SmallFront

I'll make the safe prediction that more and more electronics will be built into the frame or even have the bike designed around the electronics, simple because we can, and not because it will actually be better: For instance, I prefer to be able to take my lights off and be able to charge the batteries off of the bike, rather than have to connect the bike directly to an outlet. I also prefer to be able to upgrade my phone/GPS/whatever without having to think of physical compatibility with my bike, even if it means having to install mounts for it.

Another safe prediction is the cargo bikes leading the way in some areas, simply because batteries and electric engines are still better suited for those types of bikes than a road cycle or normal commuter. Perhaps including electronic shifting (Shimano already has the 11s Di2, which is just about perfect for this type of thing).

Me, I'm not going to go electronic shifter nor electric motor, just as I'm unlikely to get an outboard for my rowing boat, because it is sort of contrary to why I'm riding bikes or rowing in the first place. Other people will of course have different priorities and preferences (luckily).

atallen223

I don't know if somebody said this already, but I'm guessing electronic braking and carbon fiber (or some sort of equivalent) brake rotors.

wphamilton

I think at the high end, pneumatic tires will be replaced with high-speed computerized shock absorbing hub axles. It would be a natural enhancement of the maglev axle scheme.

Bah Humbug

Anything to prevent flat tires gets a vote from me.

lenA

for the trails............two wheel drive with electronic traction control and ABS

fuel0707

I think the line between "endurance/comfort" frames and aero frames will be blurred perhaps to the point of non-existence, with the possible exception of TT applications.

99Klein 

Electric shifting (maybe automatic) ABS and an end to carbon.

Smokehouse

Yes...I feel the only things that will slow things is bike makers won't like selling a real "all in one bike" when they can sell a race bike, endurance bike and a Tri bike to the same customer. To add to that, making an "all in one" and taking the price up 300% wouldn't work either, a ton of riders don't have that kind of $$.

I see electronic shifting taking over the entire mid/high market within the next decade. Batteries are getting smaller, cheaper and can last MUCH longer...electronic shifting will only get better.

wphamilton

For riding in the rain, we'll have goggles or face-plates with sonic "wipers", like what Boeing just patented. The water beads up and rolls off when they hit the surface with acoustic waves, 30 Khz I think it is. That seems useful enough to actually happen.

Those of us training with power, sorry to tell you but I predict that your power meters will be obsolete before the ten years are up. We'll have standard bio-metric devices which will measure and monitor, among other things, total power output. Individually calibrated obviously. Given instant and time-lagged measurements of respiration rate and volume, heart rate and blood flow volume, instant metabolic rate along with total power output, training programs will be vastly superior to the old-school power-based routines.

Pibber

which, or how many, of my organs can i sacrifice for this bike? now. i've watched too much anime in my youth to not want this bike.

knobster

Certainly we'll have hover bikes by that time right?

banerjek

Sounds very practical....

Midwest Ullrich

Computerized bike fitting will be more accessible to general public. The system has long been developed but only elite cyclists are willing to spend money for the service.

clydeosaur

This. Along with the big manufacturers trying to go more individualized with custom sizing. I.E. get a bike fit & order your custom geometry in modern materials. Perhaps system integration with bike computer, e shifting and eventually braking?

jerrycan42

- Tunable CVT transmission
- Foam cell airless no flat tires
- every new bike with disk brakes

Doohickie

The future you guys are projecting is hellish.

Shifty

Maybe you'll be able to take your own design file to Kinko's and 3D print a frame, wheel set and matching helmet.

Germany_chris

No it'll be great, this is America you need money and useless technology at something so you can shave .3 seconds from your personal best on Strava then brag about it on the internet!!

jimc101

A variation of that has already been done, less the braking with Shimano Flightdeck, Shimano STI's (at least upto 6700) are wired for Flightdeck, and the computer will show what gear you are in. Never seemed to take off though, guessing cost was a big factor, as the system was pre-GPS and was very expensive vs a normal bike computer.

wphamilton

With our increasing dependence on electronic devices that are all increasingly interconnected, we're all eventually going to be incorporated as nodes in a neural network which operates to optimize the efficiency of traffic flow, safety and, possibly, enjoyment. While minimizing overall cost. In a sense we are already, except that the nodal algorithms are operating primitively on local boundary conditions and the network feedback effected in a vague manner through traffic code, infrastructure changes, levels of enforcement and so on, to a mix of conflicting and long range goals. In the not so distant future it will become possible to transform this naturally manifested network into a deliberately programmed one, with instant feedback on each participant informing his individual nodal behavior.

Darth Lefty 

In my prior post in this thread I was blathering about all the cool things that might happen to bikes in general but seeing as it's the road bike forum and a road bike question, probably all the advances will be in trying to get another erg out of the rider through the bike onto the road. Road bikes are homologation racing bikes so they are tightly regulated. That cool-looking concept bike up there wouldn't pass (non triangle frame, mismatched wheels, not enough spokes, etc). So there's little a company can do to make things new every year other than make incremental improvements.

So probably continued improvements to metrology, nutrition, training, and so on. And lots of little changes to features of the bike but nothing that makes it look like a different kind of bike.

ReLLiK75

resistance is futile! You will assimilated!

pdxtex

the allure of the bicycle is that is hasn't fundementally changed over the last one hundred plus years. aside from newer and lighter materials, its still a chain driven, human powered machine. that being said, in ten years i highly doubt we will see anything extremely earth shattering. electric groupsets will still be around, but smaller and lighter. im not a materials engineer or metalurgist but im sure a new "it" material will emerge. in ten years, i guarantee people will still enjoy riding bikes with steel frames and mechanical groupsets. but for the sake of making some money and driving the tech wonk masses into a useless tech oogle fest, im sure some stupid unecessary **** will proliferate which will not make you any faster or fit. tah dah!

RJM

I totally agree with everything you just said.

zymphad

I hope biggest change isn't equipment but awareness. On my rode today I saw no one behind me, moved in to take over road to make a left turn, so wouldn't have car next to me, heard car come up, clearly indicated I was turning, as I turned car turned right alongside me, scariest moment so far cycling. So I hope in ten years laws and consequences evolve enough to give drivers some serious incentive to not drive me off the road.

Seem to me the biggest issue in road biking is not equipment sue to sitting on it is not aerodynamic, but its drivers and poor road laws.