FRANKFURT, June 30 \u2014 At the Eurobike trade fair, hopes are high that smart and AI-enabled bicycles can revive an industry that has been dealing with years of flagging sales.<\/p>\n
Artificial intelligence, long used in cars and smartphones, is now entering the cycling world in areas ranging from electric motors to safety and services.<\/p>\n
At the stand of Avinox, a manufacturer of motors for electric bicycles, the DNA of parent company and Chinese drone specialist DJI has been transposed to cycling.<\/p>\n
The motor on display features sensors that continuously monitor the cyclist\u2019s movements and terrain conditions, allowing AI to automatically adjust the motor\u2019s assistance to the pedal drive.<\/p>\n
This makes the ride \u201ceasier and safer without having to think about it,\u201d Avinox developer Ferdinand Wolf said.<\/p>\n
The system even allows a rider to transmit their real-time heart rate so that the e-bike motor modifies the level of assistance as needed.<\/p>\n
Safety alerts\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elsewhere at the show, there is technology that aims to keep cyclists alive and injury-free.<\/p>\n
At Germany\u2019s Canyon, a racing bike equipped with cameras and radars promises to alert cyclists \u201cto the presence of elements they do not necessarily perceive\u201d, company spokesman Ben Hilldson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a car is parking, the system can anticipate the opening of a door and warn the cyclist,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The rider would then be alerted via either visual signals on the frame, vibrations in the handlebars or through technology inside their helmet.<\/p>\n
Canyon is presenting a helmet fitted with a large visor capable of displaying real-time alerts or receiving an audio signal, depending on the user\u2019s preference.<\/p>\n
The products are for now in the prototype stage, Hilldson said.<\/p>\n
Canyon is also working with carmaker Volkswagen on a communication system that would allow the bicycle to interact with surrounding cars and other infrastructure, with the launch expected in about three years.<\/p>\n
The main obstacle: almost all vehicles currently on the road are not yet equipped to exchange such data.<\/p>\n
Smart networks\u00a0<\/p>\n
Artificial intelligence is also shaking up services in the cycling industry.<\/p>\n
At insurer Linexo \u201caround 90 percent of claims will be handled entirely automatically by the end of the year\u201d, head of the bicycle division Soeren Hirsch said.<\/p>\n
Automation handles standard cases, while experts review complex claims and detect fraud, \u201cthe only way to keep insurance premiums stable\u201d, he added.<\/p>\n
Start-up Wunderfix meanwhile offers repair services linking retailers, customers and shops via an application that allows cyclists to diagnose and, where possible, repair their bicycles themselves.<\/p>\n
Some 3,000 service requests have already been recorded this year, the company says.<\/p>\n
The rise of AI-enabled and smart bikes has fuelled hopes of a rebound for the business.<\/p>\n
The European bicycle market shrunk in 2025 for the third year in a row, with sales dropping four percent to 15.2 million units, according to consultants EY-Parthenon.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the boom during the Covid-19 pandemic, the sector has been going through a painful consolidation since 2023: lower sales, high inventories and strong pricing pressure have weighed heavily on many players,\u201d EY-Parthenon analyst Constantin Gall said.<\/p>\n
The market is nevertheless expected to stabilise this year before slowly recovering, with revenue forecast at 21.2 billion euros for 2031 — on a par with the record-breaking sales of 2022.<\/p>\n
Alongside infrastructure investment, \u201cdigital and data-driven offerings\u201d will be a growth-driver, the consultancy said. \u2014 AFP<\/p>\n
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