{"id":392118,"date":"2026-01-05T01:00:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T01:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/392118\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T01:00:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T01:00:16","slug":"the-rise-of-1x-a-shift-change-in-geometry-and-the-hookless-debate-rages-on-bikeradars-2026-road-tech-predictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/392118\/","title":{"rendered":"The rise of 1x, a shift-change in geometry and the hookless debate rages on \u2013 BikeRadar\u2019s 2026 road tech predictions"},"content":{"rendered":"

With brands now fully settled into the UCI\u2019s last big regulation changes, alongside the ever-present trend towards wider tyres and aero trumping lightweight, 2025 has seen small but significant developments when it comes to road tech.<\/p>\n

But what do we think will make headlines in 2026?<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve checked our star charts to see what tech fortune might lie ahead.<\/p>\n

Ashley Quinlan: aero bikes will make a comeback
\n\"TadejThe aero bike is king in the pro peloton right now, and that’s set to continue. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

2026 will see aero bikes make a storming return to fashion.<\/p>\n

In recent years, the all-rounder race bike has been the cocktail of choice for most brands, effectively following the lead set down by Specialized\u2019s Tarmac<\/a>. Bikes such as the Pinarello Dogma F, Cannondale SuperSix<\/a>, ENVE Melee<\/a>, Wilier Filante SLR and Trek Madone SLR<\/a> (to name a few) prove the point, with very few WorldTour teams<\/a> leaning on their dedicated aero bikes.<\/p>\n

2025 saw this change somewhat \u2013 Cerv\u00e9lo updated its S5 aero bike<\/a>, while Tadej Poga\u010dar made mincemeat of his rivals on board the Colnago Y1Rs<\/a>, leaving the even more recently updated V5Rs<\/a> in the shade. <\/p>\n

Factor has also recently lifted the lid on the One<\/a>, the striking aero bike that made its racing debut in 2025.<\/p>\n

\"FactorProgressive designs, as seen on the Factor One, may become more prevalent. Factor<\/p>\n

These examples don\u2019t guarantee a wholesale return of the dedicated aero bike, but I wager that \u2013 now brands have had time to understand the latest UCI regulations and extract meaningful performance improvements for racers \u2013 we\u2019ll see more of these bikes launch in 2026.<\/p>\n

In turn, this might mean we\u2019ll see these aero race bikes marketed towards racers (and racers alone), rather than to those who would usually be better off with an endurance bike<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Might we then see all-rounder race bikes slacken off a little, too, to help them suit non-racers better? We\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n

Warren Rossiter: 1x on the road will be taken seriously
\n\"CannondaleThe new Synapse Lab71 is everything a modern endurance bike should be\u2026 with 1x. Scott Windsor \/ Ourmedia<\/p>\n

Now we have 1x drivetrains<\/a> that really work on the road, bikes will follow.<\/p>\n

Single chainrings on the road have until now been the preserve of a few small devotee brands. 3T started the ball rolling and Britain\u2019s own Vielo has pushed ahead with promoting 1x. In 2025, Cannondale\u2019s Synapse Lab71<\/a> came with a 1x SRAM Red AXS<\/a> drivetrain, and it was sublime.<\/p>\n

The advantages, now we also have 1×12-speed Shimano options and 1×13-speed from SRAM and Campagnolo, are clear. Cassette choices have improved since 1x\u2019s early days, while chain lines are better and there\u2019s more room for bigger tyres. Even aerodynamics have improved, to a degree.<\/p>\n

\"\"Single chainrings come with multiple advantages. Liam Cahill \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

For endurance bikes, we\u2019ll see more 1x options to make the most of those benefits, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the resurgent aero road bikes being offered in 1x builds, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Plenty of pro riders have been toying with 1x for the Classics and Grand Tours. Now it’s our turn to reap the benefits of simpler drivetrains with ample gear range.<\/p>\n

Oscar Huckle: Shimano (and Campagnolo) need to up their groupset game
\n\"\"SRAM has arguably achieved dominance in the road groupset world. Sturdy Cycles<\/p>\n

2025 was a seismic year for groupset releases, with SRAM trickling down much of its top-end Red AXS technology to the Force<\/a> and Rival<\/a> levels, and Campagnolo launching its Super Record 13<\/a> ecosystem.<\/p>\n

But while Shimano launched multiple wireless electronic mountain and gravel bike groupsets, the brand’s road absence was notable.<\/p>\n

While Dura-Ace R9200<\/a>, Ultegra R8100<\/a> and 105 R7100<\/a> are all still considered choices, Shimano is lagging behind now it\u2019s the only member of the \u2018Big Three\u2019 to not have a fully wireless electronic road groupset \u2013 they\u2019re all semi-wireless.<\/p>\n

\"ShimanoShimano Dura-Ace is great, but it’s still only semi-wireless. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Historically, Shimano refreshes its groupsets every four years, and with Dura-Ace R9200 launching in August 2021, surely it must be next year after sitting out 2025.<\/p>\n

Beyond being wireless, as senior technical writer Simon von Bromley predicted<\/a>, I agree the new Dura-Ace is likely to be 13-speed (given Campagnolo has done this, and SRAM offers 13-speed for its 1x gravel drivetrains).<\/p>\n

But beyond that, it\u2019s anyone\u2019s guess how Shimano will advance its top-end line \u2013 for the sake of innovation, I hope it doesn\u2019t pull its punches against SRAM and Campagnolo.<\/p>\n

\"CampagnoloWe’ve tried Campagnolo Super Record 13 and are keen to see more from the brand in 2026. Francesco Rachello \/ Tornanti.cc<\/p>\n

Although Campagnolo has told BikeRadar it is working on new platforms aimed at \u201cintermediate\u201d price points, these platforms better come quick if the brand wants a healthy future, after reports of plans to cut up to 120 staff at its Vicenza HQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I hope we\u2019ll see a Chorus 13 launch sooner rather than later, and hopefully a tier below that as well, to entice new fans.<\/p>\n

As for SRAM, the obvious direction is for it to port its direct-mount rear derailleurs over to the road. But I don\u2019t think this will happen in 2026 \u2013 its flagship Red AXS line only launched in 2024, so I suspect it will be at least another year before that happens.<\/p>\n

Jack Luke: hookless rims will confuse consumers and risk a UCI ban
\n\"HooklessHookless rims are a hot topic of discussion. Felix Smith \/ Immediate Media<\/p>\n

The number of brands standing steadfastly behind hookless road rims<\/a> has dropped to an admittedly vocal and influential minority.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, the number of wheels now circulating in the new and used market, and the often alarming lack of consumer knowledge, means hookless is not a subject that\u2019s going to go away<\/a> any time soon.<\/p>\n

Provided they\u2019re used within spec, hookless rims don\u2019t appear to be less safe<\/a> than conventional hooked rims.<\/p>\n

\"ContinentalGetting your tyre choice right for the rim is critical. Continental<\/p>\n

However, we frequently see concerning comments from readers boasting about using tyre\/rim combos well outside of manufacturer recommendations.<\/p>\n

More worrying is the many riders who may have unwittingly bought bikes with hookless wheels, worn out their original tyres, then replaced them with tyres outside of wheel-manufacturer recommendations.<\/p>\n

While I sincerely hope it doesn\u2019t happen, it will only take one well-publicised incident to throw hookless rims back into the spotlight and cast further doubt over their (questionable) merits.<\/p>\n

\"UMMThe pros are broadly unconvinced, and while scenes like this aren’t always down to issues with hookless tech, it remains a possibility that hooked rims are safer overall. Tim de Waele\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Trouble could also come from the CPA riders’ union<\/a>, which has made clear it strongly disapproves of hookless wheels, with chief Adam Hansen claiming he receives a complaint \u201cat least every second week\u201d about crashes caused by hookless rims.<\/p>\n

The UCI has been curiously reserved in its reaction to hookless rims. But given its propensity to ban tech it perceives as unsafe (or just doesn\u2019t like the look of), a sweeping ban on hookless wheels in reaction to an incident wouldn\u2019t surprise me at all.<\/p>\n

The introduction of mini-hook rims complicates things further. Described by Hunt\u2019s Paddy Brown as a \u201cbranding piece\u201d, mini-hook rims<\/a> are effectively just regular hooked rims that fly very close to ISO\/ETRTO minimum dimensions for a hook.<\/p>\n

\"OquoContinued research and development by brands investing in hookless and mini-hook tech is crucial. Oquo<\/p>\n

The introduction of a third, confusing category \u2013 which isn\u2019t really a category \u2013 of wheels that consumers now need to be aware of is unhelpful. Actually, the whole thing is a mess, and it\u2019s not going to get any easier for the time being.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll add that I\u2019m not the authority on this subject \u2013 I am merely riding on the coattails of Simon von Bromley\u2019s excellent three-part series on the state of hookless, which is now the go-to reference for such matters.<\/p>\n

George Scott: road-bike fit and geometry will continue to evolve<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll start by referring back to one of the most interesting pieces<\/a> we published this year, when Ollie Smith posited the idea of a more upright bike fit <\/a>being faster.<\/p>\n

Until now, the common consensus \u2013 led by the go-fast-at-all-costs attitude of pros \u2013 has been that a super-low position, aided by a slammed stem, enables a rider to adopt a more aerodynamic position. If it\u2019s aero, it\u2019s fast by default.<\/p>\n

Slowly, however, that view is changing, including in the pro peloton. This year, we\u2019ve seen a growing number of riders fitting more spacers under their stems in a bid to raise the stack height. The goal? To help them sustain a more aerodynamic body position, with a flat back and the forearms horizonal \u2013 but, and this is the crucial bit, to do so in more comfort and, therefore, for longer.<\/p>\n

\"FactorThe Factor One is the most striking-looking bike of 2025 and may set trends. Factor<\/p>\n

Expect that trend to continue \u2013 and gain momentum in 2026 \u2013 and for bike brands to respond by adapting the geometry of their most aggressive bikes.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, we\u2019ve recently seen Factor launch the One<\/a>, with its bayonet-style fork, and wildly wide fork legs. That\u2019s where the eye is immediately drawn when looking at the One, but Factor has taken a fresh look at the geometry, too.<\/p>\n

In simple terms, it has shifted it forward, with a steep seat tube angle and increased reach, to reduce stem length. The handlebar is available in a taller version, too. All that is to say, while road race bikes will, by their nature, remain aggressively laid out, the default position of old \u2013 low and long \u2013 is changing, and that’s no bad thing.<\/p>\n

Simon von Bromley: cycling will continue ducking meaningful changes to improve rider safety
\n\"\"TT-style helmets have (among other things) been banned for 2026, but it’s unlikely this will improve rider safety meaningfully.<\/p>\n

Rider safety was a huge topic of discussion this year, but so far, the sport\u2019s governing body (the UCI) and its primary stakeholder (Tour de France<\/a> organiser, the ASO) has only tinkered around the edges as opposed to making the root and branch reforms many feel are required.<\/p>\n

The UCI\u2019s new handlebar, helmet and frame regulations<\/a> for next year spring to mind, for example, as does its botched gearing restrictions trial<\/a> (which it was forced to suspend following a ruling from the Belgian Competition Authority<\/a> in October).<\/p>\n

Roundly criticised by fans and experts alike, these technical tweaks ignore ostensibly bigger issues such as poor course design, the absence of enhanced helmet safety standards for road racing and the general lack of protective equipment worn by riders regularly hurtling along in large bunches at breakneck speeds.<\/p>\n

\"ScreenshotEF Pro Cycling team boss Jonathan Vaughters has been a consistent critic of the UCI’s approach to rider safety in recent years. X.com<\/p>\n

It\u2019s fair to say the public nature of road racing means it will always be impossible to control every variable and manage every risk effectively, and I\u2019ve no doubt those at the top of the sport care about rider safety.<\/p>\n

However, until those in power start to take an \u201cobjective, science-based approach\u201d<\/a> to these issues, and more closely involve relevant experts in their decision-making processes, I worry 2026 will feature yet more unnecessary crashes and rider injuries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With brands now fully settled into the UCI\u2019s last big regulation changes, alongside the ever-present trend towards wider…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":392119,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[569],"tags":[64,63,784,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-392118","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-cycling","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/392118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=392118"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/392118\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/392119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=392118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=392118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=392118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}