Top 10 Road Bike Technology Predictions for 2023

The year 2023 will be an important year for the transformation of road bicycle technology. As we are in the relay process from the past technology to the future technology, road bike experts have released their technology forecasts for each road bike in 2023.

1. The electronic drive kit will be more popular

In the past, electric transmission kits were only available on high-end bikes. However, Shimano has a surprise for us in 2022 with the Class 105 Di2 road bike electronic transmission kit, however it costs almost twice as much as the 105 mechanical transmission kit, so it makes more sense on a full bike than as an upgrade. It also means that many road bikes will see electronic transmission kits in the future.

SRAM set a precedent by slashing the price of Force AXS a year after its launch.

If Shimano's rival SRAM does the same and competes for this mid-market segment, it will allow electronic drive kit technology to be relegated again to lower-end models.

Lower prices are definitely something to bikee about, and in the long run, the spread of technology in mid-range models and the proliferation of electronic transmission kits should theoretically bring down the cost of assembling road bikes.

2.There will be a rapid development in aerodynamics road bikes

Over the past few years, there have been significant developments in pneumatic road bikes, including but not limited to aerodynamic design schemes and lightweight concepts.

Some well-known brands have already started making changes, such as the Specialized SL7 with a more aerodynamic and lightweight design, Giant with a lighter Propel, and even Cervelo, one of the pioneers of aerodynamic road bikes, with the S5.

Now, with the UCI rules slightly relaxed, some aerodynamic designers are eager to take the original design a step further.

3.Highly integrated all-in-line design concept will be a big trend

Whether you like the simplicity of this kind of wind or find it cumbersome to maintain, it is the first choice for mid - to high-end bikes to integrate the wire or core and pipe and hydraulic brake hose into the complete bike design.

Now that disc brakes on road bikes have entered the mass market and Shimano and SRAM have wireless transmission capabilities, it is easy to hide a hose with hydraulic brakes.

In fact, if you want to transform a fully inline bike, you don't have to research a complex integration solution yourself. Brands such as FSA (with ACR wiring system) and Deda (with DCR) offer off-the-rack integration solutions that are already used by companies such as Merida and Wilier.

4.Endurance road bikes will be subdivided

Endurance road bikes have shown signs of splintering, and there are now more practical or more competitive endurance road bikes.

The Giant Defy remains a classic endurance road bike. It's light, agile and comfortable, all of which make this endurance road bike a classic.

Cannondale's improved Synapse doesn't look much like a race bike (early models didn't even have UCI certification). For a start, it has increased tire clearance and even integrated batteries, lights and radar into the frame, as well as speed sensors, making the Synapse more of a practical road bike.

Synapse is an endurance road bike capable of light gravel use, built for drivers with a variety of needs, rather than just on the field.

Liam Cahill (Liam Cahill) | gravel road bike channel experts:

1.Yellow-rimmed vacuum tires are popular on road bikes

Tubeless tire performance is very good, to a certain extent can improve performance; Yellow edge tire is very personality, look different, appearance level is not low; High TPI cotton tires are better for riding.

Finding ways to trap air in those cotton sidewalls is a problem, which is why vacuum tires are mostly vulcanized. That may be changing, though. The new Victorian Corsa Pro tyre is on the Jumbo-Visma bike in preparation for the 2023 World Tour.

In 2023, more tire brands will find ways to combine cotton sidewalls with better air retention, a high TPI riding experience, and the speed advantage of vacuum tires.

2.Classified Powershift may achieve certain results in the Tour de France and have the opportunity to dominate the entire transmission kit market

Team Uno-X has been awarded a wild biked entry for the 2023 Tour de France. Their drivers used the Classified PowerShift Hub system as a trial run at smaller races, and the team will use it in the biggest race of the year.

Unsurprisingly, this will be a huge development; firstly, given the dominance of Shimano (plus SRAM and Campagnolo), innovation in traditional derailleurs is difficult to do. Second, because it signaled a rethinking of the derailleur system in professional cycling.

Simon von Bromley | Senior Technical Writer on Road Bikes:

1.The way you think about bicycle aerodynamics will change

This year is likely to see everything from a simple streamlined bike body to a more holistic approach to aerodynamics, a design philosophy that sees rider and bike as a system.

Until recently, bike and component manufacturers often sought to improve the aerodynamic performance of components in isolation, without much regard for the knock-on effects on other components or the rider.

But over the past few years, some innovative brands have taken a completely different approach without running afoul of any stodgy UCI boards.

For example, the Hope/Lotus HB.T has its cavernous wide fork and saddle, while the Ribble Ultra SL R has its opposite-sexed Ultra handlebar and aggressive wheels and frame.

Both Specialized and Kask are sponsoring riders wearing unusually large helmets at the 2022 Tour de France, and the famous POC Tempor time trial helmet remains popular in the event (many riders at the 2022 UCI World Championships Use the unbranded version).

As far as we can tell, all of these are designed to relate to the rider, reducing overall aerodynamic drag by affecting airflow across the system.

2.The air resistance sensor will not replace the power meter in the short term

Air drag sensors that show your CdA (coefficient of aerodynamic drag) in real time are expected to be the "next big thing" in about five years.

With more and more brands either already having devices available on the market (like Notio Konect and Velocomp AeroPod) or developing related products (BodyRocket and AeroSensor), it's easy to wonder if 2023 will be a turning point for this thing , reducing air resistance will become easier.

However, frustratingly, I don't think so.

First of all, as far as aerodynamics are concerned, it is actually very complicated. Measuring a rider's real-time drag is not a simple matter, because there are many variables at play (driver, weather, traffic conditions, drivetrain friction, tire roll resistance, etc.).

It's not that the air resistance sensor doesn't work as advertised, but that using an air resistance sensor would be complicated and additionally time consuming, which could put the biket before the horse.

Air drag sensors usually require time to calibrate, testing in a windless and light-traffic environment, and a rigorous testing protocol (and where or what bike you want to test). You also need to know how to interpret the results and what to do with the cumbersome information.

In contrast, a power meter is relatively simple to use. How hard you are pedaling, the power meter will display with a slight error (+-1%). Of course, once you go deep into it, there are still many things to do with the air resistance sensor, but the technology itself is actually very simple.

Watts are also a unit that many cyclists are familiar with -- if the number is high, it's usually good, and vice versa.

Of course, I hope I'm wrong. Sadly, the revolution that attempts to overthrow this measurement is still some way off.

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