Bike box patents from Trek and Canyon show the industry's interest in a designs that get little attention. Yet bike boxes might only be outdone by empty coffee cups as the most common clutter in the work areas of shops. While the enormous cartons don’t get much attention – particularly compared to what’s inside them [...]

  Bicycle industry patents in 2021 were issued to major manufacturers doing business in the US.  Component companies – rather than those who sell complete bicycles – led the way, with parts suppliers having the greatest incentive to stake intellectual property claims. Shifting, braking, suspension, electric assist, etc. are where the big changes in bicycle [...]

A billion dollar a year fitness company that you haven’t heard of. A massive wave of interest in indoor virtual cycling, fueled by the pandemic. An ever-increasing appetite for on-the-road power measurement. Could all of the above converge to finally bring about cleat-based bicycle powermeters? Icon Health and Fitness hopes so, aiming to succeed where [...]

  Gravel riding brings back suspension stems, as it is often said that many current developments in the rapidly growing field of gravel bikes mirror mountain bike technology from the 1980s. That includes things like tire widths, frame geometry, as well the gradual acceptance of suspension – including suspension handlebar stems. Sprung stems tasted some [...]

The industry is currently buzzing with product news and speculation on the powermeter front – pedals in particular. Much of the talk stems from recent mergers and acquisitions, including those already selling wattage measurement but are looking to expand offerings. Power measuring pedals are burdened with plenty of challenging constraints. Both pedals need to house [...]

Do Campagnolo wireless shifting patents answer the burning question from the tech tifosi: Will Campagnolo soon have wireless derailleurs? Patent applications can give a sneak peak of what’s in the development pipeline, and a perusal of what Campy has on file with patent offices worldwide shows plenty of wireless technology. It’s certainly no surprise that [...]

New Mountain Bike Technology Recently published Fox Racing patents show that the company may be adding crankarm sensors to its super-techy Live Valve suspension system. With cranks in the Fox portfolio under the Race Face brand, this suggests the company is angling to bolster its presence as a wide-ranging OE supplier through component bundling. Current [...]

Blending Clothing and Bicycle Componentry Wearable technology is nothing new to cycling apparel – from heart rate and fitness trackers to jackets illuminated by LEDS. But lurking in R&D departments of bicycle component manufacturers is something altogether different. Bicycle shifters: wearable technology -- designs that meld clothing with shifters. Namely, gloves and other handwear that [...]

Shimano Wireless Shifting One of the biggest questions on the minds of cycling’s technology-minded types: will the next generation of Dura Ace include Shimano wireless electronic shifting? Shimano was of course the first major player to market with electronic shifting (aside from Mavic’s early short-lived attempts), when they introduced Di2 in 2009, using wires to [...]