Gravel bikes will divide and conquer<\/h2>The gravel category still doesn’t differentiate between go-fast and adventure bikes. – Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>We predicted more sub-categorisation of gravel bikes<\/a> in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>In fact, the bike industry has not heeded our advice on gravel bike categorisation<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\u201cGravel bike\u201d remains a catch-all label for an increasingly diverse bike genre.\u00a0<\/p>
This means that despite sitting at opposite ends of the speed spectrum, the BMC Kaius <\/a>and Surly Grappler<\/a> remain in the same broad genre.\u00a0<\/p>Road bike <\/a>and mountain bike <\/a>categories are long-standing. But as it stands, the future of gravel bike divisions is up in the air.\u00a0<\/p>We\u2019ll spend the whole year arguing about gravel rules<\/h2>![\"LottoDstny's](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/01\/GettyImages-1700891242.jpg\")
This year’s gravel world championships could be won again on road bikes. – JASPER JACOBS\/Belga\/AFP via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>It turns out the debate about gravel racing <\/a>rules died down last year.\u00a0<\/p>The banning of aero bars from elite fields at Unbound <\/a>was surprisingly uncontroversial.\u00a0<\/p>Muddy conditions, not regulations, were a bigger talking point at the 2023 edition of the race<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>![\"New](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/06\/BEN05362-24ca5f8-e1685894765270.jpg\")
Cyclocross-style conditions caused a fuss at the 2023 Unbound. – Ben Delaney \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>The 2022 UCI Gravel World Championships <\/a>course attracted ire from some quarters for being insufficiently technical, helping Gianni Vermeersch to win the men\u2019s race on a road bike<\/a>.<\/p>There were fewer arguments at last year\u2019s gravel world champs<\/a>, apart from the disappointing lack of TV coverage of the women\u2019s racing.\u00a0<\/p>The more ‘gravelly’ women\u2019s and men\u2019s races were both won on gravel bikes, albeit ridden by WorldTour pros.\u00a0<\/p>![\"UCI](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/01\/GettyImages-1700755635.jpg\")
Could a gravel specialist throw up a surprise at the Worlds? – JASPER JACOBS\/Belga\/AFP via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>This year\u2019s UCI Gravel World Championships will be held on the same course as the 2023 UEC European Gravel Championships.\u00a0<\/p>
If the results in Halle-Leuven are anything to go by, the flat and fast Belgian forest tracks will again favour road professionals and we could see more road bikes than last year \u2013 European men\u2019s champion, Jasper Stuyven, rode a Trek Domane SLR<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>Shimano faces off with SRAM with the launch of a new MTB groupset<\/h2>![\"SRAM](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/12\/Spoke-Tension-Tom-L-SRAM-XX-T-Type-Eagle-Transmission-Powermeter-AXS-groupset.jpg\")
SRAM released two notable MTB groupsets in 2023 to Shimano’s zero. – Ian Linton \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>In 2022, we foresaw that Shimano and SRAM would launch new mountain bike groupsets<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>Only SRAM did so though, with the introduction of XX T-Type Eagle Transmission AXS<\/a>. This was followed by the more affordable Transmission GX<\/a> later in the year.\u00a0<\/p>![\"Shimano](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/12\/Spoke-Tension-Tom-L-Shimano-XTR-M9100-MTB-groupset.jpg\")
Shimano’s premium groupset is due an update, we think by 2025. – Ian Linton \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>Shimano\u2019s equivalent top-tier groupset, XTR<\/a>, is now six years long in the tooth.\u00a0<\/p>The brand\u2019s pandemic-induced supply chain issues were well-publicised. We believe these, and perhaps the unwelcome recall of Shimano\u2019s road bike cranksets<\/a>, could explain the delay in Shimano updating XTR.<\/p>Looking ahead, our money\u2019s on 2025, not this year, for a new version.\u00a0<\/p>
Suspension gets even smarter<\/h2>![\"YT](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2022\/01\/YT-Capra-MKIII-Uncaged-6-enduro-mountain-bike-4-4405d0f.jpg\")
After a quiet year for suspension, will there be bigger news in 2024? – Steve Behr \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>Developments in mountain bike suspension<\/a> tech stalled in 2023 after rapid advances in recent years, such as RockShox Flight Attendant<\/a> and Mondraker\u2019s integrated MIND Telemetry system<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>We didn\u2019t see more wireless-controlled suspension systems released or wider adoption of the existing tech in 2023.<\/p>
However, we expect Fox to overhaul its Live Valve<\/a> system soon and SRAM to release new suspension tech.\u00a0<\/p>Aero road bikes will make a comeback<\/h2>![\"Angle](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/10\/Specialized-S-Works-Tarmac-SL8-Dura-Ace-Di2-02-58bb356.jpg\")
2023 was a year for all-rounders, such as the new Specialized Tarmac SL8. – Ashley Quinlan \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>The renaissance of the aero road bike<\/a> did not materialise in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>Instead, the all-round race bike category came to the fore.\u00a0<\/p>
One of the biggest road tech stories of the year was the release of the Specialized Tarmac SL8<\/a>. The predecessor to this versatile race bike consigned the Venge, an aero weenie\u2019s heart throb<\/a>, to the wind tunnels of history.\u00a0<\/p>![\"Alberto](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2022\/07\/Tour-de-France-2022-11-965e037.jpg\")
The Cannondale SystemSix is still in use at the highest level, but hasn’t been updated recently. – George Scott \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>What\u2019s more, we\u2019re still awaiting an updated Cannondale SystemSix.\u00a0<\/p>
Another new all-round race bike, the SuperSix Evo<\/a>, adopted drag-reducing tech from the brand\u2019s dedicated aero bike.\u00a0<\/p>Classified wins at the Tour de France and takes over the world<\/h2>![\"Classified](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/09\/Classified-Powershift-hub-shell-0fe41ca.jpg\")
The Classified PowerShift’s impressive performance doesn’t mean it will catch on. – Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>Men\u2019s WorldTour teams <\/a>Uno-X Pro Cycling and Lotto-Dstny rode the Classified PowerShift <\/a>system, a two-speed hub that replaces your front derailleur<\/a>, in one-day classics but not at the Tour de France.\u00a0<\/p>Although we rated the Classified tech highly, we don\u2019t now foresee its wider adoption unless the company is bought by the likes of Shimano or SRAM.<\/p>![\"SRAM](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/12\/AM9A0629-scaled.jpg\")
Front derailleurs work so well on road bikes these days. – Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>Only if and when one of the big two integrates the tech into their massive groupset range will it go mainstream.<\/p>
There\u2019s also the fear of the unknown for Classified to contend with and the excellent shifting of modern front derailleurs.<\/p>
Tiagra will become the new Shimano 105\u00a0<\/h2>![\"Shimano](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/03\/Shimano-Cues-U8000-2-of-8-71b19c7.jpg\")
The arrival of Cues, and its implications for Shimano’s cheaper groupsets, took us by surprise. – Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>This was yet another groupset-related blooper, this time on the road-side of tech.<\/p>
We predicted the release of 12-speed 105 Di2 <\/a>would make 11-speed Tiagra Shimano\u2019s best-value mechanical groupset<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>We said this would be the case even if Shimano unveiled a 12-speed, mechanical version of 105<\/a>, which it did.\u00a0<\/p>
We predicted more sub-categorisation of gravel bikes<\/a> in 2023.\u00a0<\/p> In fact, the bike industry has not heeded our advice on gravel bike categorisation<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> \u201cGravel bike\u201d remains a catch-all label for an increasingly diverse bike genre.\u00a0<\/p> This means that despite sitting at opposite ends of the speed spectrum, the BMC Kaius <\/a>and Surly Grappler<\/a> remain in the same broad genre.\u00a0<\/p> Road bike <\/a>and mountain bike <\/a>categories are long-standing. But as it stands, the future of gravel bike divisions is up in the air.\u00a0<\/p> It turns out the debate about gravel racing <\/a>rules died down last year.\u00a0<\/p> The banning of aero bars from elite fields at Unbound <\/a>was surprisingly uncontroversial.\u00a0<\/p> Muddy conditions, not regulations, were a bigger talking point at the 2023 edition of the race<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> The 2022 UCI Gravel World Championships <\/a>course attracted ire from some quarters for being insufficiently technical, helping Gianni Vermeersch to win the men\u2019s race on a road bike<\/a>.<\/p> There were fewer arguments at last year\u2019s gravel world champs<\/a>, apart from the disappointing lack of TV coverage of the women\u2019s racing.\u00a0<\/p> The more ‘gravelly’ women\u2019s and men\u2019s races were both won on gravel bikes, albeit ridden by WorldTour pros.\u00a0<\/p> This year\u2019s UCI Gravel World Championships will be held on the same course as the 2023 UEC European Gravel Championships.\u00a0<\/p> If the results in Halle-Leuven are anything to go by, the flat and fast Belgian forest tracks will again favour road professionals and we could see more road bikes than last year \u2013 European men\u2019s champion, Jasper Stuyven, rode a Trek Domane SLR<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> In 2022, we foresaw that Shimano and SRAM would launch new mountain bike groupsets<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> Only SRAM did so though, with the introduction of XX T-Type Eagle Transmission AXS<\/a>. This was followed by the more affordable Transmission GX<\/a> later in the year.\u00a0<\/p> Shimano\u2019s equivalent top-tier groupset, XTR<\/a>, is now six years long in the tooth.\u00a0<\/p> The brand\u2019s pandemic-induced supply chain issues were well-publicised. We believe these, and perhaps the unwelcome recall of Shimano\u2019s road bike cranksets<\/a>, could explain the delay in Shimano updating XTR.<\/p> Looking ahead, our money\u2019s on 2025, not this year, for a new version.\u00a0<\/p> Developments in mountain bike suspension<\/a> tech stalled in 2023 after rapid advances in recent years, such as RockShox Flight Attendant<\/a> and Mondraker\u2019s integrated MIND Telemetry system<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> We didn\u2019t see more wireless-controlled suspension systems released or wider adoption of the existing tech in 2023.<\/p> However, we expect Fox to overhaul its Live Valve<\/a> system soon and SRAM to release new suspension tech.\u00a0<\/p> The renaissance of the aero road bike<\/a> did not materialise in 2023.\u00a0<\/p> Instead, the all-round race bike category came to the fore.\u00a0<\/p> One of the biggest road tech stories of the year was the release of the Specialized Tarmac SL8<\/a>. The predecessor to this versatile race bike consigned the Venge, an aero weenie\u2019s heart throb<\/a>, to the wind tunnels of history.\u00a0<\/p> What\u2019s more, we\u2019re still awaiting an updated Cannondale SystemSix.\u00a0<\/p> Another new all-round race bike, the SuperSix Evo<\/a>, adopted drag-reducing tech from the brand\u2019s dedicated aero bike.\u00a0<\/p> Men\u2019s WorldTour teams <\/a>Uno-X Pro Cycling and Lotto-Dstny rode the Classified PowerShift <\/a>system, a two-speed hub that replaces your front derailleur<\/a>, in one-day classics but not at the Tour de France.\u00a0<\/p> Although we rated the Classified tech highly, we don\u2019t now foresee its wider adoption unless the company is bought by the likes of Shimano or SRAM.<\/p> Only if and when one of the big two integrates the tech into their massive groupset range will it go mainstream.<\/p> There\u2019s also the fear of the unknown for Classified to contend with and the excellent shifting of modern front derailleurs.<\/p> This was yet another groupset-related blooper, this time on the road-side of tech.<\/p> We predicted the release of 12-speed 105 Di2 <\/a>would make 11-speed Tiagra Shimano\u2019s best-value mechanical groupset<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> We said this would be the case even if Shimano unveiled a 12-speed, mechanical version of 105<\/a>, which it did.\u00a0<\/p>We\u2019ll spend the whole year arguing about gravel rules<\/h2>
Shimano faces off with SRAM with the launch of a new MTB groupset<\/h2>
Suspension gets even smarter<\/h2>
Aero road bikes will make a comeback<\/h2>
Classified wins at the Tour de France and takes over the world<\/h2>
Tiagra will become the new Shimano 105\u00a0<\/h2>