Bicycle traits 2026: More mild, extra magnificence | EUROtoday

As of: February 26, 2026 • 4:27 a.m

Spring will come, however the bicycle commerce will likely be sluggish. Manufacturers try to stimulate enterprise with equipment that rely closely on look. An innovation is bicycle indicators, which have solely just lately been permitted.

The temperatures are slowly rising in Germany, and the bicycle commerce may very well be getting enthusiastic about spring enterprise. In truth, commerce is sluggish: many individuals already personal a superb bike, particularly e-bikes. The want for brand spanking new wheels is due to this fact low.

When requested, the two-wheeler trade affiliation ZIV reported that fewer had been bought final 12 months than within the very dangerous 12 months earlier than. Manufacturers are due to this fact additionally attempting to extend demand with new expertise and higher design.

In Frankfurt, the trade marketing consultant “Bicycle Press Service” introduced new equipment that focus extra on optics. It was once mentioned: “Do you want function or do you want pretty?” mentioned Press Service Managing Director Gunnar Fehlau. Today “visually attractive functions” are being bought.

More mild

One producer affords indicators for 125 euros which are positioned on the skin of the handlebars. They are straightforward to make use of and visual from afar. Turn indicators on bicycles had been banned till 2024. “Everyone had indicators, only we stuck out our hands. It’s a big safety gain if you’re one of those flashing,” says Fehlau.

Headlights for bicycles now have switchable excessive beams. Thanks to LED expertise and fashionable batteries, new bicycle lights have little in widespread with the outdated lights on the dynamo. Bicycle luggage at the moment are engaging, straightforward to placed on and take off and simple to hold.

Nice expertise

“In the past, technology was built around a bicycle,” Fehlau mentioned. “And that’s what it looked like. Today you build the bike around the drive.” More and extra e-bikes provide a mid-engine and gearbox in a single housing. The power is transferred to the rear wheel through a toothed belt.

This expertise requires much less upkeep than standard techniques by which a sequence controls a rear gearbox. The effectivity of gearboxes instantly on the motor is decrease, however: “If there are a lot of watts in the motor, it doesn’t matter,” says Fehlau.

Entry-level fashions of traditional e-bikes with an honest battery and five-speed gearbox can be found from 3,000 euros. For older folks there are bikes with the traditional coaster brake.

For frail folks and folks with bodily disabilities, engaging, individually tailor-made tricycles are provided. A contemporary tricycle of the “Gretel” kind prices from 7,400 euros. Such bikes are utterly completely different than these of earlier years, mentioned Fehlau: “The things looked like health insurance and rode like that too.”

There are a lot of equipment for gravel bikes

The trade has been counting on so-called gravel bikes for a very long time. They are appropriate for paths which are too boring for mountain bikes and too dangerous for racing bikes – i.e. for classy leisure biking away from highway site visitors, corresponding to on discipline paths.

Such bikes are provided with little gear. Customers can buy luggage, lamps, mudguards and rather more. The vary is vast. One producer not solely affords bicycle saddles for various routes and kinds of bikes, however even completely different saddles for men and women.

https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/verbraucher/fahrrad-trends-fruehjahr-100.html