GoKawiilMONTEREY COUNTY, Calif.—Bicycles are a strange technology.
While there have been some notable modifications from the dandy horse to the penny-farthing, since the advent of the “safety bicycle” in the 1880s, the fundamentals of bike design haven’t changed all that much. Put another way, most bike riders today could understand how to use a bike made in the 1890s.
Still, for any bike fan, Sea Otter Classic—the biggest consumer trade cycling show in the world—showcases all kinds of new rigs and creative accessories. It’s basically Christmas for bike dorks.
From April 16 through April 19, at the Laguna Seca Raceway, on a hilltop in Fort Ord, just outside Monterey (roughly 115 miles south of San Francisco), this show has hundreds of exhibitors showcasing new products from major companies to smaller firms.
It’s worth noting that over the last two centuries, the bike universe has expanded considerably: now exhibitors represent not only road and mountain bikes but also, increasingly, e-bikes, gravel bikes, cargo bikes, and much more.
Many major industry brands are represented at Sea Otter: Continental, Trek, Specialized, Abus, among others. (This year, there’s even an entirely separate “Bikepacking Campout and After Party,” highlighting maybe the most punk rock galaxy within the bike universe these days.)
But oftentimes, most new offerings aren’t really that different or meaningful to all but the most discerning fan. How much contrast is there really from last year’s crankset? Does bag technology vary considerably year to year? Do bike locks actually improve? How much cooler will I look on a slightly upgraded version of the bike I already own?
After riding two days to get to Sea Otter, Ars spent the better part of a day wandering around the festival area—we weren’t there for the numerous races that were also going on—we were there to suss out what was new and useful.