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Aluminium, carbon, steel or titanium, the discussions about the proper bicycle material are older than the beginning of the mountain bike boom and the triathlon hype that started in the middle of the eighties. Today, about 25 years after the comeback of the bicycle, every material has found its place and both wood and bamboo are experiencing a revival. An emotionally detached and therefore technically oriented guide through the often imaginative names and additional titles of the manufacturers.

Fast pedelecs are a lot of fun and will reach new target groups. A few thoughts on what bicycles will need to have so as to be able to meet the growing requirements.

Current pedelecs and Ultegra Di2 are just the tip of an iceberg. The bicycle sector is standing on the threshold of the electronic revolution and thus of its biggest change.

The bicycle industry is undergoing rapid change. Not only do technical innovations dictate a fast pace, but customers too - their demands on the bicycle product continue to grow. High time to gear up for the challenge.

Although it is true that colour on bicycles is now strongly back in fashion, the black iridescent fibre material remains the undisputed number 1 in the construction of high-performance components for bicycles. However, some questions remain unanswered in relation to longevity, re-use after an accident, test methods and repair options.

Although they have been talked about for a long time, e-bikes finally arrived on the roads in large numbers in 2010. This summer, modern-day cyclists on whirring bicycles were to be witnessed in greater numbers - not only in urban areas, but also on tour. While this increasing revenue is gratifying for industry and commerce, it is equally urgent for product manufacturers and retailers to quickly complete the learning curve; otherwise all too soon the current intoxication will be followed by a full-blown hangover.