Chainless Bike / Ceramicspeed Driven - The new thing?
 

Hi all,

One of my friend sent me this video yesterday about a Chain-less Bike that uses a driveshaft that provides 99% efficiency. It's also explained that it shifts perfectly even under load.

We all know that energy is lost when transmitted/transferred - this technology looks cool IMO. It's advertised to revolutionize the industry, but I doubt it will take over chains and gears in a near future.


What do you guys think?

*rides in the rain once*

*takes bike to shop to diagnose horrible noise*

"Well, crud got in the bearings and they need replacing...all 15 ceramic bearings. Oh, and the "cassette" is toast as well, so they need to CNC a new one. Your total, with labor, comes to $3200."

Did you see the protective cover available? Might not solve all issues, but would certainly help in situations where dirt or other elements could damage the components.

A whole lot of money for proprietary nonsense and little more.

A single speed bike is about 98% efficient and derailleur drivetrains a bit less, depending on chain angle etc.

https://www.cyclingabout.com/drivetr...between-1x-2x/


Drive-shaft systems were around 100 years ago...they never caught on.

Did you notice this thread last month?

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...ive-venge.html

I love (!) seeing new tech hit the cycling segment. This may not do much for us, catch on, etc... but glad to see innovation in any form. It's ironic for me though - I've considered the rear derailleur one of the most elegant pieces of mechanical engineering. They're so simple and just work. Rain, mud, dirt, abuse... and they just keep working.

They really aren't that elegant, and really don't "just work" outside of sunny dry weather (excepting Di2 or eTap). They're exposed very fragile mechanisms that are easily fouled by mud, prone to bending a "replaceable" hanger that in a few years you'll never be able to source. And as # of speeds have gone up the chain has gotten narrower--and has a much shorter life. Also Wheels have gotten weaker as dishing has increased drastically.

IGHs...now those are elegant. Not as mechanically efficient, but chains last longer, they aren't fouled by mud, stronger wheels, and no exposed bits of mechanism or frame to damage.

Good points!

Since that cassette would have to be really stiff,

it could be the brake rotor as well- oh wait, that would make it fixed gear...

multi-speed fixed gear.

I had a bike like that when I was younger (we all had one, right?)... The pedals hitting my calves every time I stopped pedalling & forgot that the crank would continue spinning.

Same scenario with coaster brakes. That thing could throw you in front of your bike if you pedalled back by mistake.

The gear ratio spacing is going to be really whacked out.

Think about it: the tooth count jump is going to have be exactly the same between each gear (if the reason is not apparent in this video, it is in others). When looking at really wide range cassettes (which the one pictured it), that does not work well. You either really wide ratio spacing at the high end, or uselessly tight spacing at the low end.... or both.

I'd like to see how that system would cope with a 1600+W start from a dead stop. It may work great in a lab, but I just can't wrap my head around how all of those tiny bearings running on a 90-degree cassette would be able to not skip/explode as soon as someone really gave it the beans.

We can agree to disagree on this one. I race mtn and gravel bikes. I also keep my bikes relatively clean - after races/rides. I get years (!) out of derailleurs.