range?
Consolidation of mullet bikes
It's been 30 years since Cannondale and Trek surprised the market with different wheel sizes at the front and rear on their MTB bikes. Back then, the concept didn’t catch on: maybe it wasn’t the right time, or the size difference between 29’’ and 26’’ was too abrupt. But everything has changed in recent years. Bikes with mixed wheel sizes (mullet) are gaining more and more followers; especially in downhill and enduro disciplines. But the trend is now starting to take hold in the trail segment and it looks like it will be one of the rising trends in the short and medium term. The usual mullet setup is a 29’’ wheel in the front and 27.5’’ in the rear. The theory is that a larger wheel rolls more easily over obstacles, while smaller wheels are better for agile turning. In addition, a smaller tire allows the rider’s weight to be shifted behind the saddle on steep descents, which is an extra safety feature. When market leaders like Santa Cruz embrace the mullet concept, it’s a sign that it has won the favor of bikers and will continue to set trends in the future.
Electronic suspensions
We are witnessing the proliferation of electronic devices applied to mountain bike suspension. Everything indicates that the trend will continue. A few years ago, Fox launched its Live Valve system, capable of electronically adapting the bike’s suspension to changes in terrain. Using several sensors, the damping locks to increase pedaling efficiency on favorable terrain and opens when it detects impacts. This way, the biker can (in theory) forget about the system. The electronics do the work. RockShox responded with its wireless Flight Attendant system. For now, electronic suspensions are not accessible to the general public due to their high cost. In the most radical MTB competitions, telemetry is now used more than ever to configure the suspension. A good example is the MIND system from Mondraker, which allows you to adjust it according to your riding style or technical skills, as well as monitor it in real time. Launched in 2021, it is included on several bikes from the brand, including the trail Raze model. Therefore, there is reason to believe that competition will continue to adopt and perfect this technology. Over time, prices will drop, more affordable versions will emerge, and before we know it, electronic forks and shocks will be common on mid-range builds.
Storage space
Storage solutions on a mountain bike have rarely been, let's say, elegant. But brands have stepped up in the search for storage solutions that don't break the harmony of their bikes. Specialized was a pioneer a decade ago, with the design of its SWAT system (standing for Storage, Water, Air, and Tools), mounted on its trail Stumpjumper model. The device called SWAT Door offers an integrated storage solution in the down tube, hidden under the front bottle cage. With a simple press and pull you access a compartment to store items, without compromising the frame or riding comfort. It's an ideal space to carry a multitool and a spare part or two. Nowadays, many brands offer this option. The trend is to carry the essentials without having to rely on a backpack or a waist bag. It is expected that this trend will become even more established in the short term. Comfort above all.
Longer and thicker dropper posts
Without a doubt, one of the rising trends in the MTB scene is the wider diameter of dropper posts: 34 mm. This increase is closely related to the trend of fitting posts with more travel. A few years ago, 150 mm was already considered very long, nothing compared to some 240 mm models now available on the market. Therefore, the higher the post, the greater the need for increased stiffness: for performance and for material durability. And one solution is to increase the diameter of the post. Otherwise, undesirable issues like creaking or unexpected movement of the system can arise. In any case, it is unlikely that 34 mm will become standard on all bikes. For posts with moderate travel, it may not make sense, but perhaps it will for taller riders. It could be that two standards coexist depending on needs. We will see this too.
More and more integration
Internal cable routing is a trend that emerged more than a decade ago in the MTB world. Since then, cable routing has become more complicated. There are more and more cables to hide, which makes the task more difficult mechanically. And, as if that weren’t enough, the rise of electric bikes adds extra connections that make operations even more challenging. But demand dictates that aesthetics matter, and increasingly so. Certainly, hiding the cables inside the bike’s tubing results in a super clean-looking bicycle. The bike is easier to wash, the paint doesn’t get scratched by cable movement, and the possibility of cables snagging is eliminated. That’s how brands see it. Models like the Scott Genius or the Merida One Forty, to name just a couple of examples, do a spectacular job of integration. In the pursuit of more integration, it’s important to highlight the work done to hide other elements that disrupt the harmony of the lines, beyond just the cables. Thus, to continue with well-known examples, both the Scott Spark and the Cannondale Jekyll perfectly hide their rear shocks inside the down tubes.
Proportional chainstays
In recent years, the reach of mountain bikes has increased, always taking into account the rider’s wingspan. Consequently, the front triangles have had to adapt. Today, they are also larger. However, the same has not happened with all the rear triangles. A single size is still common. Recently, the trend has started to change and it is expected to become more pronounced in the coming years. One of the most recent examples is the launch, in 2022, of the new Cannondale Jekyll model, which hit the market with its Proportional Response Geometry. The goal was to design a bike in which the rider’s position was always centered between the two wheels. Something similar can be said of Santa Cruz, which decided to equip proportional chainstays for each size on its Tallboy, Megatower, and Hightower models, as well as configure specific seat tube angles for riders with greater wingspan. Although quite a few bike manufacturers have switched to proportional chainstays, there are still many that use the same size for all sizes. We hope that more manufacturers will make the switch as the trend advances.
Goodbye to down country?
Down country has been a way to refer to a supposed intermediate discipline halfway between XC and trail Especially, as a result of the installation of 120 mm suspensions on cross country bikes, where the standard used to be 100 mm. Let's say it has been a kind of transition that is still yet to be resolved. The reality is that the market has evolved and 120 mm suspensions are already being assimilated by the XC ranges of some brands. This is due to the design of frames to accommodate this specific travel, while maintaining the geometry typical of a cross country bike. Let’s remember that in this category, until very recently, 120 mm were installed on frames designed for the standard 100 mm. This altered the geometry and the behavior of the bicycle. In 2021, a turning point occurred when some brands accepted the challenge of mass-producing cross country models with the unique option of 120 mm. Scott (Spark) and Orbea (Oiz) represent the boldest examples in this regard. This may lead us to wonder if we are witnessing the beginning of the end of a category that has never really managed to establish itself as a standard within the MTB scene.
Tuvalum Team
