People have been looking to get back to some normalcy after being being relegated to attending minimal public events since the pandemic started. Luckily for cyclists, the 2021 edition of the Sea Otter Classic was full steam ahead for the most part, with the exception of some industry vendors deciding to skip the event this year.
However, the participants and competitive cyclists were well represented as they were looking to see and compete at the many cycling events at the Sea Otter Classic.
As I walked around the vendor expo area it was nice to see a well balanced showing of all types of bikes and not really any one specific style of bike, which included plenty of mountain bikes, road bikes, gravel bikes, electric bikes and enduro style bikes.
With cycling emerging and coming out on top despite the pandemic, cycling enthusiasts were looking to see for themselves what new cycling products are going to be hitting the market in the future.
It really seemed like there was something for everyone and that’s what’s cool about being at the Sea Otter Classic.
A few things stood out for me:
- I noticed the suspension movement for gravel bikes, with more manufactures were spec’ing them on bikes that were displayed.
- I saw more manufactures making road bikes that normally wouldn’t since they usually focus on downhill or enduro bikes. That was exciting to see!
- Shimano had their new 2022 Dura Ace and 2022 Ultegra groups gracing some of the new bikes on display.
- The electric bikes were much harder to spot as they are looking more and more like a regular bike, since the batteries have become smaller along with the motors. They also have become more compatible for utility and everyday use.
- I think the electric bike market can only grow since gas prices have gone up and global warming has become an issue.
It’s great to see cycling making a comeback.
