10 of the biggest game changers in cycling tech

Since the first bicycle rolled out of the factory, designers and engineers have been looking for improvements. As a result, the bicycle as we know it today is a long way from the early bicycles of the 19th century.

It might seem like improved, precise bike tech is something of a relatively new thing, perhaps only coming along in recent years as technology and innovation has taken a big step forward in general. However, some of the most important bike tech innovations happened decades ago. As our list shows, so much of the tech we think of as standard in the modern era was once the cutting edge of innovation.

Here, we take a look at 10 of the cycling tech innovations and inventions that changed the game.

Jump to:

• Clipless pedals
• Carbon fibre
• STI levers
• Derailleur gears
• Power meters
• Lycra
• Strava
• Helmets
• E-bikes
• Smart indoor training

Clipless pedals

Clipless pedals might have one of the most confusing names in the whole of cycling. Still, regardless of this, they revolutionised how riders fixed their feet to the bike to maximise pedalling efficiency.

It can be misleading to newcomers to see pedals and shoes that clip together be referred to as clipless, but this harks back to the existing technology of the time. Before clipless pedals became the norm, riders would use pedals with straps that would tighten around the rider's shoe to fix them in place – these were referred to as toe clips.

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Before clipless pedals riders would strap their feet to the pedals using 'toe clips'

In 1984, a ski equipment company called Look revolutionised the foot-pedal interface by incorporating a ski binding-like retention system that uses a cleat on the shoe's sole to lock into place on the pedal. A simple twisting motion released the shoe from the pedal without any need to manually adjust retaining straps like they would with toe clips.

• Read more: Clipless pedals: what are they and how do you use them?

You might think this new technology would be welcomed by the peloton, however as with most technological advancements, uptake was initially slow. Riders for the most part stuck to what they knew. Fast forward to 1985 when Bernard Hinault claimed his fifth Tour de France title using the Look pedals, and then the peloton cottoned on.

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Look introduced the clipless pedal, borrowing technology from the ski industry

Nowadays the use of clipless pedals is seen as a sign of a serious cyclist and something that most recreational cyclists progress to using as soon as they feel comfortable. The security a clipless pedal provides allows riders to focus on pedalling rather than maintaining foot position. Although the jury is out on whether or not clipless pedals actually increase power output, they do allow riders to pull up on the pedals too. Thanks to adjustable spring tension, riders can dial in how much force it takes to release their shoe from the pedal.

Carbon fibre

Show any non-cyclist a road bike and it's almost certain they will ask two things: how much does it weigh and is it made out of carbon fibre? The wonder material that made its way into professional cycling in the 1980s can now be found on almost every bit of cycling equipment imaginable. Frames, cranks, computer mounts, shoes, helmets, pedals and plenty more are all made out of carbon fibre.

• Read more: How is carbon fibre made?

Once again, the French brand Look were responsible for introducing this new technology to the pro peloton. The brand used the material in the KG86 bike that Greg LeMond rode to victory in the 1986 Tour de France.

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The KG86 marked the introduction of carbon fibre in to the professional peloton

Carbon fibre is often seen as the ultimate super lightweight material, however this is not necessarily the truth as some aluminium bikes can be built to a comparative weight to their carbon-based counterparts. Where carbon fibre comes into its own is its stiffness-to-weight ratio and its ability to have tuneable characteristics.

Carbon fibre uses sheets made up of strands of carbon fibre that are weaved together in specific patterns that determine the properties of the material. These sheets are then laid up on top of each other in a mould before a matrix, typically a form of resin, is injected into the material. When cured, it solidifies the carbon fibre sheets.

Since the arrival of carbon fibre in cycling, it has become the go-to material for premium road bikes. The compliance and increased comfort that the material marries with high levels of stiffness and low weight all make it the perfect material for bikes and cycling equipment.

STI levers

Up until 1990, the control over a bike's gears was resigned to the down tube of a bike. This meant that changing gear required a rider to remove their hand from the bars and adjust the cable tension going to the derailleur.

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Before STI levers were a thing riders would have to take a hand away from the bars to use a down tube mounted shifter

In 1990, Shimano brought to market its STI lever that moved the shifting controls from the downtube into the brake lever. The STI (Shimano Total Integration) system moved the shifting control onto the brake lever itself. The brake lever operated the brake as normal, but the lever could also be pushed inwards towards the other side of the bar to actuate a gear change. A small secondary paddle was also placed behind the brake lever to operate the opposing shift.

The introduction of this technology meant that riders no longer needed to change their hand position to change gear. Not only was this great for increasing the control riders had over the bike, but it also allowed riders to change gears more often and during situations they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to.

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Shimano integrated the gear shifter in to the brake lever to create the original STI lever

Such was the success of Shimano’s STI system that in 1992 the brand's biggest competitor of the time, Campagnolo, released its own take on the system, calling it ErgoPower with the secondary paddle placed on the lever hood to be operated with your thumb.

Derailleur gears

It is hard to imagine a time when bikes didn’t have gears that could be remotely changed via some form of shifter but before the derailleur, that was the reality. At best riders could have two different-sized sprockets fitted to either side of the rear hub. This gave them two gear ratios at their disposal but would require stopping, removing the rear wheel, flipping it around and reassembling it all simply to change gears.

The specifics around the inventor of the rear derailleur are up for debate. Some sources claim that a Frenchman named Jean Loubeyre is eligible for the accolade, having filed a patent for a two-speed derailleur in 1895.

• Read more: Retro vs modern: How does 54-year-old bike gear compare to the cutting edge of modern technology?

It wasn’t until the 1930s that the rear derailleur had reached a point of refinement where it was gaining some traction within racing circles. Campagnolo released a derailleur in 1933 that allowed the chain to move between sprockets, but to use it, riders had to get off the bike and loosen a lever before the chain could be moved onto the other sprocket. Then, in 1938 Simplex introduced the first cable-operated rear derailleur that allowed riders to change gears whilst moving.

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Campagnolo are widely regarded with creating the first 'modern' derailleur that uses a tensioned parallelogram design

If you are looking for the first derailleur that most resembles what we use today, that title rests with Campagnolo. In 1949 the company released the Gran Sport derailleur which had all the hallmarks of what we would identify as a modern derailleur. It used jockey wheels to guide the chain across the sprockets and used a parallelogram design to tension the shifts.

From here the rear derailleur has seen steady and incremental progress from operating two-speed systems with downtube-mounted shifters all the way to today's modern 12-speed electronically actuated systems.

Power meters

Power meters changed the face of training and racing, presenting riders with an objective system to measure their performance. Power meters also brought with them a new school of sports science. Unlike other training metrics such as heart rate or perceived exertion, power is not affected by external variables – one watt is always the same and requires the same output to achieve.

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Power meters have changed the landscape of performance cycling making every session comparable regardless of other variables

The first power meter designed for a bicycle came in 1987 when Ulrich Schoberer patented his design of what would become the SRM power meter. This measured power at the spider between the cranks and the chainrings using strain gauges to measure the force applied and the cadence of the cranks.

• Read more: Can you trust your power meter?

It is a bone of contention whether power meters have been a good thing or a bad thing for professional cycling. The ability to train with power and then pace your efforts accordingly during a race has made for far more calculated racing, and this allows riders to get the most out of themselves without blowing up. On the other hand, it has removed a lot of the animation that is commonly associated with racing pre-power meters.

Lycra

Lycra cycling clothing allows for great thermal regulation along with a close-fitting cut that is ideal for aerodynamics. Before lycra, cyclists had to make do with woollen kits that struggled to meet the demands of cyclists. Wool jerseys were terrible at dealing with sweat and often became sodden and heavy from absorbing sweat rather than wicking it away.

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Before the invention of lycra cycling kit was typically made out of wool

Much like other technologies on this list, the cycling world was slow to warm to the possibilities of lycra. The material was invented in 1958, however it wasn’t until the late 1970s that American clothing brand Jostens first used the material to create cycling shorts. Once the benefits of the material were seen, it then quickly gained traction, soon becoming the go-to material for the discerning cyclist.

In a similar vein, the use of lycra also brought on the use of more hygienic synthetic materials for use in chamois pads. As the name might suggest, the pad within cycling shorts was originally made of chamois leather. With the dawn of new antimicrobial fabrics, lycra shorts also increased the hygiene and comfort of cycling clothing.

Strava

In the digital age, there is one thing that has changed how recreational cyclists interact with their riding more than anything else. Strava launched in 2009 as a cycling platform for riders to upload and share their rides with other users. Part of the appeal was the inclusion of segments that users could create that would then rank riders on their time to complete it. Riders that sit at the top of the leader board are awarded the prestigious title of KoM (King of the Mountain) or QoM (Queen of the Mountain) giving every ride a competitive edge to those looking for it.

© Strava

Strava allows athletes to share their activities as well as compete for segments and create routes

Strava packs in tons of other features including route planning and training metrics as well as heat maps that show where other users have recorded activities with high-traffic areas shown as more colourful.

Strava truly has transformed how riders record and share their rides. The platform provides a level of accountability that can be good for motivation. As with a lot of digital content, it can also harbour an obsessive side so it is always worthwhile checking if your relationship with training is healthy.

Helmets

Even though they didn’t become mandatory in racing until 2003, helmets have been around in various guises for decades. The first variation of what we would now consider a cycling helmet came in 1975 as a result of emerging polystyrene technology from the manufacture of motorcycle helmets.

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Early helmets exploited the newly created polystyrene material to offer protection to a riders head

Since their inception, bicycle helmets have evolved into the highly technical items of today. Through continued research helmets pack more and more technology into them combining safety, comfort, aerodynamics and cooling.

• Read more: What is the right helmet for me: Aero or vented?

Although there are plenty of studies that say wearing helmets is not always the most effective route to cycle safety, what is clear is that in the unfortunate event of a crash, the use of a helmet can be a lifesaver. Technologies such as MIPS and Bontrager’s Wavecel aim to reduce the likelihood of concussion in the event of an impact on the head.

E-bikes

Love them or loathe them, e-bikes have changed the world of cycling in the last decade. In a relatively short space of time, they have quickly become the fastest-growing corner of the bike industry.

The exact origins of the e-bike are hard to pin down but it is clear that they weren't always the success story that we know today. Panasonic first launched a pedal-assist e-bike to the Japanese market in 1980 where it was incredibly popular, but it didn't catch on elsewhere in the world. Since then, battery technology has improved, and the range and power of modern e-bikes have increased beyond comparison.

E-bikes offer many things to many people and there is certainly no one-size-fits-all reason that people are jumping to swing their leg over one. Generally speaking, though, the best thing about these bikes is that they take the hard part out of cycling, allowing riders to enjoy the sport without breaking a sweat. Taking the load off the rider means cycling is more fun and more accessible. It means people can ride further and keep going for longer.

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e-bikes have taken the world of cycling by storm growing in popularity year on year

In the case of commuter and cargo bikes they also allow riders to carry heavier loads than they would be able to on their own. The rise of the e-bike has greatly contributed to the green revolution of cycling with individuals and companies alike using e-bikes as a tool to navigate congested cities.

Smart indoor training

If you have been riding for more than 10 years or so it is likely you remember indoor training before interactive smart trainers were a thing. Back then, indoor training was by far a more mentally taxing exercise than it was physical. Indoor trainers were noisy and uninspiring, making anything more than an hour's ride a real test of mental fortitude, and traditional indoor trainers were only ever used when the weather was too bad to justify a ride outside.

Zwift was the first brand to bring smart indoor training to the masses when it launched its first beta version of its software in September 2014. Since then, Zwift has grown and incorporated more features and virtual worlds to ride in. Alongside them, a whole host of other brands have emerged offering similar solutions.

As a result, indoor training is now totally different from it used to be. Not only have the indoor trainers themselves become more realistic, but online clubs have made indoor riding one of the most sociable ways of riding a bike.

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Smart indoor training has made the task of riding inside not only tolerable but even fun

Smart indoor training has also introduced a whole new competitive discipline: virtual racing. This falls into the booming category of e-sports and allows riders from all over the world to compete with one another. This has opened up the world of competitive cycling to more people than ever before. With no need to travel to races and pay race entry fees, virtual racing has made competitive cycling more accessible and affordable.

• Read more: Getting started with Zwift indoor training

What do you make of our list, do you agree with the top 10 or would you add something else? Make sure to let us know in the comments section below.