Jughed

Do my AI pedaled zwift miles count towards my annual total?

PeteHski

Ah but they are VR miles, not AI miles. I’m sure techno-grouches like Wolfy certainly wouldn’t allow any “fake” miles to count.

PeteHski

It obviously isn’t going to apply to a static fixed seatpost. The idea is to auto control a dropper post and suspension settings, which would otherwise be manually adjusted for climbs and descents. Very limited use on a road bike, but potentially quite handy on a mountain bike with a dropper post, suspension lockouts and travel adjust etc. I can see the potential, but might also be more hassle than it’s worth.

Jughed

But my smart trainer has AI and pedals itself. So AI VR miles.

noimagination

The concept does sound pretty cool, IMO. But, technology has long since passed me by. I've pretty much settled at the manual shifting/human powered pedaling/basic bike computer w/o GPS or Bluetooth/tubed tires/bike trainer with a TV playing DVDs level of bike tech. I feel no need to progress beyond that, but if forced (i.e. the "old tech" is no longer available, or "new tech" is standard on a bike I'm buying), I'll roll with it.

My latest bike (June, 2023), for example, has hydraulic disk brakes, 12 speed cassette and tubeless-ready rims. The disk brakes I was already somewhat familiar with, since the tandem we bought in 2015 has cabled disk brakes. The hydraulic system is sealed, so unless something happens I shouldn't have to fool with it, and if something needs to be done I'll probably let my LBS do it - with the way I ride it isn't likely that the frequency of adjustment will make it reasonable to buy the necessary tools and acquire the necessary expertise. The 12 speed cassette change is unnoticeable (I think - I'll have to see if my cassette lock-ring tool and my chain breaker will still work, or if I'll have to get a new tool(s)). I had a bit of a learning curve with tubeless-ready rims: seating a tire bead is a bit different/a bit more trouble. The true test of my new competence in that area will be my first flat out on the road, of course. Hopefully that won't happen until the weather warms up (there, now I've jinxed myself).

Chuck M 

I would think that there would need to be more to it than just hitting a "like" button. There would need to be something that identified the conditions that the rider likes, speed, gps position, elevation, etc. to know when to make these adjustments. And the rider would almost certainly have to lift their butt out of the saddle for any raising of the seat post or saddle tilt to happen. I'd wager this is something that will never make it into production that Shimano wants to just claim the idea for.

Garthr

Well, I don't see a sub-forum for what you ride, so that comes off as nothing but envy.

Garthr

For someone who appears to demand respect based on your history/qualifications, you give so little to anyone who doesn't go along with it.

We may disagree about many things, but all that is superficial. If you want to get into personal name calling, well, like Roy Schieder in Jaws said when he saw the shark , "we're gonna need a bigger boat".

PeteHski

wtf?

PeteHski

wtf again?

PeteHski

So you think Wolfy's post here deserves respect?

wheelreason

So swift...

wheelreason

Yes, yes, AI is going to eat our babies, just like Y2K did...

indyfabz

It could happen. Robots eat old peoples' medicine.

PeteHski

Joking aside, there is no AI or machine learning involved with a Smart Trainer. Smart trainers are only "smart" in the sense that the resistance is controllable by an external device. There is no intelligent learning process going on there.

I think AI is rapidly becoming an over-used word now applied to all sorts of basic control systems. What Shimano is proposing here is the most basic application of machine learning from human feedback.

wheelreason

LOL, I hear Irwin Mainway is working on Bag O' Fentanyl....

PeteHski

😂 love it!

Wileyrat

I really can’t think of a reason right now that would lead me to be interested in any of what they were talking about.

noglider 

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

Reynolds 

I wouldn't be surprised if someone invents an AutoFit bike: you climb on it, do a few pedal strokes and a few sensors activate servos at the seatpost, stem and handlebar, setting them at the best position (according to AI). The same could apply, with a small compressor, to set optimal tire pressures. Of course, it'd need some extra batteries, motors and sensors, but I think it's a small price to pay for such conveniences.

jon c. 

It wasn't clear to me how the dropper would function except on courses it had already learned. Would it lower when it detected the rider was descending? The article doesn't really tell us what the decision process is.

wolfchild

I will continue to fight and resist this electronic monster that the bicycle industry is trying to push on everybody.

tomato coupe

I think we have a real life Don Quixote on the forum.

50PlusCycling

Another solution to a nonexistent problem. But the science of marketing is to sell people things they don’t need and can’t really afford. I suppose new AI technology, besides being able to determine the best riding positions, will also collect information about your fitness and riding style, and sell this information to third parties, like the systems in newer cars. And that AI bikes will offer subscription features on your bike which you can purchase for an additional fee.

Chuck M 

I thought resistance is voltage divided by current.