It's taken a while, but finally bike companies are looking towards fun rather than the ultra-high-end of racing when designing bikes. Whether it has been in response to people using bikes outside of their intended discipline (I'm looking at you gravel road bikes) or the realization that fun bikes have as much to offer as pro-racing replicas, there's a new crop of bikes out there and I'm thankful.
- BMC Roadmachine 01 Ultegra review
- Cannondale Slate Ultegra long-term review
- Three days of gravel riding in Utah
For decades the bike industry has strictly followed the mantra originated by Soichiro Honda, "racing improves the breed." It's true, through racing and pushing the ragged edge, technology absolutely evolves.
Most innovation gets tested and proven at the race track, too — nothing will abuse a product or an idea more diligently than doing whatever's possible to win. From bikes to trophy trucks, racing has merit.
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But not everyone wants maximum speed, which typically is what racing caters to. Sure there are endurance events where a component's longevity plays a crucial role, but the bike industry rarely pursues that path, instead focusing on the lighter and faster end of the market.
A new definition of performance
Recently, however, completely new genres of bicycles and gear have been introduced that focus on fun, and have little or nothing to do with racing.
On the road
The gravel road
Long-distance bikepacking
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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