What are the latest bike tech trends that you should know about?

Bike tech continues to grow and expand into new areas, pushing the boundaries of cycling further and further. The cycling industry is not one to be caught resting on its laurels and just when you think there might be a momentary lull, something new becomes the latest trend to spawn development and progression.

Although the gravel bike revolution is far from over, a new bike trend is currently taking the limelight. All-road bikes are becoming more and more versatile, representing a bike that can masquerade as a road bike one day and a gravel bike the next. With brands pushing tyre clearances to the max, it is becoming hard to separate where an all-road bike ends and a gravel bike begins. It doesn’t just end there though, with plenty of other developments continuing to drive the industry forward.

Here we have our top-five trends of the moment that we think you should know about.

All-road bikes

Although not necessarily new, the all-road bike is something that a lot of brands are now doubling down on. Essentially an all-road bike occupies the grey and undefined area between a road bike and a gravel bike. The latest generation of all-road bikes such as the ENVE Fray, BMC Roadmachine and Parlee’s Ouray all blur the boundaries between what we consider a road and gravel bike to be.

This latest batch of all-road bikes are developed not for the rigours of WorldTour racing, nor are they optimised in every way to be as efficient as possible at 50kph. Instead, they are built for cyclists who ride for fun and might want to explore beyond the tarmac from time to time.

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Parlee's new Ouray is a bike that can turn its hand to both gravel and road riding

With clearance for up to 40mm tyres in the case of the BMC, all-road bikes are encroaching on gravel bike territory. One of the great things about all-road bikes in 2024 is that they are being designed to have a more relaxed endurance fit from the ground up. In the instance of the ENVE Fray, the frame has been designed around a taller head tube so that riders can adopt a slammed (and more aesthetic) riding position.

• Read more: New Ridley Grifn RS is a light, fast and capable addition to Grifn all-road range

In 2024, the all-road bike can be seen somewhat of a quiver killer; a bike capable of turning its hand to a mix of adventures or terrains. Is an all-road bike going to be as capable as a dedicated gravel bike on rough and loose surfaces? No. Will it be as fast on a winding ribbon of tarmac as an all-out aero bike? No. But it will allow you to enjoy both of these terrains on the same bike. For the average rider, the all-road category has never been more enticing.

Gravel suspension isn’t dead

In the short history of gravel bikes, one thing has regularly divided the die-hard fans of the discipline: suspension. It is something that a lot of riders think moves the needle too close to mountain biking and adds cost and complexity where it isn’t needed. Others love the extra compliance, grip and control it can provide, enhancing the capabilities of a rigid gravel bike.

• Read more: Suspension on a gravel bike: Exploring a thorny issue

Whichever camp you find yourself in, one thing has been true; the uptake of gravel suspensions, especially from an OEM perspective, has always been relatively low. However, for 2024 there appears to be new energy being invested into the gravel suspension market. Earlier in the year Fox released a radically updated version of the 32 Taper-Cast suspension fork that moved the structural arch behind the stanchions and used the brand’s FIT4 closed system damper to offer 50mm of front wheel travel.

© Ride Fox

Fox has recently updated its 32 Taper-Cast gravel suspension fork

Also joining the gravel suspension party in 2024 is Cane Creek which released its first gravel forks ahead of Sea Otter. The invert CS and Invert SL are claimed by the brand to be “the world’s first gravel fork", which is a bold statement considering the options that have been out for quite some years now.

With fresh brands joining the gravel suspension party, this is a trend that will be sticking around for years to come, which won't be to the liking of everyone.

Cargo bikes are only getting more popular

A relatively new and emerging branch of cycling that is growing in strength is the cargo bike market. These bikes can replace a car for those short journeys around a city with plenty of places to mount and store things, and they are commonly joined by a pedal-assist electric motor.

What has been a niche within the world of cycling looks to be breaking out into the mainstream with more brands than ever turning their attention to utilitarian bike design. Both Specialized and Trek have steered into the cargo bike hype, bringing the genre to the mainstream, meanwhile brands such as Tern have pushed the boundaries of cargo bikes with an off-road capable bike that can offer up to 300km of pedal assistance.

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Tern's Orox is just one example of the latest wave of cargo bikes

As the cargo bike market expands, more and more solutions are becoming available. No longer are cargo bikes necessarily these huge long bikes that take up a lot of space and can be hard to get to grips with. Instead, there are plenty of options that have a comparable footprint to a regular bike, albeit with the extra tubing and mounting racks that are a trademark of a cargo bike.

• Read more: Sea Otter 2024: Cargo bikes set to lead the urban mobility revolution

This new breed of cargo bikes opens them up to more people than ever before as riders with limited storage space at home can now find a cargo bike that works for them. With more and more people actively looking to travel by car, cargo bikes provide the perfect solution and are only set to grow in popularity.

Recycled materials are becoming mainstream

Continuing on the theme of environmental awareness, the use of recycled materials looks to be gaining traction in the world of cycling. Firstly, Schwalbe has launched an inner tube recycling scheme that aims to reuse old tyres and inner tubes rather than sending them to landfill. Schwalbe claims that this process saves 80% of the energy that it would take to make the same product from new with recycled inner tubes suffering no loss of quality.

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The Igus bike is made out of almost entirely recycled materials

Igus bikes are also leading the recycled materials revolution. The brand has managed to create a bike that is made out of 92% recycled material, with one of the bikes they offer made out of reclaimed fishing nets. The Igus bike is aimed at the city rental market where bikes are used and abused without much in the way of maintenance. The frame, wheels, drivetrain and even the wheel bearings are made from recycled plastic. The only non-recycled plastic used in the construction of the bike is the cables for the brakes, the brakes themselves and the fasteners.

• Read more: This bike is made out of 92% plastic, including the drivetrain and bearings

Far East brands offer great value

In this day and age, it is very outdated to shun Chinese brands' cycling components. The idea of not buying from a Chinese company highlights a misunderstanding of the bicycle market and supply chain. Most components are manufactured in the Far East, with the hub of global carbon fibre bicycle manufacturing being Taiwan. Commonly, it is all but the ultra-premium bike parts that tend to be manufactured in the Far East and then branded with the logos of the known brands.

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Elitewheels is an example of a Far Eastern brand that is doing great things

More and more brands are emerging from the Far East, such as LTwoo, Elitewheels and Trigon, that offer high-quality products. This often cuts out added branding and distribution costs, meaning consumers can save a significant amount over more established Western brands.

• Read more: Elitewheels' new Helix range brings wavy rims to a budget-friendly price point

It is still worth being careful when shopping for parts from brands that you have not heard of and doing your research is a must. A good telltale sign of a brand that can be trusted is a reputable warranty policy and an active and contactable customer service team.

For all the latest tech news and developments, make sure to head over to the tech news section of the GCN website.