The bike industry is in a state of limbo. After years of change, it seems that most companies have agreed on almost uniform standards: Tapered head tubes for frames, the Boost standard in wheels or post-mount brackets for brakes have become established across the board. It has taken years and taxed the nerves of many mechanics to achieve this state of standardised harmony. But as soon as standardised dimensions have been found for almost all interfaces, the hard-won uniformity is in danger of being lost again. As system integration progresses, which almost all future visions predict, many manufacturers will once again develop their own standards. This is the only way
suspension elements and seat posts are integrated into the frame or brake lines run completely invisibly inside the frame. This is the only way that individual manufacturers will be able to stand out from the crowd in the future. But as long as these visions are only in the minds of the developers, the mountain bike world still functions like a large construction kit: with a little craftsmanship, you can screw almost any component available on the market to any frame and thus customise your own mountain bike to suit your individual preferences: lower weight, a more stylish look or more fun on the downhill. The accessories industry has a lot on offer for 2021, especially for the latter.
There is finally a wide selection of lightweight, reliable telescopic seatposts with slim diameters for hardtails and race bikes. For enduro riders who don't shy away from the bike park, there are several new forks and shocks for an even smoother ride down the valley. Touring bikers can look forward to wide, lightweight rims. For Sram and Shimano, the big players on the shifting market, only nuances have changed. The 1x12 drivetrain has finally established itself in all price categories with the new Deore groupset. However, a glance at the files of the patent offices reveals where the development of shifting systems could be heading: A combination of gears and derailleurs or a purely manual gearbox could soon shake up the drivetrain market. A Belgian manufacturer shows just how concrete the developments in this area are with a perfectly functioning product for racing bikes.
But in 2021, the bike industry is still hovering in a state of harmony and offers bikers almost unlimited potential for optimisation. We show you what new products and trends the accessories market has in store for the 2021 MTB season.
MTB accessories novelties 2021
Mountain bike suspension
Steel spring dampers, thick Enduro forks and high-performance race and touring suspensions >> to the overview
Telescopic supports
Lightweight, retractable seat posts with reduced stroke for all common diameters >> to the overview
MTB drives
Twelve-speed for everyone: the new Shimano Deore shifting group and other trends on the shifting market >> to the overview
MTB wheels
Lightweight, wide carbon fibre system wheels for every application >> to the overview
Brakes and cockpits
New stoppers for individualists and handlebars with innovative approaches >> to the overview
Adrian Kaether
Editor
