Interesting question.
A simple answer is, perhaps, "none".
The last few years has demonstrated diversity.
Before "Mountain Bikes' there were perhaps two sorts - straight handlebars and dropped.
The first sort could be described as utility and now are 're-emerging' as Dutch/Pashley! (with the added benefits of more than 3 (hub) gears).
Dropped bars were (generally) either 'tourers' or 'racers'.
Then 'adults' stopped riding bikes (unless they were 'poor' or cycling was their 'pastime').
Due (partly) to the 'oil crisis' the 80's saw a bit of a revival - especially in America, where the 'ten speed racer' became normal.
Unfortunately many weren't exactly great and actually put people off cycling!
'Mountain Bikes" were a genuine revolution. A Californian accident initially used for going down mountains.
One of the main things they did was almost heretical - demonstrate that for many people (and for potential more places to cycle) fat tires (sic) were better (or at least more appropriate) than the 'skinny is faster' racer tyre.
It was almost by coincidence (because of the 'news boy' bikes they were tinkered from) that they also had straight bars.
Comfortable tyres, an upright riding position, a 'go anywhere' practicality (plus all the hype) meant that they became popular with 'new' cyclists.
The 'craze' also led to genuine technological advances - particularly with gears and brakes. Triple chainsets became normal -resulting in sensible, low, gears for climbing mountains or The Mound.
The almost universal use of alloy rims plus cantilever brakes meant that the bikes stopped on a hillside, in the wet, in traffic...
For most people bikes are mainly used in urban areas - often for going to real places (work etc.) several times a week.
So increasingly people want reliability, robustness, comfort. At the same time some people also want lightness and speed.
Same old conflicts and contradictions.
For years the bicycle industry (particularly in the UK) has been trying to develop/sell 'the hybrid'.
This is either the best of both worlds (racer, MTB) or an undesirable compromise.
Some 'hybrids' are dressed-up versions of things our grandparents might have ridden others are refined versions of classic cyclocross bikes.
I used to think that the demand for folders would diminish when bikes on trains became easier/free. But that is far from the case!
I hope the future bike(s) will be the ones that suit the people who buy them and are not just 'the latest thing' or what bike shops choose to stock.
Go with the latest trend if you want to, but don't feel you have to.
Clearly we need to watch what Anth rides.
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