Day 2 of Eurobike proved to be a bit of a wash, though one test ride made me happy for the future of eMTBs.
Jet lag hit HARD for yr fthfl srvnt last night. I was nodding off at midnight, but then my body decided that the 2 hour nap I had in the afternoon was more than enough sleep for 36 hours. I was awake until the sun rose, then finally crashed and slept till nearly noon.
I came to Eurobike with the goal of learning more about urban mobility, but managed to sleep right through a couple of the interesting presentations.
Nevertheless, I have thoughts. Stick with me here.
Frankfurt, the host city for Eurobike, was founded somewhere between 500 and 750 CE. Some of our oldest cities like Boston and Charleston, SC did not come around until about a thousand years later. Some of our newer cities (think Las Vegas) are a little over 125 years old.
Frankfurt had an extra thousand years (at least) of moving a fairly large population of residents without the benefit/burden of the personal automobile.Where large  American cities are largely designed around moving a lot of  people in individual cars around, older cities like Frankfurt were designed around trains or streetcars. When the bicycle came around, accounting for then in city planning had to have been easier. And with less cars on the road in general and higher population density. urban sprawl is limited, so cars, streetcars, buses and bikes can happily co-exist.
Rant Off.
Test Rides
Canyon Predict
We were supposed to test Canyon’s smart city bike, but there were some snafus about time and place that led to that not happening.
While the Canyon Predict technology is very much still in development, the system pairs an advanced e-bike with a helmet that acts as an active, digital companion, making the rider more aware of everything that is happening with them on the road. Rather than relying on traditional, reactive safety measures, Canyon’s Predict system uses a 360-degree sensor array to anticipate road hazards, anticipating other road users, tracking group-ride dynamics, advising on cornering speeds and predicting tricky surface conditions before the rider even notices them.
The test ride setup, as I saw it, would have involved riding alongside a car on a dedicated test track to show off the technology.
Hopefully we can find a way to get this test in tomorrow.
Hepha Urban-X
We showed some pictures of the Urban-X concept bike yesterday, but today I got to test ride the only working version of the two bikes on display.
I talked about the bike as an appliance in yesterday’s post. The Urban-X looks like a bike from a science fiction film. But a happy, positive one.
While the Urban-X had its quirks, the ride was quite fun. There is a handlebar, two brake levers and a small screen. You turn it on and starting riding.
As a Class 1 e-bike, speed is limited to 20 MPH. While I did not get to try it on any hills, it had more than enough pep and maneuverability to make any ride fun.
As fun as it was to do, slowing down and stopping are part of the Urban-X’s story. When you stop pedaling, the drive system detects that and uses the motor to provide light braking. If you start to pedal bvackwards, braking becomes more agressive, bringing you to nearly a compete stop. Brake levers are there if you need them for emergency stops, but I could see taking entire rides without touching the lever.
But the motor just does not provide the braking. As the bike brakes, the energy from braking actually feeds back to the battery to help you ride longer.
While we likely will not see the Urban-X on the road until 2029, it defnitely represents a step forward in bikes.
Raymon Tarok
Raymon is not a brand that I was familar with before. I’m not even sure that they distribute to the US, but we were not really there for their bikes, but instead the motor technology from the Avinox M2X drivetrain system.
If you’ve been reading Bike World News for a while, you know that I have a love/hate relationship with eMTBs. While they do allow you to ride further and have the power to make it over more obstacles than an analog bike, you also had to be very aware of what gear you were selecting for short, sharp rises in the trail. The bike that was zippy fast on the flats can turn to a boat anchor around your need very quickly.
But the M2x system solves that problem.
The M2X system, along with Avinox’s upcoming MG Concept system incorporate a slope sensor in their technology stack. What this means us that as you approach a hill, the slope sensor tells the motor to ramp up and provide more power. You can keeo your cadence up and the bike, just. goes.
Revolutionary!
While the MG system is still a couple of years off, we did see a concept frame from Commencal that was designed around it.
Notice anything missing?
No rear derailluer! All of the shfting (and you can configure as many gears as you want) takes place in the gearbox unit. Combined with the existing technology from Avinox’s M2X system, MG could be truly revolutionary.
Awards
For the 20th time, Eurobike presented its prestigious Eurobike Awards in the evening of the show’s opening day.
In 2026, a total of 22 awards were given to products across seven competition categories, including seven Gold Awards for especially outstanding and innovative solutions. In addition, a Green Award was presented for a remarkably sustainable product made in Germany, and a Start-Up Award went to an Australian newcomer.
Eurobike and fairnamic Managing Director Philipp Ferger sums up the significance of the Eurobike Award as follows: “This year’s submissions impressively demonstrate how dynamically and solution-oriented the bicycle and mobility industry continues to evolve. The Eurobike Award makes this innovative strength visible and provides guidance in a market undergoing rapid technological and societal change. For many companies, the award is a key driver of international visibility and market success.”
Since its introduction, the Eurobike Award has been regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in the international cycling and mobility industry. It highlights technological developments, sustainable concepts and new mobility solutions, offering guidance to industry professionals, retailers and consumers when it comes to the innovations of tomorrow.
Gold Award for exceptional products and solutions
From all the award-winning products and solutions, the international expert jury selected seven Gold Awards for particularly outstanding innovations. Among the evaluation criteria were degree of innovation, functionality, design, quality of workmanship, usability and sustainability.
All award winners, along with detailed jury commendations and product descriptions, can be found on the Eurobike website.
The following received a Eurobike Gold Award (manufacturers listed in alphabetical order):
- BikeFolder “Mr Spoke” (Category: Digital Solutions)
- Croozer “Kid Lykke” (Category: Accessories)
- Lion Bikes “Light 24” (Category: Bikes)
- Nijland Cycling “Suelo” (Category: E-Bikes)
- Rohloff “E14 Solo” (Category: Components)
- Thule “Epos Parksecure” (Category: Accessories)
- T&D “Semi Solid State Battery” (Category: Components)
Green Award for wooden children’s balance bike
In 2026, the Green Award goes to the Germany-made children’s balance bike “Mika” by manufacturer Smoovotech, produced using regionally sourced beech wood and recycled carbon composite material. In addition to its convincing ecological footprint, the jury particularly highlights the successful design.
Start-Up Award for foldable cargo bike
The Australian company “Foldee” receives the Start-Up Award for its foldable cargo bike of the same name, featuring a large loading platform above the front wheel. According to the jury, Foldee enables people with limited storage space to easily access cargo bike mobility, thereby strengthening the potential of cargo bikes as a substitute for cars.
Ron is the chief cook and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing everything from website design to bike reviews.
Websites:
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Current Bike Quiver:
Bird Bikes Zero 29 29″ hardtail mountain bike
Commencal Absolut 26″ Dirt Jump/Pump Track bike
Commencal Tempo 29″ full suspension mountain bike
Felt ZA 700c race bike
Kona Kilauea vintage 26″ mountain bike
Niner RLT9 700c road/gravel bike
Specialized Stumpjumper vintage 26″ mountain bike
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Night Job: Digital Marketing, eCommerce Consultant, Web Consultant, Bike Shop Operator, Husband, Dad, Tenor
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