Expensive Bike Trade, that is what we need to see this season… oh wait, that’s an entire separate BikeRumor Op Ed collection that you will notice much more of in 2026! The place have been we?
OK yeah, New Yr’s is completed. Everybody within the biking business is again to work. Anrocd our inboxes are already beginning to refill with novel bike gizmos once more. However the massive tales of 2026 are but to return. We’re even packing our luggage for the primary take a look at journeys of the season, already! Will this be the yr that the biking business will get again to ‘enterprise as ordinary‘ after half a decade of chaos? What would be the greatest tech tales of the approaching yr? What bike, element, or accent firms will stand out above the remainder?
Truthfully, solely time will inform for certain. However we preserve our collective fingers on the heart beat of all issues bike tech and biking geekery. So, let’s dive into what we predict will probably be coming down the highway and trails in 2026…
BikeRumor predicts 2026’s greatest tech developments
We spent the final couple weeks of 2025 cleansing home after one other busy yr. First, compiling our particular person favorites right into a collection of biggest hits Editor’s Alternative tales. Then, wrapping all of it up tightly with a single Gear of the Yr overview, summarizing the most effective tech and hottest tendencies. Lastly, we additionally took a glance again at our 20 hottest tales of ’25, a number of of which give perception into what we’d count on to see in ’26.
However whereas the top of the yr is at all times a great time to look again, now that we’re firmly in January, it’s time to take a look at what’s forward.
Coming down the highway this coming season?
Let’s begin off on the highway with some predictions for two of the three massive drivetrain makers.
Now we have a robust feeling that that is the yr for a brand new Shimano Dura-Ace groupset, lastly. It’s been 5 years, and the Japanese big simply utterly revamped their mountain bike household with the long-awaited next-gen XTR Di2. Then, they kinda did the identical for gravel Di2, too. Now, it’s the highway’s flip. Actually, the following Dura-Ace will get Di2 digital shifting, and it’ll positively be wi-fi. However this may very well be its probability to go completely wi-fi this time. Having solved the detachable battery ‘inside’ the rear derailleur off-road, we’d wager Shimano can try this on-road now, as nicely. Additionally, off-road Di2 was all about modular cross-compatibility. We count on the identical on next-gen highway Di2, as nicely. We’re dreaming of interchangeable 2x AND 1x choices. And it’s most likely bought to be 13-speed now, with the intention to sustain with Campy & SRAM, proper?
The true query is, will Shimano observe up its next-gen Dura-Ace Di2 groupset with new Ultegra Di2 & 105 Di2 weeks later, like they did final yr for mountain bikes?
Talking of trickle-down highway tech, Campagnolo hasn’t been shy about desirous to convey their new 13-speed wi-fi applied sciences right down to some extra accessible ranges. We’d like to see Campy wi-fi make its solution to File, Refrain & Centaur tiers this coming yr. Realistically, although, we’ll most likely solely see one new tier added. Vicenza doesn’t have a tendency to maneuver too shortly directly. Our wager is on Refrain. Campagnolo positions Tremendous File simply above Dura-Ace, and skipping over File means they might pit Refrain Wi-fi extra straight in opposition to Ultegra Di2.
We’ll simply drop this one in right here since a variety of roadies are inside using nearly on the coach, as an alternative of toughing it out on chilly, moist, and sometimes sketchy frozen roads for the time being. Isn’t anybody engaged on a VR racing league constructed across the Meta Quest digital actuality headset? We are able to’t be the one ones who see the actual immersive expertise potential for digital racing in VR headsets. Positive, sweating in a VR headset will suck, however so does using a coach inside to start out with. Can we please take Zwift and Rouvy to the following degree?
Grinding gravel across the globe in 2026?
Whereas we’re nonetheless within the drops, might 2026 be the yr that Shimano’s multi-level GRX platform truly will get a correct premium tier to go head-to-head with SRAM Crimson XPLR and Campy Tremendous File X? Positive, final yr noticed a brand new 1x 12-speed GRX Di2 (after which a extra reasonably priced model, simply months later). However GRX has by no means been premium, a minimum of nowhere near Dura-Ace degree. No premium light-weight cranks, no tremendous shiny derailleurs, no titanium cassettes.
However, in the event you see the highway execs who cross over to race UCI Gravel Worlds, they’re virtually all nonetheless on Dura-Ace. That’s not an awesome search for Shimano attempting to hype GRX because the ‘purest’ gravel-specific groupset household. When Dura-Ace Di2 goes 13-speed this yr, we count on to see a superlight GRX Di2 13-speed variant with each a wide-range 1x choice with a lightweight XTR-ish cassette to match and a 2x setup that borrows a brand new Dura-Ace highway cassette. No less than we will hope.
Whereas we’re at it, why not Campagnolo Ekar 13 Wi-fi? Ekar was truly the primary massive 13-speed groupset to hit the market. (Rotor was actually there even earlier, however with much less buyer buy-in.) And Ekar might most likely be credited with retaining Campy afloat 5 years in the past, as they fumbled round with highway improvement. Now Ekar deserves to get its personal wi-fi digital model. It’ll positively be extra reasonably priced than Campy Tremendous File X, however nonetheless must be cross-compatible. Extra aluminum & metal. Much less carbon & ti. That may assist the Italian engineers preserve prices down, whereas additionally interesting to a broader dirtbag gravel adventuring viewers who loves that it’s all nonetheless made in Europe.
This one is gonna tease a variety of what comes for MTB down beneath, however we count on to see 32″ wheels creep into gravel this yr. A yr and a half in the past we examined a 750d gravel bike and got here away stunned at the way it improved the journey. Positive, these greater wheels made essentially the most sense for taller riders, longer distances, and rougher gravel tracks. Nicely, 32″ wheels may simply be excellent for ultra-distance gravel racing and bikepacking, too. That’s, if the choice of tires can sustain.
Whereas we’re speaking racing, 2026 is ready to be the yr when gravel racing goes next-level, proper? So many highway execs have crossed into gravel that it feels prepared for a Gravel World Tour. Suppose greater prize purses to herald extra of that elite expertise. And a extra built-in calendar to maintain the professionals centered, so it isn’t a crapshoot to see what highway execs flip up on the beginning line to contest Gravel Worlds on the finish of the season in hopes of securing a rainbow jersey? I do know it’s not the ‘spirit of gravel‘ however that already died after we actually began racing anyway.
Leaping again to the precise bikes for a second, we really feel like 2026 is gonna be the yr of a brand new Specialised Crux. It’s been about 4 years since this extraordinarily well-liked bike has been refreshed, so its time feels nigh. Will it look extra like a Tarmac, now that the aero SL8 highway bike can already clear a 32mm tire? Guess we’ll simply wait and see.
Wait, we additionally count on to see extra full suspension gravel race bikes in 2026 after Trek’s wildly colourful CheckOut reignited a debate that the Niner MCR first launched 7 years in the past, and that the Cannondale Topstone has been sneaking into their lineup for a few years. Salsa’s Wanderosa may very well be the following to drop, or it would grow to be an ebike. Who can inform nowadays?
Blazing quick on cross nation and trails within the yr forward?
Yeah, 32″ wheels are going to dominate the MTB dialog once more within the coming yr. We count on to see typical right-side-up 32” XC forks from the likes of Manitou, Fox & RockShox this yr, closing the hole that boutique upside-down forks have been filling on a variety of the prototypes we’ve noticed to this point. Phrase on the path, is that there are prototypes from every of those producers floating round. However apparently, none have decrease leg castings finalized, simply but.
There will probably be loads of manufacturing 32″ wheels, too. DT Swiss advised us to not maintain our collective breath. However on the identical time, we all know they’ve each alloy and carbon 32″ rims that they’re testing as we sort. So it’s extra about giving them sufficient time for correct security testing.
These new, greater 32er wheels will certainly present up on the XC World Cup this coming season, too. The query is barely what massive bike model would be the first to drop their production-ready full-suspension carbon 32″ XC bike? Even with BMC’s robust prototype displaying this yr, we kinda really feel like it’s going to be Scott. Rumor from the beginning was that Nino & Scott/SRAM have been pushing with Maxxis to get 32″ wheels on the XC circuit. And even along with his retirement from racing, a 32″ Spark might very nicely turn into a actuality this yr.
However actually, it may very well be BMC, Trek, Specialised, Scott, Cannondale, Orbea, Canyon, and even anyone extra sudden like Rockrider, Pinarello, Santa Cruz, or Thömus?
What 32″ bike do you suppose will probably be raced to the primary XCO World Cup win?
Let’s not depend out greater wheels for path and enduro both. ActoFive confirmed us they’ll completely do 140mm of journey entrance and rear with a full 32er in medium & giant sizes. And if you need extra journey, mullet setups are the apparent subsequent step. Logically, as soon as the right forks are there, we might theoretically see a 32″ entrance paired to a 29″ rear as an awesome all-around path shredder. Possibly even go along with a 32/27.5 tremendous mullet combo for extra aggressive, greater journey bikes. Tires are possibly the opposite limiting issue right here. However we already know that 2026 will convey a 32″ Dissector path tire. And Maxxis teased us that they’ve a number of extra 32″ tires within the works, too!
Appears like we might have to move again to Taipei to dig deeper into this greater wheel motion?
Talking of mountain bike tires, we’re certain to see extra radial tires enter the fray this yr. Schwalbe actually shook up the grip sport once they dropped 3 completely different radial path & gravity tires a yr and a half in the past. And we simply bought a set of distinctive Zleen radial XC tires in to check, which utterly rethink mountain bike tire development. Frankly, we’re stunned extra tire firms haven’t but realigned their tire casings for the additional flex advantages. However 2026 is gonna be that yr!
Let’s shortly speak dropper posts. Fox actually did a quantity on quick wi-fi drops with their ultra-premium Switch Neo, which simply bought an extended journey model this week. (Ed. word: I virtually forgot that this publish prices $860 or 1320€. Woah!) However why not a lighter-weight, short-travel XC-specific Switch Neo SL? It’s already low stack. They usually know we would like it!
Plus, what about BikeYoke’s Revive Wi-fi dropper? We held it in our fingers 18 months in the past, even remotely actuating the prototype. 2026 has bought to be the yr that essentially the most serviceable dropper lastly will get its wi-fi model! And it may’t price over a thousand euros, proper?
Calling out a single cross-country bike, it appears like that is the season for an all-new Canyon Lux XC race bike. It’s been over 4 years since we noticed the German consumer-direct model drop a brand new World Cup XCO race bike. And we’d wager, this would be the yr it will get a refresh. Most likely not a 32″ model simply but, although.
On a extra normal idea, we count on (learn: hope) to see extra reasonably priced full-suspension rigs with respectable spec, just like the latest Esker. For on a regular basis path using to all-mountain bikes, there’s not a lot weight or efficiency penalty when sticking with alloy frames. And the price financial savings can imply a greater no-nonsense element spec. What higher solution to get the following technology of mountain bikers out onto the paths?
Right here’s wishing for extra enjoyable, reasonably priced mountain bikes in ’26!
Shredding the gnar on greater mountain bikes, too!
The majority of that has been XC, path & possibly mild all-mountain tendencies that we count on to rear their head in 2026, however gravity mountain bikes appear poised to have their yr, too.
Begin with a easy one. DT Swiss wheels destined for long-travel bikes will roll out this yr with DT’s intelligent DF anti-kickback machine already put in. And also you’ll even see the tech as commonplace OEM on some full bikes. It’s no secret. DT advised us they might do it. This would be the greatest shift in letting extra mountain bikers expertise whether or not anti-kickback units will enhance the texture of their bike, and even make them sooner. If mountain bikers adore it, this transfer might even assist push related units from the likes of Ochain and e13?
Shimano utterly revamped their total MTB lineup with Di2 final yr.
Nicely, virtually.
One efficiency MTB group was overlooked, and this yr may very well be Saint’s flip. It has been a fierce debate internally whether or not a brand new Saint group could be mechanical for continued bulletproof simplicity, or clearly Di2 for that tremendous helpful computerized return characteristic after the inevitable rock strike. Are you able to inform a brand new, strong, low-profile Saint Di2 received out? It’ll nonetheless most likely be a DH-specific 7-speed, however we wager it’s going to have Shimano’s personal patented direct mount UDH-compatible mounting for optimum robustness in a self-discipline recognized for abusing bikes and elements. However will it characteristic an auto-disengaging hub to utterly get rid of pedal kickback? One factor is for certain, new Saint will get ultra-beefy new brakes to compete with Professionals when it comes to bulkiness, with Shimano’s new low viscosity mineral oil to say goodbye to wandering chew factors.
On the identical time, this one doubles again to the complete MTB self-discipline. Shimano’s electrification of all their mountain bike drivetrains left us questioning in the event that they’ll nonetheless commit improvement time to cable-actuated derailleurs like we noticed SRAM fortunately debut final yr. It bought our editorial group pondering. Now that XTR, XT, Deore, and GRX are all 1x Di2 with twelve firmware-controlled gearing steps on 7.5-year-old 12-speed cassette tech, it might solely take an over-the-air firmware replace by way of their E-Tube app to make these new wi-fi derailleurs appropriate with a brand new variety of gears in the identical general cassette width.
So we’re predicting 13-speed mechanical Shimano mountain bike drivetrains!
All you want is a brand new mechanical shifter, mechanical derailleur, and new 13-speed cassette. The setups will probably be lighter than Di2 with Shimano’s confirmed crisp shifting, beginning with XTR, then most likely including an XT tier, too. Decrease specs will come later. However all of final yr’s new Di2 setups will probably be immediately upgradeable to 13-speed with only a new chain & cassette. Consider it like anti-Cues.
Oh yeah, and let’s not overlook. A belt-drive gearbox DH bike goes to podium, virtually profitable a DH World Cup this season. And Gates is gonna lastly be out of the 100,000€ belted purse they’ve put up for grabs, quickly for the third season. The gearbox weight stability and suspension design isolation simply makes a lot sense on a DH bike. We’re going to name it that an Atherton A.200.G would be the bike to do it. Solely to be shortly adopted up by a wild new iteration of Gamux’s newest Sego platform.
The extent of ebikes continues to develop
Look, eBikes have matured. They’re not the bane of our existence. Actually. They’ve advanced into machines that assist us with day by day transportation duties and lengthen our efficiency rides additional than ever.
Excessive energy mild eMTB powertrains proceed to impress. It’s not simply the sense of flying up the climbs, however a lot extra motor management that you may truly begin off on steep hills and navigate free terrain with out merely spinning your wheels. We’ve heard particular rumors of recent eMTB motors that can get much more highly effective than we might think about in 2026. The true query is whether or not they are going to dial in charge of that energy to make these next-gen eMTBs manageable off-road? In any case, lighter however nonetheless highly effective motors will proceed to blur the traces between what was an ‘both/or‘ alternative of a full-power eMTB or a light-weight eMTB.
We additionally count on to see extra mixed motor & gearbox items. Pinion’s MGU was frankly groundbreaking, even when it wasn’t as refined as we might have hoped at first. However the idea of mixing an inner gearbox and an electrical pedal-assist motor into one centrally situated unit that may have interaction/disengage/shift in a wise method is just logical.
Rumor has it, two massive MTB drivetrain makers are engaged on their very own variations. However who will get it to market first?
On a extra utilitarian entrance, we’ve merely seen extra accessible eBikes, price-wise. It’s not simply low-quality, sketchy consumer-direct ebikes, both. There have been extra sensible add-on ebike conversion programs, extra high-quality mid-drive ebikes from these beforehand hub-motor-only producers, and simply extra day by day utility ebikes than ever. Cargo ebikes additionally appear to be lastly changing into mainstream in Western markets as viable automotive options. And we’re all about that!
Right here’s to extra reasonably priced and accessible ebikes and cargo bikes in 2026, for everybody who doesn’t really feel the necessity to hop in a automotive to commute to work, or run their day by day errands, or to shuttle the youngsters forwards and backwards to high school and sports activities ball observe.
Race Vitamin pushes into the unknown
Gravel and ultra-endurance racing, such because the Life Time Grand Prix and big-ticket/big-prize-purse occasions, have athletes pushing into uncharted carb-consumption territory. Sure, we all know that the longer you run on the bigger engine you might have, the extra you should gas it.
Take Matt Beers, for instance. On the shortened Large Sugar finale of the Life Time GP, Beers clocked in an effort of 431W for greater than 2 hours. That’s bonkers. In the event you merely do the maths to grasp what it takes to maintain an effort like that, you’d want plenty of carbs for gas. Beers reportedly goals for 90g/hr for high-altitude or sizzling races, and 120-140g/hr for cooler races. It had been uncommon (till not too long ago) for most individuals to eat greater than 90g/hr. And 140g/hr would require simply as a lot intestine coaching as cardio engine constructing.
So, the place are we going with this?
We imagine we’ll see extra endurance gas aimed toward hitting these 120-140g/hr marks. Skratch Tremendous Gas and SiS Beta Gas have been among the many early mainstream adopters, and we at the moment are seeing extra entrants on this ultra-niche, ultra-endurance area. We’re pondering larger-volume gels with extra carbs, and one-off, carb-heavy options for these making their very own gels. Possibly we’ll get some new drink mixes that push the restrict however aren’t like consuming pancake batter. No significantly, it’s gonna be like consuming pancake batter to hit these ranges!
Blurring traces of what’s coming in 2026
Let’s shut out this crystal ball gazing with a number of cross-over predictions…
Garbaruk, Ratio, and Madrone all reminded us in 2025 that alt drivetrains from smaller producers are extra critical than ever. Broad-ranging 1x setups have simplified drivetrains and leveled the enjoying area for options just like the wi-fi Garbaruk, mechanical Ratio Mech, and mechanical Madrone Jab derailleurs. We count on these three to seek out their footing in 2026, and possibly extra gamers to enter the sport. Just like the return of Rotor with their good Uno wi-fi collaboration with Wheeltop?
On the identical time, Categorised had struggled to make critical headway with their digital 2x drivetrains, considerably as a response to the oversimplification and blocky gearing steps of 1x. However now that they’ve paired with TRP, we count on Categorised will refine the smoothness and quiet-running of their proprietary cassettes, making them a way more viable premium choice for highway, gravel & XC to rival the top-tier Shimano & SRAM competitors at related pricing to Dura-Ace & Crimson.
This 2026 prediction is simply one other truth. Electrical mini inflators will proceed their international domination. CO2 is lifeless, lengthy dwell the reusable, rechargeable electrical inflator, although we’ve to endure their annoying noise. Our hope/prayer/prediction in 2026 is that by some stunning innovation, somebody will lastly make yet another much like the shape issue of a mini-pump so it’s going to higher match right into a jersey pocket or inside all the interior body storage gloveboxes in in the present day’s trendy bikes. And as soon as they resolve that and promote one million little electrical pumps, hopefully the following revolutionary thoughts will make all of them quieter!
And let’s go away it with this assured prediction: 2026 will see much more wacky Dangerholm x Scott mission bikes. A decade or two on, Gustav’s bikes aren’t simply weight-weenie creations anymore. As a substitute, he’s making bizarre customized bikes that showcase forward-thinking concepts like ultra-wide aero gravel wheels, full-suspension mountain bikes repurposed for gravel, light-weight highway ebikes reimagined for the post-apocalyptic situations we’re all fearing each evening after we tune into the information. Dangerholm actually has his finger on the heart beat.
Tell us within the feedback beneath what you are expecting the following new Dangerholm creation in 2026 will inform us about ourselves!
