Cannondale, Schwinn and GT reveal their bikes of the future

Hold onto your hats, Cycling Sports Group have looked deep into their crystal ball and developed three concept bikes for their premium brands Cannondale, Schwinn and GT. And they're quite something a performance bike that transforms into a cargo bike, a continously ergonomic racing bike, and a four way urban folder.

To design these three concept bikes, CSG imagined three typical consumers and produced bikes to meet their needs.Ten years from now, we could all be riding bikes like these, reckons CSG's head of R+D Chris Peck. He's in charge of the new research and development facility at their Bethel, Connecticut head office which for the last 10 months has been gazing long and hard into the year 2022. What bikes will the consumer be demanding is the question that, through these concept bikes, they have been hoping to answer.

For GT they've developed  Milenio QR bike that transforms into a cargo bike. The front wheel, fork and steerer tube remove and in their place can be slotted a two-wheeled cargo module. Electric powered hubs in both front wheels help to transport heavy loads. The fully working prototype includes a gear shifter that converts into the throttle for the powered front wheels.

Cannondale's C.E.R.V. (Continuously Ergonomic Race Vehicle) concept is a variable-position road bike. The wheelbase remains the same but the cockpit can be easily adjusted and adapted to different riding styles and conditions. The top tube length, handlebar height and seatpost can be changed.

Other mould-breaking design features include the rim mounted disc brake rotors and a front wheel that leans into corners. The transmission is internal with a shaft drive promising virtually maintenance free riding.

Lastly, for the Schwinn brand they designed the Portable Urban Velo folding bike to meet the demands of city cyclists. Using a four bar system it easily folds, and can be wheeled along on both wheels by the saddle when loading onto a train.

A 26in rear wheel combines with a 20in front wheel to enable a  cargo carrier to be fitted with the modular system and giving easy step-through convenience. As well as cargo, a rear-facing child seat can be fitted between the high handlebars.

Throw the rules out the window and this is what the future of cycling could look like. We imagine the UCI would have a fit of the vapours if Cannondale every popped the C.E.R.V in for a UCI approval sticker; and it certainly divided opinion amongst the roadcc team with dyed in the wool traditionalists suddenly feeling all warm about the UCI tech regs while others wanted one NOW. Certainly the idea of continuously variable ergonomics is attractive both for the end user - and for manufacturer, one size does really fit all would certainly simplfy the manufacturing process.

The three concpet bikes are on display here at Eurobike, our favourite - and the one that grabbed most attention amongst showgoers is the GT Milenio, it's just so damn clever - check out the front wheel for when it's running as a standard road bike slotted under the load bay - possibly to act as a bumper? The idea of a bike you could go out and blast some miles on, then come back slap on a new front end and do the weekly shop on has a certain appeal in these parts. Maybe the future really does have a load bay and transformable front end?