2025 Cycling Trends

[@markroberts6971]

Russ, your channel by far has the pulse on the ALT biking world when it comes to education, older traditional and new release components, for encouraging riders such as myself to embrace the technology of decades past + the improved boutique components that don’t start with the capital S. Please keep doing what you are doing, and expanding your relationships with talents like Nolan, and as a product design influencer with like-minded companies like Merry Sales, SOMA, and others. I appreciate what you are doing. Grand Fundo!

[@christophersmith7703]

I think used bikes with updated components will become more popular among alt cyclists. Steel frames will be more sought after vs. people switching to aluminum.

[@slantedorbit]

The popularity of ‘90s steel 26er restomods supports your thoughts. I built one up for my son and it rips like nothing else.

[@stevekelly6544]

Microshift is becoming a real force in alternative cycling- God bless ‘em!

[@woduk]

I’m looking at them for a setup for a bike that I’m restoring, need something that’s works and is inexpensive

[@rockkin09]

@@woduk I've moved 2 bikes over to Sword 1x and it just works, and for the price I am really impressed.

[@pratikpramanik7782]

*astronaut meme* always has been

[@trunghoadang3710]

My cheapo road bike has a Microshift front derailleur (communist China) hooked up with an L-TWOO brifter (Taiwan). Works very well I'm ngl.

[@markymarknj]

I have a Microshift drivetrain on my new Marin Kentfield 2 hybrid. I like it so far.

[@tomanderson9497]

The sad thing for our future generations is I just came back from the beach for Christmas and nine out of 10 kids were riding E bike/ scooters that they didn’t even pedal….

[@daniellarson3068]

When I bought my hybrid bike in 1991, I never realized I was ahead of my time. Here I've been doing "alt cycling" all these years and never knew it was a thing. I was just taking bike rides.

[@DanceCommander]

I feel you. Here in germany, going on bike rides with friends and family on the weekends is an essential leisure activity that millions of people engage in.

[@m.talley1660]

This speaks the truth. I've worked in shops for decades. Practical bikes were always made during the rise of racing and mt. bike dominance. The hybrid is an example. Manufacturers in trying to either respond-to or to create trends messed with even that humble category. It drifted from too athletic to overly clunky comfort ladened designs. Even though I know why, I still ask out loud sometimes "why does a Surly cosy so much?". Being so closely related to a hybrid but double the cost means wondering, do all the braze-ons really cost that much?

[@cozmicmike6800]

I still love my two by, with added granny gear 😊. OK it's a triple 😂, but it does all I need, if it ain't broke why fix it ? 🤔

[@XanderSoriano]

3by is the best buy!

[@christopherharmon9336]

Every time I go exploring on my 12+ year old Haro, with a 44-32-22 9-speed triple coupled to an 11-34 cassette, I wonder why triples have died. I love the small steps between the front chainrings, and the total range is hard to beat.

[@lawrenceokane1678]

Absolutely, the triple is the “peak” of “mechanical” group sets. I bought a complete 3x9 Shimano Sora group set last year while they were still available so that I have spares.

[@VYBEKAT]

I bought the last 3x XT touring cranks and MTB cranks i could find. Triple is perfection. Middle gear for most terrain, low for steep and high for stomping. I never lack the gear i need

[@robbchastain3036]

I recycle every aluminum can I use, with hopes that they'll become a new aluminum frame for someone out there. And thanks, Russ, for this look at bike trends and I'm resolving in the new year to be in with the alt crowd. Kidding, already there. Speedsters are just alt riders who switch between a race pace and a party pace. And I saw that in the '70s with German friends in Frankfurt and their winter bikes with fenders for an alternate vibe. 😀

[@philipbyrne3037]

Thanks Russ! An interesting topic that you have explored in other podcasts is e-bikes and their relationship to alt cycling. It is one space that has seen growth since the pandemic.

[@CentristRN]

Never knew about the Nor’ Easter. What a fun idea. Thanks We have C.O.G.S. here in Seattle. A great group who just enjoy going on rides.

[@TrezTacos5280]

Don't know what others are doing but an early 90s 700c hybrid will be my build.. mixing old with new

[@BrentZahradnik]

Nice Brother's shoutout. I love my first gen Mehteh and have bought a few more things from them since. Great company.

[@jeffdible8171]

Can't wait to see what you do in Spain.

[@HenryKissingersGhost]

Got my vote for bike rides in Spain.

[@fleurdelispens]

I bought an Ltwoo groupset for my current bike, and I love it. Incredible mechanicla shifting; the ability to shift 3 gears up the cassette and 4 gears down is a game changer

[@ScottCopeland-yh9lm]

I’m considering my next build using the new Velo Orange aluminum frame when it’s released. 🧡

[@woduk]

I’m restoring an old gt hardtail bike and definitely looking at Microshift gears for it, something good quality and inexpensive

[@acebikemedia]

I think aluminum is here to stay again in MTB. So many broken frames and parts. People are tired of it. Gravel seems to be ever evolving in the weirdest little ways. But I'd like to see more microshift. They have been killing it. Now they need a dialed 11 speed set up. Good stuff 👍🏻

[@clintoncooper3427]

Today was the day I finally accepted "alt-cycling" as a term. I know it has always been a thing, but I never felt like it deserved a name.

[@deepspoke2201]

I took a spin on our local bike paths late Christmas morning expecting to see all the kiddies out on their new rides but was dismayed to see not a single one on my 15 mile loop; so sad. It leads me to believe 2025 may not be a recovery year for the industry.

[@peglor]

Sadly this is a lot more to do with children no longer getting or even wanting bikes for Christmas than the bike industry having issues - most Christmas bikes are bought from toy shops and big box stores rather than bike shops, so they're very much decoupled from what most people would call the bike industry, who make bikes that can actually survive being used every day rather than shed ornaments (mostly anyway). The car industry have also worked long and hard to convince the general public that children getting around without using a car is too dangerous, and given the kind of infrastructure they've played a huge part in encouraging, particularly in the US, they're not wrong.

[@tomanderson9497]

The sad thing for our future generations is I just came back from the beach for Christmas and nine out of 10 kids were riding E bike scooters that they didn’t even pedal….

[@nicholaslafferty3928]

Hadn't considered a name for what I do. Alt seems to fit but I like all-terrain all-weather touring. Been a solo rider and almost purposefully since starting to ride beyond just trying to get to places like work or the store. My issue with many types is the competitiveness-with trying for online clout with strava times, to Instagram lookalikes, to flaunting money by buying performance, to the cliquish petite bourgeoisie titan realm weekend warrior two-wide in the lane pack riders. I'm over the feelings about it all and just keep to myself. The day I go to a race is if the price of parts on bikes is registered and below $700 because I want fun and adventure, without the distortions of misplaced ambitions and compensated inferiorities.

[@markhorton1782]

If you ever wondered if you were a dork, watching this video makes it official.❤️

[@MajorImpact]

Someone please educate me.... at 0:46 he mentions the Madrone RD allegedly being 2x friendly. I'm slowly getting up to speed with 2020+ components.... what limits a rear derailleur to only being 1x ???

[@Boss-dr2zk]

Low chain wrap capacity. A standard 2x gravel drivetrain like the microshift Sword needs the derailleur to be able to handle a difference of 45 teeth between gears (big-big 46/38 and small-small 29/38). A 1x doesn't even need 40, (48-11=37)

[@MajorImpact]

@Boss-dr2zk Thanks

[@SteveFullerBikes]

@Boss-dr2zk - Also, many 1x only derailleurs have a clutch to put some extra tension on the chain.

[@Βόρειο_Σέλας]

Thank you for sharing this great information on traditional alternative cycling. I am a veteran cyclist and I still have my cromoly Giant super sierra XT I bought in 1989. I transitioned to several other bikes Aluminium but recently I bought myself a Kona Dr Dew cromoly 1x12. I can't say I like the 1x12 as compared to my 3x7. The 12 speed chain doesnt last long (I get 4-5000km) where as the 3x7 I cannot remember because it takes so long I forget. So, now I am in the process of converting this to 2x or 3x whichever gives me more durability.

[@SteveFullerBikes]

Regarding the resurgence in aluminum frames, Salsa has been shipping their Journeyman/Journeyer since 2019 and the Stormchaser since 2020. Not exactly an "alt" manufacturer, but definitely not one of the big 3. Both are solid options.

[@crunchysteve]

I've also been riding a fluid formeduminium fram for over 8 years. Rides over the rough as well as the 90s Shogun Metro SE steel frame rebuild I had to leave behind in Vietnam in 2014. It's a dirty old Reid Urban X2 in drop bar kit, cost me $800 Aussie abd it rides like a Jamis at 3x the price. Mind you, literally the only stock parts are the frameset and rear wheel, but I love to tinker and it was a sweet ride that got me aling most of the Great Ocean Road in near stock state in 2018 (had drops and R9 brifters abd 35mm tyres by then, but all else was original. The geometry and sizing is as good as I've ever had from an off the shop floo bike.

[@DavidHill-mc6dq]

Thanks Russ!

[@johnpot7323]

Hi Russ, I see you get a mention from " I Know A Guy Bicycle" first in the list i people to watch over xmas season. Like your previous post

[@garypatrick3001]

Is that a Bad Granny in the back ground? Did I miss an episode where you talked about that frameset?

[@jef2547]

My only problem with the sword/advent X derailleur is I wish they pulled Les cable to move. Not an issue if you use their brifters. I would like to see a sword/advent X bar end shifter (indexed)

[@123moof]

My mind is swimming with the $2000 aluminum framesets that everyone is "suddenly" all talking about, while I'm still grabbing pretty darn decent $500-1000 Chinese carbon frames. Of my stables of 10 bikes I've got 2 aluminum frames, 4 steel, and 3 carbon. The aluminum ones were all purchased despite being aluminum, not because of it. The only frame I have have killed was aluminum.

[@davidpalk5010]

The industry will be inventing lots of new stuff to make bikes more tech-laden and costly, hopefully so that all of us MUST buy a new bike. Wider tyres always make old frames obsolete, so we can expect even wider tyres on road-race bikes. It's a total fix, but not everyone has the time, knowledge and skill to upcycle the old and good stuff and keep it going. The industry is digging its own grave.

[@Rino-bicycle]

I hope to see your review of the Boreal bicycle. I wish you a good 2025 year. I sold a bicycle last year with my Modolo Dumbo classic, I thought I could buy them again, but they are discontinued, sad as I like them, I tried to find some left over, but the only one in Africa was far too expensive for shipping to Canada, they were fully adjustable, and I could install a Microshift Thumb shifter inside the top tube. Maybe one day another shop will pick up the desing.

[@Rino-bicycle]

Modolo Dumbo classic are bicycle handlebars

[@peterbedford2610]

Shimano Cue still looks like a great value

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

Cues*

[@dcv9460]

AWESOME Alternative Cycling Predictions for 2025! 😎💯👍

[@VYBEKAT]

3X is the new 2X change my mind😂 ❤I love my triple cranks! ❤

[@andrewking1122]

I guess I have always owned “alt” style bikes. A Raleigh sport three speed as teenager and now a Raleigh hybrid. I am sixty now and it is interesting to watch how trends come and go.

[@tomconway6808]

I've been doing a lot of research around recumbent tadpole trikes. We need some younger people getting into that to get rid of the old fogie stigma. They seem pretty neat and like a very comfortable way to ride long distances. I feel like the segment could definitely use some innovation too when it comes to folding. In a similar vein...I'm hoping we'll see more "everyman" bike geometries (AKA short reach and tall stack).

[@martinwakawaka5265]

A nice Bad Granny from sourcycle in the background.

[@crunchysteve]

"Bike racing industrial complex" is the perfect description! It's a colonial force! It sells tribalism over human experience and sharing a great ride with like minded riders!

[@fredvanvactor6110]

I like the trend of people riding bikes in general, being less car dependent for daily travel, commuting, etc.

[@hoboesque_]

New riv components in 2025 is definitely interesting .

[@jrother]

Long live square taper

[@peterbedford2610]

Great and simple standard for many decades. Marketing be damned

[@VYBEKAT]

As a mechanic i dislike square taper for various reasons. Much easier to clean and service if you just need to knock the crank out with a mallet and Allen key

[@stevekelly6544]

I’ve been telling all my friends to buy a bike now if they’re thinking about a new one in future, because the policies that are currently said be enacted in the next administration will absolutely raise prices. Real bummer, it’s the last thing consumers or the industry needs….

[@arkoutarkout3654]

What's the bike in the back ground

[@69696969696969D]

Looks like a Kona Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa?

[@thecatsonholiday5932]

I call "ltwoo", "luitenent woo"

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

lieutenant*

[@MMcG25]

Was anyone a little distracted by the frame-set/rolling chassis in the background? What is that thing? Looks cool.

[@firstlast-v8t]

Russ, -framebags are better than water bottle cages. (Russ, I like 10oz canvas treated with linseed. You paint so you know about drying oils.. So if ya sew a bag with canvas and brush on linseed and let it dry for two weeks (another 2-3 weeks to cure fully) it polyimerizes and becomes like a leather sort of.) -more rim brake push back. they are lighter, easier to maintain, and more elegant. -titanium frames evermore popular, but yeah aluminum is great for most bike purchases more than carbon. China will quietly kill it in the ti frame dept again with its OEM/close to OEM sales. -30mm and 28mm axles 100% -enough of the genre labels and more categorization of geometry so as to leave the cyclist to interpret what 'gravel' means or what a frame is best for.

[@markscott130]

Hi did I hear you say you have podcast?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

kzbin.info/aero/PLlwgJTJiCVEY7ZZItl1ZoTqInjZ7_KWFs&si=OBUbU1gX6qJjd-ko

[@gabrielleavitt1838]

Ltwoo R9, 11 speed hydraulic road groupset is very good.

[@TheRickurb]

So 3-by will be the new 2-by?

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

Aluminium was never gone. 90 percent of bike frames are made of it. And it always has made sense to buy a bike with aluminium frame and top-tier components instead of a carbon frame with mid-tier parts.

[@shivx90]

Please let us know, what a bike is in the background!!

[@jacobatherton8339]

Two top tubes is better than none

[@Raymond-Farts]

I'm probably going to get snubbed by everyone in the group I've ridden with the last four or five years. It's a TREK Store sponsored group ride, TREK actually pay a guy to lead the group every week. But anyway back to what I was going to say, I will soon have my custom steel bike that I had made for me here in the US because it's almost done. 10 speed mechanical group and rim brakes with 25mm tires. All components are silver aluminum too. I contracted this frame builder in February 2024, talk about a long waiting time, but this just goes to show how busy he is and how much in demand his bike are. I have a modern titanium bike with DA electronic and hydraulic disc brakes but I am so sick of charging and brake noises. I've quit the tubeless crap a long time ago already, there's nothing easier than just changing a tube when you get a flat tire. I happy to see people and read the comments from those that are doing the shift back to things that are actually good.

[@gravelpack8536]

I just built my new bike up with microshift

[@crunchysteve]

The move away from square taper and other standards by big manufacturers is to lock people into complete groups and specialist tool ecosystems. It's completely the antithesis of any cycling motivation, be it sport, commute or alt. But sport cycling suffers from the brand tribalism of this, the most. The standardisation of bicycle components in the 20th century was to isolate the machine from the athlete riding it, it was true sportsmanship, the literal level playing field, especially when the road wasn't level. The benefits to athletes are passed on to the rest of us because standard parts are hard for manufacturers to inflate prices on and are easier to find knowledge and learning about. Everybody can replace a square taper crankset with basic tools and a bit of reading, even if they're not hugely mechanically minded. Mixing and matching Shimano, SRAM and other brands used to be mostly possible to get a system that performed better than a stock full group, even better than the sum of the parts. Now it's nearly impossible. My cargo bike and tourer commuter share a common, mullet 1x9 speed hack thanks to a decade old microshift R9 derailleur model that makes the 650x45B in the backfiets style cargo swappable with the 700x35c in the tourer/commuter. Both these bikes change swiftly and cleanly under load. I honestly have no idea how I'll ever replace these rigs with what's available on the completely destandardised market we have a decade later. Short of buying a ton of machine shop tools I can't afford and learning how to make my own. (On an aside, I did try 3D printing a carbon fibre PETG cassette but the support material left so much protrusion on the teeth, the cleanup was painful and the part failed afte a few weeks because the CF lowered the layer adheasion.) that said, there are now web sercise that make it possible to custom 3D print our old favourite groupsets if we have the design skills and deep pockets... So, as that service gets cheaper, square taper and other standards will always be available. Just not as cheap as mass produced nonstandard stuff.

[@-MacCat-]

Microshift, a glimmer of light at the end of a really dark tunnel.

[@davorinrusevljan6440]

What is wrong with old reliable 104/64 BCD, cheap available and works

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Who said anything is wrong with it?

[@stiniusdahl9789]

I run Box Components box one shifter and derailleur with a connex chain and e-thirteen x-46 cassette. Tenet pedals, Rev grips stem and grips. Long live the different companies!!!

[@TurboWolf5000]

Any aftermarket company's making a T-type rear derailleur out there?

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

Any companies*

[@TurboWolf5000]

Besides Sram ?

[@markholm7050]

Hey! I wash!

[@Michael-s5i5j]

Ltwoo mechanical is reliable and inexpensive

[@bartjanssen3199]

AltAlu❤

[@BikeNorthSeattle]

Here I was expecting SRAM and Shimano to merge into SRAMano, and make all their components electronic and proprietary. After that similar to Taco Bell from the film Demolition Man; Soon all components will be SRAMano.

that's why I don't buy their products

[@BikeNorthSeattle]

I, for one, welcome our new bicycle component overlords. 😅

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

What else than (wonderful, but rare and expensive) Campagnolo components are left if you do not want to buy parts from these two?

[@mitmon_8538]

@ 7:27 "untrained and unwashed masses," Hey, I'm not...oh wait, yeah I am. XD

[@wagonmoundno.2396]

I have both a "conventional" giant tcr race bike and surly "alt bike' and the idea of a cultural cleavage between the two is nonsense. They both serve different purposes but that does not make one "alt" over the other. The men at the top of the cycling industry dont give a damn about whether you consider yourself an "alt" or a regular cyclist as long as you keep swiping your credit card. If anything, Surly peddles themselves way more on the back of a cultural/lifestyle image than Giant who will make just about any kind of bike for every purpose. Alt cycling brands are no different from the mainstream, they simply adjust their marketing and product design to catch people who are told that they are alienated from the conventional bike market. Surly states on their website "this is not some exclusive club you are welcome to join as long as you are comfortable in your own skin". As if other bike brands discriminate on who can or should ride their bikes. As if Surly is somehow unique and not just another for-profit interested in selling as many bikes as possible. I like Surly as a well designed product, but lets not kid ourselves over culture war nonsense.

[@hoboesque_]

This year I may buy a titanium or aluminium frame . I haven’t owned an aluminium bike since the 90s

[@maritimerigsofficial8233]

Haha wtf is alt cycling

[@exothermal.sprocket]

If the worst economy ever experienced in the west would ever turn around, here's to hoping internal gearboxes cost comes down and weight comes down.

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

It will never be as cheap or lightweight as derailleurs. The technology just involves too many machined parts and requires dedicated frames.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

While weight may be higher in general, putting the weight at the bottom bracket instead of at the rear wheel isn't a bad thing. Also, economies of scale could reduce cost. Long term bicycle ownership, the cost is basically a wash already.

[@hoboesque_]

Bike riding industrial complex 👎😆