The Coolest and Quirkiest Bike Tech Roundup: Trainers, Power Meter Pedals, and Smart Lighting

Introduction

Every big bike tech show produces a mix of headline products and under-the-radar gems, and this year’s roundup leans heavily on the latter. Some of the most interesting items here are not flashy concept pieces but practical products: a trainer priced well below the competition, a smart bike frame that works with any app, power meter pedals finally edging toward reality, and a rear light that hides entirely under the saddle.

One caveat worth noting up front: this was a quieter year for sports tech overall. Many of the biggest names announced their products separately rather than on the show floor, which meant smaller companies got more of the spotlight. That worked in our favor, because the smaller booths often had the most creative ideas on display.

The Quick Evaluation Lens

For a roundup like this, three questions separate a gimmick from a genuine buy. First, does it solve a real problem, like packing light for travel or seeing traffic behind you? Second, does it work with the ecosystem you already use, rather than locking you in? Third, is the price proportionate to what it actually delivers?

The five products below all score reasonably well on those questions, though some come with caveats that are worth reading before clicking buy.

JetBlack Trainer: Flagship Features Without the Flagship Price

The JetBlack trainer takes the cake as the most interesting trainer announcement, and the reason is simple: the price. At $399, it promises the feature set of trainers that cost around $1,000. That kind of value positioning explains why people have been so excited about it since its announcement.

For anyone building out a first indoor setup or upgrading from a basic wheel-on unit, a direct-drive trainer with higher-end features at a mid-range price is exactly the kind of disruption the trainer market benefits from.

Elite Square: An App-Neutral Smart Bike Frame

The Elite Square is a smart bike frame that attaches to any trainer, not just Elite’s own units. That distinction matters more than it might first appear. Some competitor setups are built around proprietary hardware that only works with one platform, which limits where you can ride.

The cycling community has a great term for what the Square does: app neutral. You can pair it with virtually any training platform you prefer, whether that is Zwift, Rouvy, FulGaz, indieVelo, TrainerRoad, or something else entirely. If you want the feel of a smart bike without being locked into one software ecosystem, this is the flexible path.

Exedo Power Meter Pedals: Still Promising, Still Intriguing

Exedo has been promising power meter pedals for a remarkably long time, more than a decade by most counts, and this new set is the latest attempt to finally deliver. The lineup covers the full range: Shimano SPD-SL, Look Kéo, and SPD for the mountain bike side, with a couple of SPD variants plus one option each for the road standards.

Target pricing sits at $799 for the dual-sided road pedals and $899 for the SPD version. Battery life is claimed at 50 hours, powered by a CR232 coin cell that requires undoing three small bolts to access, which could prove tedious if the real-world battery life falls short of the claim.

The honest takeaway: competition in this segment is welcome, and the company sounds confident that production units are close. But the key question with any power meter is accuracy, and that remains to be proven. If it measures accurately, it is a power meter. If it does not, it is just an expensive pedal.

Saddle Drive Ai: A Rear Light That Disappears Under the Saddle

The Saddle Drive Ai bike light is a cleverly designed rear light that mounts almost entirely concealed under the saddle. When you brake, an accelerometer-based algorithm makes the light brighter and causes it to blink, giving following traffic a clearer signal that you are slowing down.

The part that stands out most is not the AI branding, which feels slightly overplayed, but the packaging. The unit is remarkably small, charges over USB-C, and slides out with a simple rotation for charging. Battery life is claimed at 60 hours per charge, which is generous for a light this compact. It stays out of the way while remaining bright, which is exactly what you want from a rear light.

Flex Mounts: A Small $25 Accessory With Broad Compatibility

Alongside the light, the same brand showed off its Flex mounts at just $25. The design attaches to the front stem, and the flexible base rotates to fit different bolt spacing widths, which is where the “flex” name comes from.

The genuinely useful detail is on the front: a standard action-camera mounting interface. Since GoPro-style mounts are used by action cameras from every major brand, plus many bike lights, radars, and other sensors, this tiny adapter effectively makes your stem compatible with nearly everything in your gear drawer. At $25, it is an easy impulse add-on.

Buying Advice: Which One Fits Your Setup

If you are building your first serious indoor training setup, the JetBlack trainer is the standout value play at $399. If you already own a trainer but want a smart-bike experience without software lock-in, the Elite Square is the flexible choice.

For data-focused riders, the Exedo pedals are worth watching, but wait for independent accuracy verification before committing. For safety and everyday riding, the Saddle Drive Ai light solves the hidden-tail-light problem elegantly, and the $25 Flex mounts are a no-brainer if you run any action camera or accessory on your stem.

Conclusion

This year’s crop of bike tech proves that the most useful innovations do not always come from the biggest names. A trainer that undercuts the premium segment, a smart frame that respects your app choice, and a light that vanishes under the saddle are all examples of products solving real problems at sensible prices. Keep an eye on the pedals though: if the accuracy holds up, that could be the most interesting story of the bunch.