Velopedia Data Research

Bicycle Trends by Model Year

Original analysis of historical bicycle specifications and geometry in the Velopedia Bicycle Archive. Explore how frame materials, brake technology, wheel sizes, mountain-bike suspension, and frame angles changed over time.

Campaign

Historical series

Frame Materials Over Time

Share of classified archive bicycles using each primary frame-material family.

83.9%overall coverage
SteelAluminumCarbonTitaniumOther or mixed
Frame Materials Over Time Three-year aggregate periods of classified Velopedia archive records. Long stretches without enough qualifying data are shown as explicit axis breaks and use compressed spacing; no missing values are interpolated. 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 1993–94 1995–97 1998–00 2001–03 2004–06 2007–09 2010–12 2013–15 2016 2019–21 2022–24 2025–27 1993–94: Steel 56.4% (700 of 1,241 classified records) 1995–97: Steel 56.0% (3,019 of 5,387 classified records) 1998–00: Steel 37.2% (2,454 of 6,597 classified records) 2001–03: Steel 32.8% (1,734 of 5,285 classified records) 2004–06: Steel 20.5% (1,014 of 4,956 classified records) 2007–09: Steel 17.8% (1,237 of 6,964 classified records) 2010–12: Steel 17.1% (1,222 of 7,138 classified records) 2013–15: Steel 13.8% (619 of 4,472 classified records) 2016: Steel 8.0% (17 of 213 classified records) 2019–21: Steel 12.9% (8 of 62 classified records) 2022–24: Steel 5.7% (15 of 263 classified records) 2025–27: Steel 1.7% (20 of 1,161 classified records) 1993–94: Aluminum 23.9% (296 of 1,241 classified records) 1995–97: Aluminum 26.0% (1,401 of 5,387 classified records) 1998–00: Aluminum 41.9% (2,761 of 6,597 classified records) 2001–03: Aluminum 43.9% (2,321 of 5,285 classified records) 2004–06: Aluminum 59.3% (2,940 of 4,956 classified records) 2007–09: Aluminum 62.7% (4,366 of 6,964 classified records) 2010–12: Aluminum 61.1% (4,364 of 7,138 classified records) 2013–15: Aluminum 57.5% (2,570 of 4,472 classified records) 2016: Aluminum 54.0% (115 of 213 classified records) 2019–21: Aluminum 66.1% (41 of 62 classified records) 2022–24: Aluminum 62.7% (165 of 263 classified records) 2025–27: Aluminum 33.8% (392 of 1,161 classified records) 1993–94: Carbon 8.2% (102 of 1,241 classified records) 1995–97: Carbon 5.7% (306 of 5,387 classified records) 1998–00: Carbon 4.9% (326 of 6,597 classified records) 2001–03: Carbon 6.0% (319 of 5,285 classified records) 2004–06: Carbon 7.9% (392 of 4,956 classified records) 2007–09: Carbon 15.1% (1,050 of 6,964 classified records) 2010–12: Carbon 20.5% (1,464 of 7,138 classified records) 2013–15: Carbon 26.7% (1,193 of 4,472 classified records) 2016: Carbon 35.7% (76 of 213 classified records) 2019–21: Carbon 21.0% (13 of 62 classified records) 2022–24: Carbon 31.6% (83 of 263 classified records) 2025–27: Carbon 64.3% (747 of 1,161 classified records) 1993–94: Titanium 9.0% (112 of 1,241 classified records) 1995–97: Titanium 10.2% (550 of 5,387 classified records) 1998–00: Titanium 14.1% (933 of 6,597 classified records) 2001–03: Titanium 13.3% (703 of 5,285 classified records) 2004–06: Titanium 4.7% (233 of 4,956 classified records) 2007–09: Titanium 0.1% (6 of 6,964 classified records) 2010–12: Titanium 0.1% (4 of 7,138 classified records) 2013–15: Titanium 0.4% (17 of 4,472 classified records) 2016: Titanium 0.0% (0 of 213 classified records) 2019–21: Titanium 0.0% (0 of 62 classified records) 2022–24: Titanium 0.0% (0 of 263 classified records) 2025–27: Titanium 0.2% (2 of 1,161 classified records) 1993–94: Other or mixed 2.5% (31 of 1,241 classified records) 1995–97: Other or mixed 2.1% (111 of 5,387 classified records) 1998–00: Other or mixed 1.9% (123 of 6,597 classified records) 2001–03: Other or mixed 3.9% (208 of 5,285 classified records) 2004–06: Other or mixed 7.6% (377 of 4,956 classified records) 2007–09: Other or mixed 4.4% (305 of 6,964 classified records) 2010–12: Other or mixed 1.2% (84 of 7,138 classified records) 2013–15: Other or mixed 1.6% (73 of 4,472 classified records) 2016: Other or mixed 2.3% (5 of 213 classified records) 2019–21: Other or mixed 0.0% (0 of 62 classified records) 2022–24: Other or mixed 0.0% (0 of 263 classified records) 2025–27: Other or mixed 0.0% (0 of 1,161 classified records)

Latest qualifying period: In 2025–27, carbon represented 64.3% of 1,161 classified records in the plotted period.

43,739 classified records 52,115 eligible records Chart periods: 3 years Period threshold: 15 classified records
View annual source data
YearClassifiedEligibleCoverageSteelAluminumCarbonTitaniumOther or mixed
19933741,03836.0%32.6% (122)39.0% (146)13.6% (51)11.0% (41)3.7% (14)
19948671,06781.3%66.7% (578)17.3% (150)5.9% (51)8.2% (71)2.0% (17)
19951,4161,72182.3%60.2% (853)23.3% (330)4.3% (61)9.5% (135)2.6% (37)
19961,7242,31374.5%59.3% (1,023)24.9% (430)4.2% (73)8.9% (154)2.6% (44)
19972,2472,99575.0%50.9% (1,143)28.5% (641)7.7% (172)11.6% (261)1.3% (30)
19982,2643,03474.6%38.0% (861)37.6% (851)6.3% (142)16.0% (363)2.1% (47)
19992,3973,28672.9%36.0% (864)40.2% (963)4.8% (116)17.3% (415)1.6% (39)
20001,9362,43179.6%37.7% (729)48.9% (947)3.5% (68)8.0% (155)1.9% (37)
20011,7422,23877.8%38.7% (674)42.3% (737)3.6% (63)13.3% (232)2.1% (36)
20021,6971,89489.6%31.8% (540)44.0% (747)3.8% (65)16.4% (279)3.9% (66)
20031,8462,03190.9%28.2% (520)45.3% (837)10.3% (191)10.4% (192)5.7% (106)
20041,6721,81492.2%23.0% (385)55.3% (925)4.7% (78)6.2% (104)10.8% (180)
20051,6091,84787.1%19.1% (307)60.9% (980)7.2% (116)6.3% (102)6.5% (104)
20061,6752,00783.5%19.2% (322)61.8% (1,035)11.8% (198)1.6% (27)5.6% (93)
20072,1792,44389.2%17.2% (374)64.2% (1,399)15.4% (336)0.0% (1)3.2% (69)
20082,4482,72389.9%17.4% (425)62.6% (1,533)14.8% (363)0.2% (4)5.0% (123)
20092,3372,44395.7%18.7% (438)61.4% (1,434)15.0% (351)0.0% (1)4.8% (113)
20102,3502,64688.8%13.9% (327)63.1% (1,482)19.8% (466)0.0% (1)3.1% (74)
20112,5392,79790.8%17.1% (433)63.6% (1,615)19.1% (485)0.0% (0)0.2% (6)
20122,2492,63885.3%20.5% (462)56.3% (1,267)22.8% (513)0.1% (3)0.2% (4)
20131,9952,16792.1%18.3% (365)59.8% (1,194)21.6% (431)0.0% (0)0.3% (5)
20141,2021,38386.9%9.9% (119)60.3% (725)28.5% (342)0.0% (0)1.3% (16)
20151,2751,35494.2%10.6% (135)51.1% (651)32.9% (420)1.3% (17)4.1% (52)
201621321499.5%8.0% (17)54.0% (115)35.7% (76)0.0% (0)2.3% (5)
201911100.0%0.0% (0)0.0% (0)100.0% (1)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)
202033100.0%0.0% (0)100.0% (3)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)
2021586293.5%13.8% (8)65.5% (38)20.7% (12)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)
2022575996.6%17.5% (10)70.2% (40)12.3% (7)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)
2023868897.7%0.0% (0)72.1% (62)27.9% (24)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)
202412012794.5%4.2% (5)52.5% (63)43.3% (52)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)
202525526795.5%2.7% (7)46.3% (118)50.6% (129)0.4% (1)0.0% (0)
202667374290.7%1.9% (13)32.4% (218)65.5% (441)0.1% (1)0.0% (0)
202723324296.3%0.0% (0)24.0% (56)76.0% (177)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)

Download this annual aggregate series as CSV

Historical series

Brake Technology Over Time

Share of classified braking systems by broad actuation and braking-surface family.

58.9%overall coverage
Rim brakeMechanical discHydraulic discDisc, unspecifiedCoaster, drum or hub
Brake Technology Over Time Three-year aggregate periods of classified Velopedia archive records. Long stretches without enough qualifying data are shown as explicit axis breaks and use compressed spacing; no missing values are interpolated. 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 1993–94 1995–97 1998–00 2001–03 2004–06 2007–09 2010–12 2013–15 2016 2020–21 2022–24 2025–27 1993–94: Rim brake 70.1% (94 of 134 classified records) 1995–97: Rim brake 86.5% (2,836 of 3,280 classified records) 1998–00: Rim brake 89.5% (5,905 of 6,600 classified records) 2001–03: Rim brake 81.4% (3,924 of 4,819 classified records) 2004–06: Rim brake 65.4% (2,650 of 4,055 classified records) 2007–09: Rim brake 46.7% (2,277 of 4,877 classified records) 2010–12: Rim brake 53.5% (2,112 of 3,948 classified records) 2013–15: Rim brake 57.2% (1,214 of 2,124 classified records) 2016: Rim brake 28.6% (36 of 126 classified records) 2020–21: Rim brake 19.4% (12 of 62 classified records) 2022–24: Rim brake 13.5% (23 of 170 classified records) 2025–27: Rim brake 11.5% (57 of 494 classified records) 1993–94: Mechanical disc 0.0% (0 of 134 classified records) 1995–97: Mechanical disc 0.0% (0 of 3,280 classified records) 1998–00: Mechanical disc 0.9% (60 of 6,600 classified records) 2001–03: Mechanical disc 3.7% (180 of 4,819 classified records) 2004–06: Mechanical disc 7.4% (299 of 4,055 classified records) 2007–09: Mechanical disc 5.7% (280 of 4,877 classified records) 2010–12: Mechanical disc 8.0% (316 of 3,948 classified records) 2013–15: Mechanical disc 3.5% (75 of 2,124 classified records) 2016: Mechanical disc 15.1% (19 of 126 classified records) 2020–21: Mechanical disc 16.1% (10 of 62 classified records) 2022–24: Mechanical disc 10.6% (18 of 170 classified records) 2025–27: Mechanical disc 4.9% (24 of 494 classified records) 1993–94: Hydraulic disc 6.7% (9 of 134 classified records) 1995–97: Hydraulic disc 2.8% (91 of 3,280 classified records) 1998–00: Hydraulic disc 2.9% (194 of 6,600 classified records) 2001–03: Hydraulic disc 7.7% (369 of 4,819 classified records) 2004–06: Hydraulic disc 11.3% (458 of 4,055 classified records) 2007–09: Hydraulic disc 14.3% (698 of 4,877 classified records) 2010–12: Hydraulic disc 14.7% (580 of 3,948 classified records) 2013–15: Hydraulic disc 18.4% (390 of 2,124 classified records) 2016: Hydraulic disc 55.6% (70 of 126 classified records) 2020–21: Hydraulic disc 51.6% (32 of 62 classified records) 2022–24: Hydraulic disc 67.1% (114 of 170 classified records) 2025–27: Hydraulic disc 66.4% (328 of 494 classified records) 1993–94: Disc, unspecified 2.2% (3 of 134 classified records) 1995–97: Disc, unspecified 0.5% (18 of 3,280 classified records) 1998–00: Disc, unspecified 1.0% (67 of 6,600 classified records) 2001–03: Disc, unspecified 1.0% (48 of 4,819 classified records) 2004–06: Disc, unspecified 6.6% (268 of 4,055 classified records) 2007–09: Disc, unspecified 19.4% (948 of 4,877 classified records) 2010–12: Disc, unspecified 11.0% (434 of 3,948 classified records) 2013–15: Disc, unspecified 11.0% (233 of 2,124 classified records) 2016: Disc, unspecified 0.8% (1 of 126 classified records) 2020–21: Disc, unspecified 0.0% (0 of 62 classified records) 2022–24: Disc, unspecified 8.2% (14 of 170 classified records) 2025–27: Disc, unspecified 17.2% (85 of 494 classified records) 1993–94: Coaster, drum or hub 20.9% (28 of 134 classified records) 1995–97: Coaster, drum or hub 10.2% (335 of 3,280 classified records) 1998–00: Coaster, drum or hub 5.7% (374 of 6,600 classified records) 2001–03: Coaster, drum or hub 6.2% (298 of 4,819 classified records) 2004–06: Coaster, drum or hub 9.4% (380 of 4,055 classified records) 2007–09: Coaster, drum or hub 13.8% (674 of 4,877 classified records) 2010–12: Coaster, drum or hub 12.8% (506 of 3,948 classified records) 2013–15: Coaster, drum or hub 10.0% (212 of 2,124 classified records) 2016: Coaster, drum or hub 0.0% (0 of 126 classified records) 2020–21: Coaster, drum or hub 12.9% (8 of 62 classified records) 2022–24: Coaster, drum or hub 0.6% (1 of 170 classified records) 2025–27: Coaster, drum or hub 0.0% (0 of 494 classified records)

Latest qualifying period: In 2025–27, hydraulic disc represented 66.4% of 494 classified records in the plotted period.

30,689 classified records 52,115 eligible records Chart periods: 3 years Period threshold: 15 classified records
View annual source data
YearClassifiedEligibleCoverageRim brakeMechanical discHydraulic discDisc, unspecifiedCoaster, drum or hub
1993391,0383.8%53.8% (21)0.0% (0)12.8% (5)2.6% (1)30.8% (12)
1994951,0678.9%76.8% (73)0.0% (0)4.2% (4)2.1% (2)16.8% (16)
19953181,72118.5%88.4% (281)0.0% (0)4.7% (15)0.6% (2)6.3% (20)
19969462,31340.9%79.1% (748)0.0% (0)4.2% (40)0.8% (8)15.9% (150)
19972,0162,99567.3%89.6% (1,807)0.0% (0)1.8% (36)0.4% (8)8.2% (165)
19982,2853,03475.3%89.7% (2,049)0.0% (0)3.0% (69)0.4% (8)7.0% (159)
19992,5883,28678.8%90.7% (2,348)1.9% (48)1.6% (42)0.8% (20)5.0% (130)
20001,7272,43171.0%87.3% (1,508)0.7% (12)4.8% (83)2.3% (39)4.9% (85)
20011,6542,23873.9%84.5% (1,398)2.2% (37)6.3% (104)0.5% (8)6.5% (107)
20021,4681,89477.5%82.1% (1,205)4.2% (62)7.6% (111)0.7% (11)5.4% (79)
20031,6972,03183.6%77.8% (1,321)4.8% (81)9.1% (154)1.7% (29)6.6% (112)
20041,5171,81483.6%68.7% (1,042)6.7% (101)12.9% (195)2.9% (44)8.9% (135)
20051,2261,84766.4%61.7% (757)8.5% (104)10.7% (131)9.5% (117)9.5% (117)
20061,3122,00765.4%64.9% (851)7.2% (94)10.1% (132)8.2% (107)9.8% (128)
20071,4122,44357.8%44.5% (629)7.1% (100)7.1% (100)24.5% (346)16.8% (237)
20081,6312,72359.9%45.5% (742)5.3% (87)16.1% (262)20.4% (332)12.8% (208)
20091,8342,44375.1%49.4% (906)5.1% (93)18.3% (336)14.7% (270)12.5% (229)
20101,6342,64661.8%44.4% (725)9.7% (158)19.0% (310)16.3% (266)10.7% (175)
20111,0592,79737.9%65.3% (692)8.0% (85)12.4% (131)5.2% (55)9.1% (96)
20121,2552,63847.6%55.4% (695)5.8% (73)11.1% (139)9.0% (113)18.7% (235)
20137532,16734.7%78.5% (591)1.9% (14)0.0% (0)3.1% (23)16.6% (125)
20146311,38345.6%53.2% (336)0.8% (5)9.2% (58)28.8% (182)7.9% (50)
20157401,35454.7%38.8% (287)7.6% (56)44.9% (332)3.8% (28)5.0% (37)
201612621458.9%28.6% (36)15.1% (19)55.6% (70)0.8% (1)0.0% (0)
202033100.0%0.0% (0)0.0% (0)100.0% (3)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)
2021596295.2%20.3% (12)16.9% (10)49.2% (29)0.0% (0)13.6% (8)
2022455976.3%28.9% (13)15.6% (7)53.3% (24)0.0% (0)2.2% (1)
2023578864.8%10.5% (6)12.3% (7)59.6% (34)17.5% (10)0.0% (0)
20246812753.5%5.9% (4)5.9% (4)82.4% (56)5.9% (4)0.0% (0)
202516026759.9%10.0% (16)6.9% (11)69.4% (111)13.8% (22)0.0% (0)
202623274231.3%8.6% (20)3.4% (8)65.9% (153)22.0% (51)0.0% (0)
202710224242.1%20.6% (21)4.9% (5)62.7% (64)11.8% (12)0.0% (0)

Download this annual aggregate series as CSV

Historical series

Wheel-Size Adoption Over Time

Share of classified archive bicycles using the most common nominal wheel-size families.

77.8%overall coverage
700C29 inch27.5 / 650B26 inch24 inch20 inchMixed wheel
Wheel-Size Adoption Over Time Three-year aggregate periods of classified Velopedia archive records. Long stretches without enough qualifying data are shown as explicit axis breaks and use compressed spacing; no missing values are interpolated. 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 1993–94 1995–97 1998–00 2001–03 2004–06 2007–09 2010–12 2014–15 2016 2019–21 2022–24 2025–27 1993–94: 700C 38.4% (465 of 1,211 classified records) 1995–97: 700C 26.2% (1,753 of 6,694 classified records) 1998–00: 700C 20.1% (1,503 of 7,464 classified records) 2001–03: 700C 35.5% (1,881 of 5,300 classified records) 2004–06: 700C 38.1% (2,026 of 5,319 classified records) 2007–09: 700C 37.9% (2,687 of 7,083 classified records) 2010–12: 700C 47.5% (2,409 of 5,071 classified records) 2014–15: 700C 51.6% (649 of 1,257 classified records) 2016: 700C 55.9% (114 of 204 classified records) 2019–21: 700C 9.1% (5 of 55 classified records) 2022–24: 700C 24.5% (38 of 155 classified records) 2025–27: 700C 28.1% (203 of 723 classified records) 1993–94: 29 inch 0.0% (0 of 1,211 classified records) 1995–97: 29 inch 0.0% (0 of 6,694 classified records) 1998–00: 29 inch 0.0% (0 of 7,464 classified records) 2001–03: 29 inch 0.2% (8 of 5,300 classified records) 2004–06: 29 inch 0.3% (16 of 5,319 classified records) 2007–09: 29 inch 3.0% (210 of 7,083 classified records) 2010–12: 29 inch 5.4% (274 of 5,071 classified records) 2014–15: 29 inch 19.7% (248 of 1,257 classified records) 2016: 29 inch 8.8% (18 of 204 classified records) 2019–21: 29 inch 20.0% (11 of 55 classified records) 2022–24: 29 inch 24.5% (38 of 155 classified records) 2025–27: 29 inch 39.4% (285 of 723 classified records) 1993–94: 27.5 / 650B 0.0% (0 of 1,211 classified records) 1995–97: 27.5 / 650B 0.0% (0 of 6,694 classified records) 1998–00: 27.5 / 650B 0.0% (0 of 7,464 classified records) 2001–03: 27.5 / 650B 0.0% (0 of 5,300 classified records) 2004–06: 27.5 / 650B 0.0% (0 of 5,319 classified records) 2007–09: 27.5 / 650B 0.0% (0 of 7,083 classified records) 2010–12: 27.5 / 650B 0.0% (1 of 5,071 classified records) 2014–15: 27.5 / 650B 11.1% (139 of 1,257 classified records) 2016: 27.5 / 650B 13.2% (27 of 204 classified records) 2019–21: 27.5 / 650B 47.3% (26 of 55 classified records) 2022–24: 27.5 / 650B 11.6% (18 of 155 classified records) 2025–27: 27.5 / 650B 5.5% (40 of 723 classified records) 1993–94: 26 inch 55.7% (674 of 1,211 classified records) 1995–97: 26 inch 58.0% (3,883 of 6,694 classified records) 1998–00: 26 inch 61.8% (4,615 of 7,464 classified records) 2001–03: 26 inch 42.3% (2,241 of 5,300 classified records) 2004–06: 26 inch 43.2% (2,296 of 5,319 classified records) 2007–09: 26 inch 42.2% (2,989 of 7,083 classified records) 2010–12: 26 inch 34.8% (1,766 of 5,071 classified records) 2014–15: 26 inch 8.0% (100 of 1,257 classified records) 2016: 26 inch 8.8% (18 of 204 classified records) 2019–21: 26 inch 10.9% (6 of 55 classified records) 2022–24: 26 inch 3.9% (6 of 155 classified records) 2025–27: 26 inch 2.4% (17 of 723 classified records) 1993–94: 24 inch 2.4% (29 of 1,211 classified records) 1995–97: 24 inch 2.9% (197 of 6,694 classified records) 1998–00: 24 inch 2.6% (197 of 7,464 classified records) 2001–03: 24 inch 3.3% (173 of 5,300 classified records) 2004–06: 24 inch 3.5% (185 of 5,319 classified records) 2007–09: 24 inch 4.3% (302 of 7,083 classified records) 2010–12: 24 inch 3.5% (179 of 5,071 classified records) 2014–15: 24 inch 3.2% (40 of 1,257 classified records) 2016: 24 inch 2.5% (5 of 204 classified records) 2019–21: 24 inch 5.5% (3 of 55 classified records) 2022–24: 24 inch 3.9% (6 of 155 classified records) 2025–27: 24 inch 1.7% (12 of 723 classified records) 1993–94: 20 inch 3.2% (39 of 1,211 classified records) 1995–97: 20 inch 11.5% (769 of 6,694 classified records) 1998–00: 20 inch 14.1% (1,055 of 7,464 classified records) 2001–03: 20 inch 16.2% (858 of 5,300 classified records) 2004–06: 20 inch 13.7% (727 of 5,319 classified records) 2007–09: 20 inch 12.2% (867 of 7,083 classified records) 2010–12: 20 inch 8.6% (437 of 5,071 classified records) 2014–15: 20 inch 4.5% (57 of 1,257 classified records) 2016: 20 inch 4.4% (9 of 204 classified records) 2019–21: 20 inch 1.8% (1 of 55 classified records) 2022–24: 20 inch 3.9% (6 of 155 classified records) 2025–27: 20 inch 1.2% (9 of 723 classified records) 1993–94: Mixed wheel 0.3% (4 of 1,211 classified records) 1995–97: Mixed wheel 1.4% (92 of 6,694 classified records) 1998–00: Mixed wheel 1.3% (94 of 7,464 classified records) 2001–03: Mixed wheel 2.6% (139 of 5,300 classified records) 2004–06: Mixed wheel 1.3% (69 of 5,319 classified records) 2007–09: Mixed wheel 0.4% (28 of 7,083 classified records) 2010–12: Mixed wheel 0.1% (5 of 5,071 classified records) 2014–15: Mixed wheel 1.9% (24 of 1,257 classified records) 2016: Mixed wheel 6.4% (13 of 204 classified records) 2019–21: Mixed wheel 5.5% (3 of 55 classified records) 2022–24: Mixed wheel 27.7% (43 of 155 classified records) 2025–27: Mixed wheel 21.7% (157 of 723 classified records)

Latest qualifying period: In 2025–27, 29 inch represented 39.4% of 723 classified records in the plotted period.

40,536 classified records 52,115 eligible records Chart periods: 3 years Period threshold: 15 classified records
View annual source data
YearClassifiedEligibleCoverage700C29 inch27.5 / 650B26 inch24 inch20 inchMixed wheel
19936241,03860.1%38.1% (238)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)57.5% (359)1.4% (9)2.9% (18)0.0% (0)
19945871,06755.0%38.7% (227)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)53.7% (315)3.4% (20)3.6% (21)0.7% (4)
19951,6361,72195.1%21.1% (345)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)63.4% (1,038)3.0% (49)10.7% (175)1.8% (29)
19962,2162,31395.8%31.8% (704)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)55.1% (1,220)2.9% (64)8.9% (197)1.4% (31)
19972,8422,99594.9%24.8% (704)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)57.2% (1,625)3.0% (84)14.0% (397)1.1% (32)
19982,7173,03489.6%20.5% (556)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)62.6% (1,701)2.8% (75)13.5% (368)0.6% (17)
19992,5983,28679.1%18.4% (479)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)63.9% (1,661)2.5% (65)14.0% (363)1.2% (30)
20002,1492,43188.4%21.8% (468)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)58.3% (1,253)2.7% (57)15.1% (324)2.2% (47)
20011,8832,23884.1%30.1% (566)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)46.0% (866)3.6% (68)17.6% (331)2.8% (52)
20021,6071,89484.8%37.0% (595)0.1% (2)0.0% (0)41.5% (667)3.5% (56)14.7% (237)3.1% (50)
20031,8102,03189.1%39.8% (720)0.3% (6)0.0% (0)39.1% (708)2.7% (49)16.0% (290)2.0% (37)
20041,7341,81495.6%39.6% (687)0.1% (2)0.0% (0)39.4% (683)3.6% (62)15.7% (273)1.6% (27)
20051,7421,84794.3%37.7% (656)0.3% (5)0.0% (0)44.9% (783)3.5% (61)12.5% (217)1.1% (20)
20061,8432,00791.8%37.1% (683)0.5% (9)0.0% (0)45.0% (830)3.4% (62)12.9% (237)1.2% (22)
20072,2632,44392.6%37.3% (844)1.9% (42)0.0% (0)46.2% (1,046)4.2% (96)9.9% (225)0.4% (10)
20082,4592,72390.3%36.6% (899)3.5% (86)0.0% (0)41.8% (1,027)4.4% (107)13.3% (328)0.5% (12)
20092,3612,44396.6%40.0% (944)3.5% (82)0.0% (0)38.8% (916)4.2% (99)13.3% (314)0.3% (6)
20102,4532,64692.7%47.3% (1,161)3.8% (93)0.0% (0)37.1% (910)3.0% (74)8.7% (213)0.1% (2)
20112,6162,79793.5%47.7% (1,248)6.9% (180)0.0% (0)32.7% (856)4.0% (105)8.6% (224)0.1% (3)
201222,6380.1%0.0% (0)50.0% (1)50.0% (1)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)
2014751,3835.4%70.7% (53)6.7% (5)0.0% (0)4.0% (3)6.7% (5)12.0% (9)0.0% (0)
20151,1821,35487.3%50.4% (596)20.6% (243)11.8% (139)8.2% (97)3.0% (35)4.1% (48)2.0% (24)
201620421495.3%55.9% (114)8.8% (18)13.2% (27)8.8% (18)2.5% (5)4.4% (9)6.4% (13)
201911100.0%0.0% (0)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)100.0% (1)
202033100.0%33.3% (1)0.0% (0)66.7% (2)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)0.0% (0)
2021516282.3%7.8% (4)21.6% (11)47.1% (24)11.8% (6)5.9% (3)2.0% (1)3.9% (2)
2022315952.5%32.3% (10)6.5% (2)22.6% (7)6.5% (2)6.5% (2)0.0% (0)25.8% (8)
2023468852.3%15.2% (7)34.8% (16)10.9% (5)6.5% (3)4.3% (2)6.5% (3)21.7% (10)
20247812761.4%26.9% (21)25.6% (20)7.7% (6)1.3% (1)2.6% (2)3.8% (3)32.1% (25)
202515326757.3%23.5% (36)24.8% (38)4.6% (7)3.9% (6)3.9% (6)3.3% (5)35.9% (55)
202643674258.8%25.9% (113)43.8% (191)6.9% (30)1.8% (8)1.1% (5)0.5% (2)20.0% (87)
202713424255.4%40.3% (54)41.8% (56)2.2% (3)2.2% (3)0.7% (1)1.5% (2)11.2% (15)

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Historical series

Mountain-Bike Suspension Formats

Share of classified mountain-bike records identified as rigid, hardtail or full suspension.

86.1%overall coverage
RigidHardtailFull suspension
Mountain-Bike Suspension Formats Three-year aggregate periods of classified Velopedia archive records. Long stretches without enough qualifying data are shown as explicit axis breaks and use compressed spacing; no missing values are interpolated. 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 1993–94 1995–97 1998–00 2001–03 2004–06 2007–09 2010–12 2013–15 2016 2021 2022–24 2025–27 1993–94: Rigid 0.0% (0 of 442 classified records) 1995–97: Rigid 0.0% (0 of 2,636 classified records) 1998–00: Rigid 0.1% (5 of 4,392 classified records) 2001–03: Rigid 0.0% (0 of 1,937 classified records) 2004–06: Rigid 0.0% (0 of 1,886 classified records) 2007–09: Rigid 0.6% (15 of 2,469 classified records) 2010–12: Rigid 0.6% (15 of 2,435 classified records) 2013–15: Rigid 0.0% (0 of 1,308 classified records) 2016: Rigid 0.0% (0 of 61 classified records) 2021: Rigid 0.0% (0 of 24 classified records) 2022–24: Rigid 0.0% (0 of 105 classified records) 2025–27: Rigid 0.5% (3 of 627 classified records) 1993–94: Hardtail 81.0% (358 of 442 classified records) 1995–97: Hardtail 69.3% (1,826 of 2,636 classified records) 1998–00: Hardtail 60.0% (2,634 of 4,392 classified records) 2001–03: Hardtail 52.2% (1,012 of 1,937 classified records) 2004–06: Hardtail 49.7% (938 of 1,886 classified records) 2007–09: Hardtail 54.0% (1,334 of 2,469 classified records) 2010–12: Hardtail 51.1% (1,245 of 2,435 classified records) 2013–15: Hardtail 50.6% (662 of 1,308 classified records) 2016: Hardtail 42.6% (26 of 61 classified records) 2021: Hardtail 45.8% (11 of 24 classified records) 2022–24: Hardtail 25.7% (27 of 105 classified records) 2025–27: Hardtail 17.9% (112 of 627 classified records) 1993–94: Full suspension 19.0% (84 of 442 classified records) 1995–97: Full suspension 30.7% (810 of 2,636 classified records) 1998–00: Full suspension 39.9% (1,753 of 4,392 classified records) 2001–03: Full suspension 47.8% (925 of 1,937 classified records) 2004–06: Full suspension 50.3% (948 of 1,886 classified records) 2007–09: Full suspension 45.4% (1,120 of 2,469 classified records) 2010–12: Full suspension 48.3% (1,175 of 2,435 classified records) 2013–15: Full suspension 49.4% (646 of 1,308 classified records) 2016: Full suspension 57.4% (35 of 61 classified records) 2021: Full suspension 54.2% (13 of 24 classified records) 2022–24: Full suspension 74.3% (78 of 105 classified records) 2025–27: Full suspension 81.7% (512 of 627 classified records)

Latest qualifying period: In 2025–27, full suspension represented 81.7% of 627 classified records in the plotted period.

18,322 classified records 21,278 eligible records Chart periods: 3 years Period threshold: 15 classified records
View annual source data
YearClassifiedEligibleCoverageRigidHardtailFull suspension
199320257035.4%0.0% (0)79.7% (161)20.3% (41)
199424056142.8%0.0% (0)82.1% (197)17.9% (43)
19956271,03160.8%0.0% (0)75.1% (471)24.9% (156)
19967901,15468.5%0.0% (0)71.1% (562)28.9% (228)
19971,2191,54778.8%0.0% (0)65.1% (793)34.9% (426)
19981,4401,64287.7%0.0% (0)55.2% (795)44.8% (645)
19991,7681,93091.6%0.3% (5)61.1% (1,080)38.6% (683)
20001,1841,30390.9%0.0% (0)64.1% (759)35.9% (425)
200178187189.7%0.0% (0)55.2% (431)44.8% (350)
200261168788.9%0.0% (0)50.9% (311)49.1% (300)
200354560490.2%0.0% (0)49.5% (270)50.5% (275)
200455259093.6%0.0% (0)49.1% (271)50.9% (281)
200562165794.5%0.0% (0)50.2% (312)49.8% (309)
200671374595.7%0.0% (0)49.8% (355)50.2% (358)
200782686195.9%0.8% (7)53.0% (438)46.1% (381)
200886488497.7%0.6% (5)53.6% (463)45.8% (396)
200977979797.7%0.4% (3)55.6% (433)44.0% (343)
201085086897.9%0.6% (5)54.9% (467)44.5% (378)
201190494096.2%0.8% (7)54.8% (495)44.5% (402)
201268184380.8%0.4% (3)41.6% (283)58.0% (395)
2013626626100.0%0.0% (0)54.6% (342)45.4% (284)
2014191191100.0%0.0% (0)57.1% (109)42.9% (82)
201549151096.3%0.0% (0)43.0% (211)57.0% (280)
2016616791.0%0.0% (0)42.6% (26)57.4% (35)
2021242788.9%0.0% (0)45.8% (11)54.2% (13)
2022131776.5%0.0% (0)61.5% (8)38.5% (5)
2023414395.3%0.0% (0)22.0% (9)78.0% (32)
2024515494.4%0.0% (0)19.6% (10)80.4% (41)
202511312689.7%2.7% (3)31.9% (36)65.5% (74)
202639440996.3%0.0% (0)16.8% (66)83.2% (328)
202712012397.6%0.0% (0)8.3% (10)91.7% (110)

Download this annual aggregate series as CSV

Geometry through time

Geometry Evolution

Select a bicycle family to see how its frame-angle distribution changed across qualifying archive periods. The vertical bands show the middle 50% of geometries; the line connects period medians only where adjacent periods have data.

6,206head-angle references
Two evidence eras: historical model-level reference geometry and modern size-specific manufacturer geometry. The long gap between them is shown deliberately; Velopedia does not infer the missing years.
Head angle6.5° slacker

The median head angle moved from 71.0° in 1993–94 (n=544) to 64.5° in 2025–27 (n=246).

Seat angle3.5° steeper

The median seat angle moved from 73.0° in 1993–94 (n=528) to 76.5° in 2025–27 (n=231).

Head-tube angle

Lower is slacker. Range band = middle 50%; point = median.

Mountain Head-tube angle Three-year geometry distributions. The vertical band at each period is the middle 50 percent of qualifying geometries and the point is the median. Missing periods are not interpolated. 63.0° 66.2° 69.3° 72.5° 1993–941995–971998–002001–032004–0620212022–242025–27 Chart spacing compressed across 2007–2018 sparse. 1993–94: median 71.0°; middle 50% 70.5–71.3°; 544 distinct geometries; historical reference 1995–97: median 71.0°; middle 50% 71.0–71.5°; 1,193 distinct geometries; historical reference 1998–00: median 71.0°; middle 50% 70.5–71.0°; 753 distinct geometries; historical reference 2001–03: median 71.0°; middle 50% 70.3–71.0°; 573 distinct geometries; historical reference 2004–06: median 71.0°; middle 50% 70.0–71.0°; 159 distinct geometries; historical reference 2021: median 66.8°; middle 50% 65.0–67.4°; 18 distinct geometries; modern size-specific 2022–24: median 65.1°; middle 50% 64.3–67.1°; 63 distinct geometries; modern size-specific 2025–27: median 64.5°; middle 50% 64.0–66.1°; 246 distinct geometries; modern size-specific

Seat-tube angle

Higher is steeper. Range band = middle 50%; point = median.

Mountain Seat-tube angle Three-year geometry distributions. The vertical band at each period is the middle 50 percent of qualifying geometries and the point is the median. Missing periods are not interpolated. 70.0° 72.7° 75.3° 78.0° 1993–941995–971998–002001–032004–0620212022–242025–27 Chart spacing compressed across 2007–2018 sparse. 1993–94: median 73.0°; middle 50% 71.0–73.0°; 528 distinct geometries; historical reference 1995–97: median 73.0°; middle 50% 73.0–73.5°; 1,180 distinct geometries; historical reference 1998–00: median 73.0°; middle 50% 73.0–73.5°; 749 distinct geometries; historical reference 2001–03: median 73.0°; middle 50% 73.0–73.5°; 559 distinct geometries; historical reference 2004–06: median 73.0°; middle 50% 72.2–73.5°; 159 distinct geometries; historical reference 2021: median 74.8°; middle 50% 73.5–75.5°; 18 distinct geometries; modern size-specific 2022–24: median 76.5°; middle 50% 74.2–77.3°; 63 distinct geometries; modern size-specific 2025–27: median 76.5°; middle 50% 75.3–77.3°; 231 distinct geometries; modern size-specific
View annual geometry source data for Mountain
YearHead angle medianHead middle 50%nSeat angle medianSeat middle 50%n
199371.0°70.5–71.0°27171.0°71.0–73.0°269
199471.0°70.5–71.5°27373.0°73.0–73.0°259
199571.0°71.0–71.3°37973.0°73.0–73.5°372
199671.0°71.0–71.5°43373.0°73.0–73.5°428
199771.0°70.8–71.2°38173.0°73.0–73.5°380
199871.0°70.5–71.0°34973.0°73.0–73.5°346
199971.0°70.5–71.0°26173.0°73.0–73.5°261
200071.0°70.0–71.0°14373.0°72.6–73.0°142
200171.0°70.5–71.0°19473.0°73.0–73.5°193
200271.0°70.0–71.0°20073.0°73.0–73.5°194
200371.0°70.2–71.0°17973.0°72.5–73.5°172
200471.0°70.0–71.0°12173.0°72.5–73.5°121
200571.0°70.5–71.0°1573.0°72.9–73.3°15
200669.0°67.0–70.5°2372.5°70.0–73.0°23
202166.8°65.0–67.4°1874.8°73.5–75.5°18
202268.0°66.7–68.7°1274.2°74.0–75.6°12
202364.6°64.0–65.8°2676.9°75.0–77.3°26
202465.0°64.3–66.6°2576.7°74.3–77.3°25
202564.7°64.0–66.5°6676.5°74.8–77.3°66
202664.6°64.0–66.2°13276.5°75.1–77.0°116
202764.5°64.0–65.4°4876.5°75.9–77.5°49
Statistic: median + middle 50% rangeChart periods: 3 yearsMinimum: 12 distinct geometries per family/period
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