Clothing is tighter. Bicycles are made from space-age materials. Gear shifts are completed with electronic precision, and efforts are gauged with pinpoint accuracy. Cycling is a highly innovative sport with an adoptive population that’s adding more electronics to their bodies and bikes all the time.

Even everyday cyclists who commute to work or the local market benefit from cycling’s technology boom. Staying safe on the road is easier with vehicle detection devices and small, handlebar-mounted GPS units that offer turn-by-turn navigation through busy streets. If the unfortunate does occur, accelerometers mounted on a rider’s helmet can detect dangerous impacts and inform help.

Dr. Allen Lim, founder of Skratch Labs and former Director of Sport Science and Training for top Tour de France teams, drives the point home saying, "Bike riding today is a lot more interesting, comfortable, and interactive than it was in the past. That all said, technology has never changed the simple joy of riding a bicycle.”

Just don’t overdo it with the techno-gear. No one wants to see Robocop in Lycra.

Electronic shifting

At the touch of a button on your brake lever, you can quickly change gears in virtually any situation without any disruption to your rhythm, thanks to the top three parts makers, Shimano, SRAM, or Campagnolo. Less physical effort on the part of the cyclist is required, and shifts are faster than cable-actuated systems. Electronic shifting also opens up incredible customising possibilities, especially useful when building bikes for cyclists with disabilities. Battery life is excellent too, with most riders only needing to charge their batteries three or four times a year.

Bluetooth integrated GPS

Just as drivers can sync their smartphones to a car’s on-board computer, so too can cyclists. The latest generation of GPS units display text message and phone call alerts, but also delivers a new level of electronically aided training feedback. As a favorite hill section approaches, you can race a previous effort up the incline. Like many cycling accessories, GPS units use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that can last for up to a week of regular riding.

Vehicle detection radar

Garmin’s Varia radar system is a first for cyclists, alerting them to vehicles approaching from behind via a wireless handlebar-mounted display. USB-rechargeable batteries power both. For added safety, the rear-facing sensor has an integrated LED light that becomes brighter as vehicles near.

Heads-up display eyewear

Information on offer, at a glance, is the idea behind Recon’s Jet smart eyewear. In the lower right-hand lense, this smart eyewear displays speed, power, distance and other important ride metrics. They also feature an internal GPS, barometer and altimeter to keep cyclists in the know, in an instant. An integrated camera also takes stills and video. The only downside is battery life, with Recon recommending that cyclists carry a spare USB-rechargeable unit in their pocket for exceptionally long rides.

Power meters

Top professional cyclists have used power meters, a tool used to quantify, in real time, the work they performed, for several decades. But the 21st Century saw the technology come down in both weight and in price. Instead of simply training more, a power meter can help a cyclist train more effectively by monitoring workouts, identifying weaknesses and alerting coaches to excess fatigue. Stages Cycling's are among the smallest and most affordable, starting at $530 for pro-level training information. The power meter connects wirelessly using ANT+ to most GPS units and is powered by a readily available CR2032 watch battery.

Helmet-mounted crash sensors

By attaching ICEDot’s 20-gram Crash Sensor to a helmet and pairing it to a smartphone via low-energy Bluetooth, a cyclist is protected like never before. Charged via a micro USB cord, the sensor detects impacts using an internal accelerometer and will alert In Case of Emergency contacts in the event of a dangerous crash.

Mountain biking armour

Modern-day mountain bikers continue to push the limits of what is possible aboard a bicycle. To protect those athletes from jagged rocks, gnarled roots and stout trees, G-Form builds elbow, knee, chest and hip garments using a rate-dependent padding that is soft while pedaling, but becomes semi-rigid upon impact.

Stain and odour-resistant water bottles

Even the lowly water bottle has undergone a futuristic metamorphosis. Gone are the days of dank, funky water bottles. After carrying sugary drinks, things like to grow in bottles, but Specialized’s Purist water bottles feature a proprietary coating that eliminates mold and flavour retention.

(BBC)