Automatic gearing for cycles!?

[Stressed]

Automatic bike transmission concept is wild and spiky—and could be a big shift

Solo inventor says he's not out to replace gears, just offer an alternative.

arstechnica.com

 

[novocaine]

Automatic bike transmission concept is wild and spiky—and could be a big shift

Solo inventor says he's not out to replace gears, just offer an alternative.

arstechnica.com

hay you know what, this chain system isn't complicated enough, lets add more.

you want varible drive transimission, use a centrifugal cone on a belt drive. trying to mimic it in a chain is quite frankly absurd.

 

[hamster]

There have been several other similar approaches using basically the same principle, typically six idlers which expand radially and replace the chainset. I recall seeing one on Tomorrow's World, probably 45 years ago!

 

[Mod-Master]

Did it on a kona though!!

 

[mdvineng]

Just imagine when Grit etc gets into all those parts

 

[hamster]

Exactly, another solution for a non-existent problem...which in turn creates more problems itself.

Probably Shimano will do it, after all they usually like selling solutions to problems of their own making.

 

[Sir Neil d'Menture]

And the potential for the chain skipping off those front teeth must be enormous out in the real world.

 

[ferrus]

What happens when non-cycling engineers get involved.

Pretty much every engineer who sees my mech’ collection goes on to say how superior epicyclics’ are to the crude, ill-conceived derailleur. Well sure in theory (and certain applications) they are - but in the real world where cost, simplicity, reliability and weight are factors, the modern refined derailleur is hard to better.

 

[ferrus]

Not automatic but a concept that’s been sporadically reappearing for over a century:

https://bikerecyclery.com/nib-nos-rino-excel-cambiogear-groupset-bizarre-expanding-chainring-16-speed-graphite-1980s-usa-made/

 

[ferrus]

Auto shifting derailleur:

AutoBike SmartShift 2000 derailleur

Let me try and explain how the wondrous AutoBike Smartshift 2000 actually works. ...

www.disraeligears.co.uk

AUTOMATIC GEARS CONVERSION SET FOR YOUR BIKE SPECIAL PROJECT RARE INVENTION NOS | eBay

All you have to do is pedal! Your autostream will downshift as you decelerate so you will always start off in the easiest gear. The Autostream will automatically change gears to keep you pedaling at a comfortable rate.

www.ebay.co.uk