Evolution of Road Bikes – What’s Changed in the Last 10 Years

Founder, Mr. Mamil
Updated:

Walk into any bike shop or browse the bike manufacturers’ websites, and you’ll see a lot of modern-looking road bikes around. Rewind 10 years ago, you’ll probably be the standout cyclist in the bunch if you’re riding a carbon frame with an 11-speed drivetrain.

Today that’s a norm.

In this article, I’ll discuss the changes road bikes have undergone in the last 10 years.

Race vs endurance framesets

One bicycle no longer does it all, well, not on paper at least. Specialized was the first to introduce a comfortable endurance road bike, the Roubaix, back in 2004.

Your option in the late ‘90s was a very stiff, steep angle, super-short chainstay race bike, and that didn’t work because you couldn’t fit real-world tires. It was harsh. It wasn’t the right bike for many hours in the saddle. So, we made the Roubaix.

Rodney Hines, Inventor of the Original Roubaix

Other brands followed their lead and created their own branded version of a comfortable sportive/endurance or gran fondo bike, splintering the bicycle marketplace into specific categories.

These days, you are spoilt for choices for various with framesets characteristics targeted to such niches as aero, lightweight, all-road, endurance, and gravel, to name a few.

More reading : Road vs Aero vs Endurance Bikes

Advancements in carbon technology

Carbon fiber technology has developed enormously since the edition of the first carbon bicycle produced in the UK by Carlton Cycles in 1971.

Today, unidirectional composite fibers come in sheets of pre-preg (resin already added) carbon that are easy to manipulate. Once cut, the individual pattern pieces can be layered in specific directions, shapes, and configurations to develop desired bicycle frame characteristics.

Hours of work go into each composite frame, but the versatile material properties of carbon, combined with the latest innovations in its production, mean today’s engineers are producing ever lighter and more responsive carbon racing bicycles, components, and accessories.

More reading : Carbon vs Aluminum Bikes Pros and Cons

Ultralight frame and fork

Regardless of your preferred material, advances in research and technology have resulted in the creation of frames, forks, and components that are lighter than ever.

For example, the S-Works Aethos frame and fork weigh 622g and 311g, respectively. That’s a sub-1kg frame/fork combined which is a rarity.

Thinner tube sidewalls, improved production methods, and high-tech engineering mean no more extra material to add precious grams. But when does light become too light?

Products are dropping in weight but increasing in price!

More reading : How Much Does An Average Bike Weigh?

Carbon frames at lower price points

Once only produced in small numbers reserved for elite riders or those with a healthy bank account, carbon production technology has met the masses. Today precise 2D CNC plot-cutting devices cut up to 500 individual and complex shapes needed to make a carbon frame out of large pre-preg carbon sheets.

Computer precision and speed mean less waste and improved production times, which parlay into more friendly price points. Something to keep in mind is that the use of carbon alone does not, by definition, make a frame lighter.

To meet consumers’ needs at a lower price point, lesser quality carbon may be used, which requires more layers to achieve comparable durability; more layers can equal added weight.

More reading : Carbon vs Titanium Bikes Pros and Cons

Carbon wheelsets

Once a material reserved for NASA and Formula 1, carbon has moved into the cycling mainstream through an entire range of components and accessories, particularly wheelsets.

Improved computer technology, engineering, research, precision tool manufacturing, and the ready availability of pre-preg carbon sheets have translated into quality, durable, and lightweight carbon clincher wheelsets at prices that won’t make your eyes water.

More reading : The 10 Best Road Bike Wheelset Brands

Smooth electronic shifting

Kudos to Mavic, who first introduced Zap electronic shifting in 1992, but the technology of the time didn’t match their ambition. In 2009, Shimano brought Dura Ace Di2 7970 to the market, and it was an immediate hit.

The Shimano system requires a battery and a network of e-cables routed throughout the frame and connected to a junction box.

SRAM joined the electronic shifting game in 2015 with its highly-anticipated wireless RED eTap groupset, which eliminated the need to fuss with routing cables.

More reading : How to Make the Most Out of Shimano Di2

Lower gears for steeper terrains

Bicycle gears used to mean 12-23T 9-speed cassettes with a 52/42T crankset. Just thinking about it makes my legs hurt!

Say hello to lower gears and compact cranksets.

Adding more speeds and larger rear cogs has resulted in gear ratios adapted for a wide variety of terrains, with 28, 30, and 32T being the new norm. Even larger rear cassettes used with 1x systems are becoming more prevalent.

More reading : Bicycle Gearing Explained

13-speed drivetrain

10-speed cassettes were introduced to the market in 2004. They had their time in the limelight until 2012 when 11-speed bumped them to the second step on the podium.

Now, 12-speed is the norm, yet 10 and 11-speed bicycles are still available for sale today. Just how far can engineering push the number of cogs that will fit into a bicycle’s rear triangle?

Ask Campagnolo. They were the first to bring a 13-speed cassette, albeit for a 1x system, to market in 2020.

1x may be the future for all bicycles, maybe we’ll know in another 10 years.

More reading : List of Bikes with Shimano 105 Di2 (R7100)

Wider and tubeless tires

Old-school roots may cringe at riding 30c tires on the road. Riding skinny, inflated to maximum high pressure, was the way to go. It’s about time to join the 21st Century and adopt the engineering and research that has gone into wheel aerodynamics and tubeless technology.

Research shows that the wider tubeless tires that run at lower pressures are not only faster but more comfortable too. Before you jump onto the tubeless bandwagon, there are some things you need to know. After all, tubeless is a different beast altogether.

More reading : Road Bike Tire Pressure Guide

The proliferation of disc brakes

Today’s road bike disc brakes have roots in motorcycles and mountain bikes. While more technically challenging for amateurs to service and maintain, disc brakes perform in all weather, road, and trail conditions.

Disc brakes are now ridden in the pro peloton, but is this purely at the demand of bicycle manufacturers or a natural progression thanks to their reliability?

What about the added weight? Although the road cycling community has yet to respond to these questions, road disc brakes are here to stay.

Have you seen any new road bikes with caliper brakes recently? I doubt so.

More reading : Metal vs Resin Brake Pads

Thru-axles standardization

With the onset of disc brakes and the extreme forces, they transmit to the frame and fork when in use, the slender and pliable quick-release roadies know and love are being relegated to retirement in favor of thru-axles.

Perhaps one reason some pros aren’t fans of disc brakes lies in the extra time thru-axles require for wheel changes as compared to QRs, but that’s not a game-changer for most of us.

These days, the standard thru-axle standard for road bikes is 12x100mm for the front and 12x142mm for the rear.

Internally routed cables

Clean lines on a road bicycle mean hidden, internally routed cables to accommodate public demand, improved aerodynamics, and wired electronic shifting.

While internally routed road bikes definitely look hot, they can be a nightmare for professional and DIY mechanics. SRAM picked up on this with the introduction of the Shimano Di2, which may explain why their eTap system is wireless. Perhaps their engineers actually work on the bikes too.

Compact bend handlebars

Road handlebars now have a shallower bend. Better known as a compact, this change in shape, which has vastly become the norm, means cyclists can ride in the drops without a significant change in position.

Reducing the bend depth improves handlebar weight and stiffness, and makes the brake levers more accessible, especially to riders with smaller hands.

More reading : How to Measure A Handlebar Width

GPS devices and cycling apps

If you drive, you can attest to the benefits of having a GPS in your car. No more getting lost, asking strangers for directions, or pulling over on the side of the road to fish a map out of the glove box (not to mention folding it back up!).

Well, the bike GPS and computers have provided the same benefits to cyclists everywhere while paving the way for new technology companies such as Strava and Ride with GPS.

These advances mean new segments, roads, and routes to share, compare, and explore while keeping track of useful metrics for training purposes.

More reading : How to Use Strava for Cycling

Indoor cycling and smart trainers

Gone are hours of discomfort spent indoors riding a basic mag trainer to avoid soggy roads or cold winter temperatures. Is indoor riding and racing becoming a trend? Who would have believed that 10 years ago?

A handful of fantastic apps, accessories, improved computer technology, faster internet connections, and smart trainers have put indoor training and racing on the map.

Cyclists can ride or compete with their friends from the comfort of their own homes or pain cave. Whether you prefer the virtual world of Zwift, or the augmented reality of Rouvy or FulGaz, you’ve probably already got a smart trainer or have plans to get your own.

More reading : Why Cycling Outdoor is More Beneficial

Battery-assisted road bicycles

The ever-improving battery technology means that road bicycles can be fitted with power assistance systems while retaining the look of traditional road bikes.

A near normal aspect reduces the chances of any potential stigma for its pilot. Opinions may be mixed on the subject, but battery-assisted road bicycles have introduced entire new populations to the sport and permitted older roadies, those with medical limitations, and non-riding partners to get out there and join in the fun.

These days, you can barely differentiate between a road e-bike. Check out the Scott eRide or the Orbea Gain.

Alex Lee at Mr.Mamil

Alex Lee is the founder and editor-at-large of Mr. Mamil. Coming from a professional engineering background, he breaks down technical cycling nuances into an easy-to-understand and digestible format here.

He has been riding road bikes actively for the past 12 years and started racing competitively in the senior category during the summer recently.