Where will bike design/technology be in 20/30 years time

[classic33]

Electric powered cargo bikes, lots of them: all major shops will have them available for a minimal rental fee.
You go shopping on your bike, leave your bike at the shop's secure bike parking, ride home with the cargo bike.

OR

 

[classic33]

[QUOTE 4745674, member: 9609"]in 20 to 30 years time I'm hoping they will be autonomous, just set them away by themselves and experience the video feed in a VR helmet[/QUOTE]
Would that mean not leaving home/setting out in the first place?

 

[Colin_P]

16) There will be so many rules and regulations on riding "open cell vehicles" on the road, you'll practically have to kit out like George Osborne on TV inspecting a building site. There will be so much high-viz on the roads that only the people in camo will be truly seen.

Sadly I think that is going to be the area where most change will occur.

But hopefully in a positive way and even more hopefully it won't involve cyclists in any way more than wearing some sort of transponder so vehicle collision avoidance systems can see them.

Lets hope the ministry of silly hats don't get their way.

 

[classic33]

[QUOTE 4745691, member: 9609"]absolutely - in 20 or 30 years time they will have stuff built into the virtual reality helmet that makes you feel hungry, so when the bike gets back you will feel extra hungry and enjoy eating lots of cake & cream.[/QUOTE]
I'd settle for actually getting on a bike/trike/quad and riding it somewhere. Anytime

 

[classic33]

Sadly I think that is going to be the area where most change will occur.

But hopefully in a positive way and even more hopefully it won't involve cyclists in any way more than wearing some sort of transponder so vehicle collision avoidance systems can see them.

Lets hope the ministry of silly hats don't get their way.

What do you do when the batteries(built in) run down, at night though?

Will cheap, possibly dodgy, imports be available?

 

[Colin_P]

What do you do when the batteries(built in) run down, at night though?

Will cheap, possibly dodgy, imports be available?

That remains to be seen.

We are probably on the cusp of being able to implement it already as the technology already exists. All that is needed is a common platform of avoidance protocols vehicle collision systems and someone like Garmin to make either a stand alone transponder or one built into a gps computer.

 

[Nigeyy]

Probably at least one of the following to be commonplace:

Anti lock brakes
All wheel drive
Some drive chain improvement -maybe belt, dunno

Kind of less bike related, but also some kind electronic integration -maybe tracking device, or direct transfer of information.

Given the last 30 years have given us index shifting, suspension, new materials and disc brakes for mainstream cycling (sure I'm forgetting some) it certainly wouldn't surprise me. And yes, while you could still cycle with no problem 30 years ago, I'll be the first to admit I think we have seen some nice improvements.

 

[GlenBen]

[QUOTE 4745674, member: 9609"]in 20 to 30 years time I'm hoping they will be autonomous, just set them away by themselves and experience the video feed in a VR helmet[/QUOTE]
Sadly, I bet there are people around who think this is a great idea and would take up cycling as soon as its released.

 

[Drago]

Recumbents are already on general sale though...

View attachment 345165

Maybe we'll see Sir Clive on EastEnders too?

 

[Welsh wheels]

Electronically shifting gears will be on all bikes
Most bike frames will be made of graphene.
Built-in power meters and heart rate monitors will be on all bikes

 

[classic33]

That remains to be seen.

We are probably on the cusp of being able to implement it already as the technology already exists. All that is needed is a common platform of avoidance protocols vehicle collision systems and someone like Garmin to make either a stand alone transponder or one built into a gps computer.

Already out there, as a "wearable device". Just battery life is somewhat limited.

Compare say a Nokia 3310 and any of the current smartphones

Battery was replacable, now sealed in.
Battery life between charges, days now a day. Smaller battery, but more is being asked of it, so it doesn't last as long.

Solve that last part first, before placing any electronic system into a bike build.

 

[classic33]

Electronically shifting gears will be on all bikes
Most bike frames will be made of graphene.
Built-in power meters and heart rate monitors will be on all bikes

How about no gear levers, but keeping gears?

 

[arch684]

How about no gear levers, but keeping gears?

Voice activated gear changes but could be a problem with my scottish accent

 

[classic33]

Voice activated gear changes but could be a problem with my scottish accent

Different school of thought at work, and on the brakes as well.

 

[Alan O]

[QUOTE 4745674, member: 9609"]in 20 to 30 years time I'm hoping they will be autonomous, just set them away by themselves and experience the video feed in a VR helmet[/QUOTE]
Why would you need to even do that? All we need is high-resolution Google Cycle View (covering cycle paths and trails too) and all possible routes will be there for us to relive at our own speed, without sending anything outdoors at all.

(I know, it's sad, but I've recently been revisiting some of my old routes from my student days on Street View - and surprisingly little has changed).

Alan