{"id":39371,"date":"2022-07-19T16:30:32","date_gmt":"2022-07-19T14:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=690191"},"modified":"2022-07-19T16:51:18","modified_gmt":"2022-07-19T14:51:18","slug":"5-trends-from-eurobike-2022","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/5-trends-from-eurobike-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"5 trends from Eurobike 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Ashley Quinlan\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 19 July 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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The dust has settled on the 2022 Eurobike show, and it\u2019s been another year of juicy new products, clever innovation\u2026 and a ridiculously cute children\u2019s helmet from HJC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We traversed the expansive halls at the show\u2019s new home in Frankfurt, and brought you the latest news and product coverage throughout the event<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Highlights included tech developments from all corners of the bike world, such as the continued push for gravel gains (in all its forms), new takes on indoor training<\/a>, fresh thinking on drivetrains, 3D-printing pushes\u2026 the list goes on.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get stuck into the main trends to emerge from Eurobike 2022.<\/p>\n

Indoor training challengers are arriving<\/h2>\n
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The Whoosh! stand strayed into virtual reality.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ashley Quinlan \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Indoor training has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and saw an understandable mini-boom during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

So, it was little surprise to see multiple new players emerging with competing products<\/a> at Eurobike that could take on the hegemony of the likes of Zwift, Wahoo SYSTM and TrainerRoad<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Whoosh! impressed with its large stand at the show, complete with a demonstration of the system plugged into surrounding screens to create a 270-degree view of the action.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s free to use, yet offers prize money to the victors of pre-organised races, taking the pro gaming element to new levels.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Dutch brand TrueKinetix showed off its new TrueTrainer, complete with built-in software, creating a completely self-contained unit that removes the need for a computer to play middleman \u2013 simply plug into a HDMI monitor, and away you go.<\/p>\n

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VirtuPro initially caught our eye with its impressive graphics.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ashley Quinlan \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Brands debuting at Eurobike look to have invested heavily in increasing the realism offered by indoor training software.<\/p>\n

Both Whoosh! and TrueKinetix impressed with their on-screen graphics, but the real standout performer in that regard was the fledgling system from VirtuPro. This offers highly detailed landscapes and realistic virtual crowds.<\/p>\n

Moreover, VirtuPro takes a new approach to indoor training by simulating pro racing.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re told it\u2019ll be launching soon, and the platform offers the ability to race against simulated opponents, complete with issuing team orders, choosing your position in a train, swinging on and off, and more besides.<\/p>\n

Everyone\u2019s 3D printing<\/h2>\n
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The two oldest Italian saddle brands get 21st century on their most popular models.<\/span><\/figcaption> Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

If you thought saddles and specialist time trial handlebars were the limit of 3D-printing technology, think again.<\/p>\n

Eurobike 2022 showed that more and more brands are embracing the tech, with Selle Italia and Selle San Marco each showing off their new saddles<\/a>, while Pilot even came to the show with a full 3D-printed titanium frame in its back pocket.<\/p>\n

Chamois specialist Elastic Interface unveiled its new 3D-printed \u2018pad\u2019<\/a>, signalling not only a completely new approach to cushioning bike touch points, but also (we think) opening the door to personalised chamois designs in the future.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t the only one, with Endura also installing a new 3D-printed Matrix EGM pad in its forthcoming 2023 Pro SL Bibshort. It comes with claimed benefits around breathability and weight saving, alongside comfort.<\/p>\n

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Free tools! Hope offers open source downloadable files to 3D print your own Hope tools and widgets.<\/span><\/figcaption> Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Plus, Hope Tech has made 3D-print schematics of a toolset available for free, showing off what\u2019s possible for home 3D printers.<\/p>\n

Not everyone has a 3D printer lying around at home, but it\u2019s pretty cool to see what\u2019s possible when a brand offers up some designs for free.<\/p>\n

Groupset alternatives challenging the Big Three establishment<\/h2>\n
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FSA updated its K-Force WE groupset.<\/span><\/figcaption> Stan Portus \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Eurobike 2022 also saw a resurgence (of sorts) for alternative groupsets.<\/p>\n

FSA launched its updated 12-speed K-Force WE system<\/a>, and showed it off attached to a prototype frame<\/a> by the Italian-Taiwanese brand.<\/p>\n

It features that almost-obligatory 12th sprocket, but also introduces redesigned rear-derailleur internals. This is said to enable it to receive shifting signals directly from the wireless levers and improve shift accuracy. In a sign of the times, it\u2019s also gone disc-brake only.<\/p>\n

At the other end of the spectrum, Chinese brand WheelTop brought its updated EDS OX Series drivetrain system<\/a>, costing an impressively cheap $365.<\/p>\n

For that, you get a rear derailleur and a flat bar-mounted mountain bike shifter, plus battery. A road bike shifter could be next in line for development if WheelTop sees a demand for it.<\/p>\n

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A bike must be designed around the Lal Bikes Supre Drive system.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Lal Bikes also unveiled its new Supre Drive concept<\/a>. This effectively splits apart the functions of a traditional rear derailleur to offer separate chain tensioning and accurate shifting.<\/p>\n

Finally, Classified\u2019s Powershift hub continues to make strides forwards, casting doubt over the future of the front derailleur.<\/p>\n

The Classified Powershift is a two-speed internal gear hub of sorts that can be shifted electronically.<\/p>\n

FFWD announced it will now offer two of its wheelsets \u2013 the gravel Drift and road-going Ryota44 \u2013 with an option to install the Powershift hub.<\/p>\n

The launch was claimed to be the first by an official partner of Classified, with FFWD stating that it was the first to extensively test the system on its wheels in the real world.<\/p>\n

These launches follow the release of Shimano 105 Di2 R7150<\/a> a few weeks prior to the show. SRAM and Campagnolo are sitting on their current offerings for the time being.<\/p>\n

Do you even gravel, though?<\/h2>\n
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Schmolke brought its new show-stopping lightweight Infinity gravel bike.<\/span><\/figcaption> Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Probably the fastest-growing enthusiast segment in the industry, gravel bike<\/a> development continues apace, judging by the quantity of new bikes and tech we\u2019ve seen in Frankfurt.<\/p>\n

Among the highlights were:<\/p>\n