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2018 Best of Bicycles, Part 1: Innovative Designs and Uses

While everyone seems obsessed with autonomous cars, bicycles are still the most relevant and sustainable transportation form for millions. Here are the best pedal-powered innovations we saw this year.

Most bicycles have two wheels, but the Conference Bicycle has three. That’s because it supports seven riders at once!

If you’d rather haul goods than co-workers, the Supermarché Front Loader Cargo Bike offers a versatile series of configurations.

For cargo capacity with an assist, check out the Cero One, a modular electric model based on Japanese utility bicycles.

Want to bend your brain? Have a look at this mind-boggling pop-up bicycle, and see if you can figure out how it works:

Interested in the latest version of the “ultimate race bike?” Check out the design story behind the 2019 Trek Madone SLR.

A start-up named Arevo has figured out how to simplify the carbon fiber manufacturing process, and are demonstrating it by producing this $300 bike frame:

It’s not clear if this will ever make it to market, but CeramicSpeed pulled the sheets off of this bearing-based chainless bicycle system concept:

An innovation that did make it to market are these zip-on, zip-off tire treads from Norway:

British bike rack makers are also making a splash on the market. Tailfin’s Aeropack was a Kickstarter smash:

Going back to basics for a moment, it’s worthwhile to watch this video showing you how steel bicycles are made.

While it’s easy to geek out on new bike features, the most important thing is that you use them in the first place. A fellow named Carl’s epic 80-day bicycle trip through Germany reminds us why we loved two-wheeled transportation in the first place.

Then there’s this guy, who takes an epic bicycle trip every day. Engineer Tom Lutz commutes from New Jersey to Manhattan via folding boat and folding bicycle.