daven1986

Hi,

Just wondering if, with the progression of electronic gears, we will ever see automatic bicycles which will change gear automatically to keep your cadence in your ideal zone?

Would be quite interesting, but would take a lot of the fun out of cycling. I prefer manual controls, as it is more true to the point of cycling.

Thoughts?

Daven

CommuterRun

Already available, it's just a matter of time and R&D before this technology bcomes more widespread.

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...ath/lime/lime/

Metzinger

Expect to see some of these in this year's UCI Mountainbike World Cup.
https://www.landriderbikes.com/

xenologer

Wait, automatic shifting on a 3speed IGH?
as if only 3 gears to choose from, and on an IGH even weren't simple enough already??
What kind of mentally handicapped people are they marketing too...

Juha

Well, car stick shifters aren't exactly rocket science either, but automatic gearboxes have been around since the days when cars only had 3-4 gears... I suppose there's a market.

Wouldn't the NuVinci hub be a good candidate for automatic shifting applications?

--J

xenologer

Being gearless I'd imagine that sort of thing would be even easier to design a controller for than a traditional drivetrain. You could probably pull it off with an analog PD controller... Since the ratios are a smooth transition instead of steps between sprokets.

daven1986

LOL at the 3 speed auto bike! That is pretty pathetic. Car shifting isn't rocket science but it does take more skill than changing gear on a bike. I was thinking more for a 24 speed or something, so the system has more gears to choose from so as to make smooth transitions.

DieselDan

Shimano has an electronic road bike group set that has some automatic ability, as it adjusts front derailer trim, but doesn't actually shift gears. Between Coasting and Di2, a full automatic shifting groupset isn't too far away.

If bike shifting is too hard for you, then stick to spinning class. Every new bike you shift without moving your hands from the handlebar.

daven1986

Ye shifting isn't really a problem, but with new technology comes new innovations that no one ever knew they needed! Perhaps some people would like to go out on the road and just spin - knowing that whatever cadence they set will be maintained for them as close as possible - they don't have to look at their computer / whatever, they can just enjoy the scenery. Being out on the road is much more fun than stuck in a gym.

xenologer

If all the rider does is tell the computer his preffered cadence, then keep his legs moving at such a pace. How does he control the speed of the bike?
Sure when hitting a hill, resistance may slow the rider's legs down, in which case the computer changes gears to let the rider speed up again. The computer uses the crank motion as input.
But there's still the calibration factor of how fast he'd like to be moving forward.

The rider will still need to dial in a knob for speed on the computer now that his own legs no longer control speed directly. So its not so simple as ignoring the bike and enjoying the scenery.

I guess you could have the computer also monitor the brake lever, and reduce the speed calibration if it is pulled, as well as gradually increase the setting if the rider is spinning faster than the preset cadence. But this in itself seems like it's introducing complexity...

jgedwa

My problem is that I have nowhere to set my coffee cup down while riding a bike. Someone needs to invent some sort of holder thing for my cup.

jim

daven1986

Ye I was thinking about this too, I.e. you wouldn't want the bike to shift down every time you brake. Yes it will cause more complexity, but electronic shifters are pretty complex too, not to mention unnecessary - but like everything there will be someone who wants it / invents it.

norwood

Yes, Yes! We need auto shifting and some sort of power steering and power assisted braking and of course, the cup holder. And some sort of metal box to protect us from the elements and maybe 2 more wheels to keep it all steady. And, and.......wait a minute.

Asymmetriad

Been done plenty of times. Saw pictures in the Utility forum (I think) of bikes with duct tape beer holders on the bars. The principle's the same. Also picked up a crappy Mercier mixte this past summer that had a bottle cage hanging off the bars. That'd hold my travel mug no problem.

Maybe instead someone should invent an automatic intravenous nutrient pump. Never go Bonk again!

mgold8

The day that people are riding Automatic Bicycles would be a pretty sad day in society. I mean seriously! How lazy can people be? I wouldn't see much point to it either. It's not hard to change gears and automatic bike that you would build would probably be much more complicated.

I guess it's like the argument of the stick-shift transmissions vs. automatic transmissions for cars. Automatic transmissions are easier to use, but manuals give you more control, aren't as complicated, are more reliable, and give you better gas mileage. I'm surprised people are always upset that their cars don't get better mileage and talk about getting a hybrid! Get a MANUAL and you'll get better mileage! It's a $1000 less option when you buy a car!

daven1986

I'm not suggesting that they'd be a good idea at all. Just wondering if they would ever make them.

frankenmike 

If you are a fortunate mechanic, you'll never see a landrider.

hotbike

You mean like the Autobike?

AEO

you mean like this?
https://www.fallbrooktech.com/08_demo.asp

constantly variable planetary drive hub

think IGH + CVT.

daven1986

that is very cool wonder if you could use a rear derailleur to keep tension and add a front derailleur for more gears?

also I can see how that can very easily be modified to be automatic. While not itself automatic I think it is a pretty decent innovation.

werewolf

NY Times

Cycling Enters the Electronic Age With a New Gear-Shifting System


By IAN AUSTEN
Published: February 13, 2009


https://us.mc308.mail.yahoo.com/mc/sh...32795%26da%3D0

DieselDan

List me as unfortunate. There were two of those POSs abandoned at the resort unlocked, and nobody took them. The Marine Corps gave me $10 to use them for target practice.

frankenmike 

Wow-that's the most useful application I can think of for landriders! (sounds kinda fun, too)

Robert Foster

My LBS already sells something for that. It fits best on flat bar bikes but it will take the standard Starbucks coffee cup.

JeanCoutu

One of my freinds had an interesting automatic shifter story. His parents had a set of them, and with his brother one day they decided to race down the street for some reason. But they didn<t go very far because at some point the bike suddenly jumped gears, and since they were pushing hard at the time, it cause the both of them to loose foot and crash. lol.

Nuvinci thing looks neat, but with it<s really more suitable for mopeds. Fallbrook made an etek driven electric motorcycle with it, and they found the eff hit made it pretty much a wash with a singlespeed, this is compounded by the way on a bicycle the weight is significant. For what it<s worth I<d rather ride a singlespeed bike with low powered electric assist. Or an electric fixed gear bike could be a lot of fun.