Eurobike's ending and Interbike's start have inspired the annual what's new, what's hot, and what's not lists. All of the usual media outlets have taken their cracks, and a few things stand out and give us the warm fuzzies about some decisions we've made. Here are some greatest hits.
Non-Standard BB Standards: Trek, Specialized and Cervelo have each done a variation of Cannondale's BB30 concept, bringing us ever closer to a world where each part is connected to the bike through some proprietary attachment means, locking you in to that manufacturer's parts or sentencing you to a lifetime of kludged adapters. What happens in three years when your BB is shot and everyone's moved on to the new new thing is anyone's guess.
Integrated Seat Masts: Dead. It seems that the impracticality of ISMs has trumped their bling factor. The particular issues with them are many: difficulty in packing a bike, the ability to destroy your frame with a badly placed or badly executed cut, lack of adjustability, and the total impracticality of reselling a bike that fits no one but you.
Internal Cable Runs: Winner! They're clean, keep the cable protected better, and look flash. Slight penalty in installation hassle, but most systems are engineered to work pretty darn well.
Carbon Clinchers: Flavor of the year. Weight penalties and braking surface issues are being addressed, while the convenience of clinchers is obvious. Tubulars still have a way nicer ride, though. We're working on this flavor.
Future Bust Of The Year: (tie) Monolink seat rail system and 35mm bar/clamp standards. Classic examples of answers to questions that no one ever asked.
Does Anybody Actually Buy This Stuff Award: Sub-1000g carbon wheelsets. Color me way too poor and WAY too scared for my teeth to try this flavor.