Automatic gearing for cycles!?

[Stressed]

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/1...t-is-wild-and-spiky-and-could-be-a-big-shift/

 

[novocaine]

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/1...t-is-wild-and-spiky-and-could-be-a-big-shift/

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-r...g-chainring-16-speed-graphite-1980s-usa-made/

 

[ferrus]

Auto shifting derailleur:
https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/autobike_smartshift_2000_derailleur.html
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20436197...Q9htGCTddDtTzQeZvBD6FPiQ==|tkp:Bk9SR7SVpvCEYw