I trend towards the vintage (and can't afford new bikes honestly) so don't really get out and look at new stuff but I decided to go check out a bike show today and noticed some of the new-bike trends that are talked about.

Many of the bike frames looked on the small side. For example, I ride a 50cm '86 Trek 520 that has about 3 inches of seat post showing. I got on a 54cm with about 3 inches of seat post exposed and was right about the same height as the handlebars like how I like them. A taller rider would probably have the seatpost jacked up well above the handlebars.

To compensate it seems the OEMs equip the bikes with handlebars that have shallow drops, a good stack of spacers below the stem and slanted upwards. Seemed like this practice (upwards slanted stem) was almost taboo a few years ago. Stems also tended to be quite long. All to try and cure that "racer" look.

Super W I D E handlebars!

And everything was black! It was the rare model that looked like it had some personality.

I know many of these trends have been discussed in detail on these forums but just rather weird to actually see en masse in person.