As we start looking forward to the 2026 season, riding and racing, new teams are being announced, new kit is being revealed and, sometimes, new gear trends are starting to emerge. From tech bits that started to gain momentum in 2025 to some that are yet to be fully revealed, here’s where we think mountain biking is heading.
Some trends will mostly apply to the pointy end of racing. Others we think are bleeding more broadly into tech rider’s everywhere will be able to try.
10 Tech trends to watch in 2026
Weights aren’t just for strength training
Adding weight to your bike is all the rage these days. Photos of Jackson Goldstone winning World Cups with sizeable hunks of metal strapped to his BB were enough on their own to ensure this will be a garage-hack trend in 2026. But it didn’t start with Goldie. Weighting bikes has always been a thing, just usually it stays on the fringes of elite racing. But now Orbea’s gone as far as offering a dedicated place on its Rallon DH linkage, and fitted weights to match, so anyone can try this at home. That could be the first production bike to facilitate making the frame heavier. But will it be the last?
Big wheels keep on turning
At this point, it’s obvious to everyone that 32″ wheels are unavoidable. The bikes are here (even one designed by a Canadian studio!). With the UCI officially taking a hands-off approach, we’re all just waiting to see what actually happens when someone rocks up to a World Cup start line on mega hoops. Personally, I’m hoping it’s at least an interesting battle. If it’s a knock-out blow for 29, things get harder for everyone.
Wheel Wars II: Battle of Los Angeles?
The introduction of 29″ wheels, then 27.5″ created a mess that took the industry years to sort out. But, after going through that just 10 years ago, we’re all older and wiser, right? That first-ever wheel size change was rough. I don’t think a potential switch to 32″ would take as long.
The problem, then? Some people will be left behind. If 32″ are obviously better for XCO racing, we could have issues. Some riders won’t fit the new bikes. Other riders will be stuck with brands that can’t move fast enough to develop 32″ bikes. While I’m wheel size agnostic for the most part, I don’t want to see a year of racing ruined by a massive technological disparity between…
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