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October 27, 2015

How Tech Changed Cycling

Technology impacts many things in people’s lives. It has allowed people and businesses to do more and to do things that were not possible in the past. Many may question whether the impact of technology is a good thing or a bad thing. The impact of technology is not always noticed in some areas.



Cycling is one of the areas where people may not realize the impact of technology. They may think that bikes are a fairly simple thing. Put two wheels, a frame, and some pedals together, and you have a bike. That may be true for some, but the reality is that there are plenty of high tech gadgets that cyclists are turning to.

How the high tech gadgets are changing cycling

High tech gadgets include many different things when it comes to the future of cycling. There are gadgets that impact safety. There are gadgets that help people enjoy their rides more. There are also a lot of high tech improvements to bikes themselves that make them more comfortable, more powerful and more versatile.

One of the first ways that people will notice that high tech is impacting cycling is the cost. The days of going to the department store and picking out a relatively cheap bike to use are gone. The bikes of today can cost a lot of money. Technology has allowed bikes to become lighter and stronger. There are bikes meant for touring and bikes meant for mountain biking. A good bike can cost several hundred dollars and a really high tech bike can cost thousands of dollars.

Other gadgets for biking can continue to add to the cost. From bike wear to high tech gadgets that help a person know where they are at any point in time, it is easy to spend a large sum of money when you prepare yourself for long distance cycling in advance or any other type of cycling.

The High Tech Gadgets

There are a seemingly unlimited number of high tech gadgets for people to choose form. Each rider has to decide what they want. They usually base their decision on what the gadget does for them, what type of riding they are doing and how much they are willing to spend.

  • Safety Gear – When it comes to things that are essential for cycling, safety gear is one area that should not be skimped on. Highly protective helmets avoid injuries and cycling gloves, goggles and other bike wear can help keep the rider safe. The cost of these things should be compared with the cost of getting hurt when riding. It is not something to go cheap on.
  • Clothing – The clothing that is worn by serious riders is designed specifically to help the riders. Road bike clothing and mountain bike clothing is designed to protect the body from scrapes and scratches while also helping the muscles in the body work better. Casual riders may not need to buy the most expensive bike shorts and other clothing, but serious riders will need to get clothing that contains the technology to help them ride.
  • Bags and bike accessories – Technology has allowed all of the bike gear for cyclists to become stronger and lighter in weight. This allows people to do more when they go riding. The type of accessories that a person spends money on depends on the type of riding they do. Long distance riders will need to have things to carry their equipment and tools or spare parts to repair bikes.

The things listed above are not new types of equipment that people are using for cycling. What technology has done is improve the way these pieces of equipment work. They have made the things stronger and lighter than ever before.

Technology has changed the way some of the equipment works. There are high tech helmets that are not only safer, but also have capabilities that allow people to have a heads up display of the road that is around them. It allows riders to easily see what is happening behind them while also providing them with extras such as a GPS map system. Other equipment is embracing smart technology. Sunglasses, bikes and bike locks all embrace smart technology that connects the rider to the bike.

While there is plenty of technology that is helping cyclists enjoy their rides more than ever before, not everything about cycling is changing. It still is a great form of exercise that can be enjoyed by men and women of all ages. It is still a great way to get from one place to another without negatively impacting the environment. Technology is just adding some more fun to all of it. If you have tips or suggestions, please take the time to share them with us.




Edited by Kyle Piscioniere
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