Gear of the year: our favourite cycling tech from 2020

Specialized Aethos
(Image credit: Dan Gould)

This year has been one crazy roller coaster ride, hasn't it? And despite all the uncertainty, it's been inspiring to watch how the global community has embraced the bicycle. Sales have naturally skyrocketed, spanning everything from the best road bikes, components and accessories to clothing and cycling protection - the industry is booming. This pedal-powered renaissance, however, has brought its own set of challenges, particularly around stock issues and a general dearth of supply, but sales are not showing any signs of slowing down which is great news for the industry and growth of the sport as a whole.

Despite the lack of in-real-life bicycle tradeshows this year - Sea Otter and Eurobike were both cancelled - the industry pulled together and made things work using Zoom and other online platforms to launch their wares. And there were a lot of new product offerings. Giant went first, launching the new TCR via a video-call presentation and courier delivery. The digital fanfare around Specialized and its new Diverge, Tarmac SL7 and Aethos bikes were pretty impressive, as were the bikes. Other manufacturers followed suit: Canyon with its new Aeroad and SpeedMax; Orbea and the all-new Orca and Ordu; Cannondale and its range of e-bike offerings, Topstone Lefty and Scalpel mountain bike; Liv launching its first women's gravel bike, the Devote; not forgetting Trek's new Emonda and Factor's Ostro and LS gravel bike.

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

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