This years Roc wasn't that different than last years one. For me mountain biking is hitting a plateau and inventions are coming out very slowly. I mean real inventions. There are a lot of brands, an aweful lot. Only the biggest risk takers or the unique designs and ideas can stay alive. 12speed Sram Eagle, Ohlins hidden stems for CC bikes, great, but is it enough ?
For me 2016is the year of gravel. I don't just talk about road bikes with bigger clearance and disk brakes. More likely about bikes with possibility of using them with 29", 27" and 27"+ and 700c wheels. These are the beasts of the future, like Bombtrack or On One . Using 100/15mm front and 142/12mm rear axles or already equipped with the boost system of 148 and 110mm through axles. This would give you the possibility to upgrade to 12 speed in the future and to have sturdier wheels.
Ohlins a quality motorbike suspension brand also entered the market of MTB suspensions and they are rad looking. Some Specialized bikes are already production equipped with these. Some reviewers try to criticise the accuracy and the trail feel of Ohlins suspensions, but at the end all reviews come out very positive and mostly they compare the 34mm Ohlins forks to a bigger 36mm Fox dampener.
There were many nutritional products, textile items, and of course electric bikes. That would be a great standalone topic, but electric bikes are blowing up the market. You would say it is for the lazy. The thing is that you can be lazy with it and be still out there recovering or you can be hammering, get in the same workout that you would with a normal bike, just cover 3 times more distance.
Most driving license and registration free bikes come with 250w motors, but we can see now artisans coming out with 1500w beasts addable to any bottom bracket, regardless we talk about road bike or full suspension mountain bike. They are not only assisted but there is a possible boost option to them like a scooter twist-grip.
Cycloboost Bafang
