As 2006 passes into memory most people are taken by over by retrospection, looking back over the best and the worst of the year (quite often accompanied by various gongs and awards). Here at citycycling we've got out the crystal ball instead, looking ahead to those fads, items and people who will be providing the cycling headlines and stories in the year to come.

.fad of the year

There's always one, something which usually starts out as loved by a few before the many find out that it's something pretty damned good and everyone's going to get a piece of it. Some linger (like BMX), others pass into folklore despite repeated attempts at renewal and recapture (like Choppers).

2006 must surely have been the year of the fixie, moving out of the domain of the hardcore courier, or audax masochist, to emerge as a practical and fun solution to day-to-day riding.

For 2007 there can only be one way to go: the fixed folder...

Bear with us on this. The fixie is most definitely a commuter's dream, the removal of gears, and in many cases one of the brakes, lessening the number of variables for breakage in the year. Especially as the weather deteriorates towards winter.

The combination of this, with the practicality of a folder is something to savour. While there have certainly been some in the past which people have fettled themselves (fixedgeargallery should be a happy hunting ground) it should be time for this to move into the mainstream.