Next bike trend

[Yellow Fang]

What do you think will be the next big bicycle trends? Do you think fixies still have some mileage in them? I'm seeing more Dutch roadsters about. Electrically assisted bicycles seem to be ever improving.

 

[downfader]

What do you think will be the next big bicycle trends? Do you think fixies still have some mileage in them? I'm seeing more Dutch roadsters about. Electrically assisted bicycles seem to be ever improving.

If they were cheaper I think it would be recumbent trikes. Seen lots of fixies about in 2010, I think they've had their fashionable phase down here.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

The next big "Trend" will probably be a slump in sales as the cycling boom comes to the end of it's natural cycle. (Excuse the pun).

 

[Aperitif]

Less emphasis on 'bling'? If cycling truly becomes a moving force in cities, it makes sense for wheels to be cheaper and able to accomodate everyday things like bags, papers and all the other detritus we lug around.
Interestingly, while perusing a furniture gift last night, I found this offering from 'made'...Is the price right?

 

[numbnuts]

Electric bike, if they could get them lighter

 

[dellzeqq]

movement-powered tracking devices within the frame. Bike theft remains the big unsolved problem for cycling.

another major city follows London's example and gets a critical mass of cyclists on one or more radial routes

 

[mickle]

No big trends. The whole industry will see continued steady growth, led by a few key areas.

Newcomers to cycling are particularly attracted to all things retro, driving the continued success of companies like Pashley, Electra, Summer and the Dutch contingent - Gazelle, Batavus et al.

The fixed wheel cult has some miles in it yet - expect to see more diversity as polo bikes and fixed wheel freestyle bikes reach the mainstream. Watch the bubble burst as every bike company and their aunt gets on the bandwagon. It really is just a matter of time.

The electric bike sector will continue to experience strong growth - though we are still some way behind the rest of Europe. Technological advances will continue to improve the breed and prices will stabilise though not drop substantially. There is still a lot of crap out there taking advantage of a bouyant market.

Cargo bikes and the custom/handmade sector will continue to see very strong growth but represent only a tiny percentage of the market so their growth will have little effect on the overall.

 

[brokenbetty]

The Dutch bike and vintage roadster trend is in full swing right now.

Mixtes are getting very popular. and I think the next trend after than will be beach cruisers.

 

[Andy in Sig]

I wonder if the derailleur will expire in the long term? Rohloff led the way into the future IMO (albeit somewhat too expensively) but I reckon that when the mass manufacturers have got wide ranged hub gear systems down to derailleur price levels, it will make sense to wave goodbye to all those cogs and bits metal.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I wonder if the derailleur will expire in the long term? Rohloff led the way into the future IMO (albeit somewhat too expensively) but I reckon that when the mass manufacturers have got wide ranged hub gear systems down to derailleur price levels, it will make sense to wave goodbye to all those cogs and bits metal.

On commuter bikes at most. The beauty of the derailleur is it's simplicity and versatility. You can specify the exact ratios you want and alter them in minutes when conditions dictate. Hub gear ratios are dictated by the manufacturer and fixed for life. Servicing and repair is also a complicated job.

 

[Andy in Sig]

Yes but:

a. You can effectively dictate what a hub gear does by choosing the size of your chain ring.

b. Hub gears or at least the Rohloff, just need an oil change every year or so. Provided hubs are of that standard, they are effectively maintenance free.

 

[User169]

Less emphasis on 'bling'? If cycling truly becomes a moving force in cities, it makes sense for wheels to be cheaper and able to accomodate everyday things like bags, papers and all the other detritus we lug around.
Interestingly, while perusing a furniture gift last night, I found this offering from 'made'...Is the price right?

Not a bad price (although the quoted high-street price seems highly implausible). It's a bit odd though that the women's model comes with a full gear case, whereas the men's version doesn't seem to.

 

[asterix]

Just like the bikes you can hire in Amsterdam, definitely an exaggerated top price! Those pedal brakes are fierce - can lock the back wheel. Wonder what brand is the saddle, I have a Brooks one like that, seriously comfortable. I sold the Gazelle Impala it was attached to, in 2005.

In York Cycle Heaven are the dutch bike specialists.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Yes but:

a. You can effectively dictate what a hub gear does by choosing the size of your chain ring.

b. Hub gears or at least the Rohloff, just need an oil change every year or so. Provided hubs are of that standard, they are effectively maintenance free.

You can dictate the range of gears with the chainring, whether you ant them higher or lower but not the individual ratios in between. That's where hub gears fall down, along with the weight.

 

[MacB]

You can dictate the range of gears with the chainring, whether you ant them higher or lower but not the individual ratios in between. That's where hub gears fall down, along with the weight.

Unless you're talking the Nuvinci CVT(continuous variable transmission), tis a heavy beast, the earlier version being mainly used in electric carts etc:-

http://www.fallbrooktech.com/home.asp

The concept is really quite spiffy and they've got a lighter version out, the N360, with a 360% range but can be run with a double up front. The N360 weighs 2.5kg, which is a lot lighter than the earlier models, still heavy but I'd expect to see further improvements. I don't know the efficiency data for this hub but I suspect it's shy of the rest of the field at the moment.

If they get the efficiency up, the weight to 2kg(or less), the range above 400% and a reliability/strength factor akin to a Rohloff, then you're really talking a threat to deraillers.