Alex: 2020 has been a weird year, but one of the things that has kept us going has been
bikes and bike-tech, so without further ado, here's our best tech from 2020.
First on the list is Campagnolo's Ekar groupset, and at the start of the year,
the Italian group set manufacturer had a big hole in their line-up because they didn't have
a groupset specifically for gravel riding. Olly: But that all changed in September, and
this wasn't a tokenistic attempt to jump on the gravel riding marketing bandwagon, oh no, as this
was a groupset that was designed entirely from the ground up, specifically for mixed-surface riding.
Alex: They were able to develop a nine-tooth smaller sprocket even smaller than what SRAM
had developed, and this enables them to use even smaller chain rings and still have that incredibly
wide range of gears, with super-easy gears for when you're riding slow, but still remain a
nice big gear for when you're riding on the road. Olly: Campagnolo also claims that Ekar is
the lightest gravel groupset on the market, so it's certainly given the competition something
to think about. We think it's brilliant, what do you think about it? Let us know in the comments.
Alex: Next up, Canyon released their new updated Aeroad this year,
and what a bike it is. Borderline a hyper-bike. Something that has impressed me
is the new Canyon Aeroad integrated cockpit,
and that's pretty impressive, that piece of tech. Olly: For me, the new Aeroad cockpit is such
a cool and innovative piece of tech. It's totally integrated, and you can imagine, very aerodynamic,
but very user-friendly and offers a great amount of adjustments. You've got that modern quill
stem design, and then this three-piece component structure where you can actually adjust the width
of the bars. I think that's such a great idea- Alex: Very good.
Olly: -for ergonomics in that you can get the right fit that you want, but it's also
very practical for traveling with. Say you've got a incredibly integrated bike that you can
actually take apart much more easily and fit into a bike box then some of these other really aero
bikes. That has been an issue for them. Alex: It's pretty impressive to see a
brand invest in that much research and development into a really aero and race-oriented product but
still retains usability for everybody. Olly: Next on our list, one of the hottest
bikes that has been launched this year and in my mind in a long time. The Specialized Aethos.
Seriously light, sub 700 grams for a frame. It's not had aero go anywhere near it but the
builds are coming in. Six point two kilograms in a size 56, I've even seen sub six kilograms builds,
there're stock builds coming out for this bike. Alex: Yes, it is impressive, and well, the reason
it made it onto our list is because it's actually quite a simple bike. It's got a threaded bottom
bracket, it's got external gear and brake cables, as well as an external seat column. We haven't
seen that for quite a while, have we? Olly: Yes.
Alex: So it's a bike not designed specifically for racing or going as fast as possible, it's just
designed for people that enjoy riding their bike. Olly: And that's why it's in our list because
this is a significant step, we feel for the bike industry. In that in the past,
the demands of the pros have led what we can buy. But this is the bike industry making a bike that
is not for the pros. It's not for racing, it's not designed for the Tour de France, it's designed
primarily for consumers who just want a really light, well-made, functional bike.
Alex: Consumers that want the best. Olly: Yes.
Next on our list, Wam and Ram. "But what's Wam and Ram?" I hear you ask. Alex?
Alex: Well, it's width as measured and then radius as measured. It's sort of
standard of 3T have invested into, and it's to do with tires basically, and the width of them
depending on what type of wheels you're using. Olly: So people often wonder what size tires
they should get, and if they're buying a new set of tires they wonder, "Are these tires
going to fit in my bike?" This is aiming to solve that, so you never have the guess work.
Alex: Yes, that's it. They've taken a standard set of tires, if they're a 26 or a 28,
and tried them on a selection of different size rims so that you know exactly what
that tire measures on that given wheel. Olly: Yes. As we know, that some tires,
some pesky brands out there, they come up wider than stated.
Alex: Yes, so this just removes that guess work and whilst it's not an industry-standard right
now, it will be pretty helpful if it was adopted. Olly: Next, E-Bikes. 2020 has been a massive year
for E-Bikes. It wasn't long ago that E-Bikes were just rubbish. They were really heavy, unreliable,
clunky, shopping bikes that were expensive and had really pathetic weak motors, didn't really offer
anything. But that in the last year has really changed. We've now got these incredible sleep
machines they're lighter, they're faster, they're more reliable, they're less expensive. They're
just opening up cycling to a much wider audience and also offering them different types of riding.
Alex: Yes, that's right we've often seen people invested into e-bikes and e-cargo bikes instead
of owning a car and using it as their mode of transport. Meaning that people are getting
greater access-- it's better for the environment they're reducing their carbon footprint and well
it's just great to see people riding bikes more. Olly: E-bikes do have their critics though. I
know even as we're talking right now, they'll be keyboard warriors furiously typing away at their
keyboard, "E-bikes are cheating, e-bikes just get a motorbike, get a real bike." It's like oh,
no you're wrong. E-bikes are blooming brilliant and anyone that's ridden one
will be able to tell you that they're fun. Go and ride one if you've not ridden one. Even for fit
cyclists, there are applications where an e-bike is better, it's a better solution.
Alex: Yes, I think it's still riding, you're still trying just as hard you just
go a little bit faster and go a little bit further than you would otherwise.
Olly: They're good for the environment. [music]
Alex: We think the best bit of tech from 2020 is the bike that you already owned
and it doesn't matter if it's a beaten-up hand-me-down tucked at the back of your
garage or if it's your pride and joy then you ride every day. That bike's just great.
Olly: It is. It's very poignant but-- I mean one of the perhaps silver linings to the massive COVID
shaped cloud that's been hanging over us this year is that thousands and thousands of people have
discovered or rediscovered the joys and benefits of cycling through being in various lockdowns and
being more focused on their health and well-being. Alex: You don't have to have the latest and
greatest tech. The stuff that you've got at home is just it's perfect because well
it's all about the joy of riding, isn't it? Olly: Yes, you must never forget the reasons
why we started cycling in the first place. That sense of freedom and that sense of just pure joy
of riding a bike and exploration and putting a smile on your face, and yes you don't need
the latest and greatest. We've had thousands and thousands of messages on various forms of social
media of people telling us how they've been doing exactly that this year. Yes, thanks everyone-
Alex: Keep them coming as well. Olly: -that's sent that,
it's great to see. It doesn't matter what you ride, just get out and ride.
That was our list of the best tech from 2020, but let us know your thoughts on it. Let us
know what your favorite piece of tech has been and anything that we've missed and if
you enjoyed this video, give us a thumbs up. Alex: I suppose well, a bit of tech we have
missed out that is probably pretty great this year is actually the COVID vaccine.
It's been pretty handy isn't it [00:07:47] [END OF AUDIO]