Automatic Bike!!

[jonny jeez]

Man and machine in perfect harmony...that's me!

last night my bike took on a life of its own and started changing gear automatically...at just the right time!!

climbing a bit of a hill, suddenly got a little bit steeper and the wind gusted,

"shazam!"...my trusty steed dropped a gear to accomodate.

later I reached the summit and started my decent

"Double shazam!", she takes it up a knotch.

How jolly helpful. In light of this new phase in our relationship I have decided to name her. From this day hence she shall be known as "Chitty"

do you see what I did there?

PS, Chitty continued this behaviour all morning during my ride in...I'm afriad to tweak the gears for fear of upsetting her now, trying to get her to work the pedals now.............

 

[thomas]

Does Chitty always doing it correctly?

 

[ttcycle]

You wait until the day when she decides to become rebellious -- say for example when you are on a fast moving traffic underpass and the gears change in whatever fashion they want, jumping back and forth whilst you're bricking it in your padded shorts...

worth checking the indexing..alas this wonderfully in tune partnership won't last for long...call me a cynic.

 

[jonny jeez]

Does Chitty always doing it correctly?

so far, she has a 100% success record...but as soon as that changes, I can see that I may start to "mis-pronounce" her name a little.....

 

[jonny jeez]

You wait until the day when she decides to become rebellious -- say for example when you are on a fast moving traffic underpass and the gears change in whatever fashion they want, jumping back and forth whilst you're bricking it in your padded shorts...

worth checking the indexing..alas this wonderfully in tune partnership won't last for long...call me a cynic.

cynic

 

[ttcycle]

I'll remember to wave with a big cheeful cheerio when I spot Chitty and yourself clunking away on the roads...give it time she'll turn.

 

[purplepolly]

Wouldn't it be really good if there were automatic gears? I know people (ok fellow women) who are taking a while to get to grips with two gear levers and things. It could be programmed for different levels like grind, middling, and spin.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

The true test will be riding off a cliff and seeing if she deploys wings ...

 

[Arch]

Wouldn't it be really good if there were automatic gears? I know people (ok fellow women) who are taking a while to get to grips with two gear levers and things. It could be programmed for different levels like grind, middling, and spin.

There have been. I cab't for the life of me remember the name of the bike right now, but it'll come back to me (probably in a crowded room, and everyone wil wonder why I suddenly shout a name out in triumph...)

 

[Arch]

Riese and Muller Equinox. I knew I'd get there....

 

[purplepolly]

of course hubgears and a gripshift would also sort the problem

 

[Arch]

It used the Shimano Auto-D system, apparently.

http://cycle.shimano-eu.com/publish...roducts/city___comfort_bike/auto_inter-3.html

I've ridden one a few times some years ago, I think it just changed gear according to speed.

 

[Arch]

of course hubgears and a gripshift would also sort the problem

Well yes. But a bike MUST have 157 gears you see, to be any good, even if you'll only ever use 3 of them....

 

[Big Jack Brass]

I remember seeing an "infomercial" on American telly about ten years ago for a bike with automatic gears. As I recall it operated by sprung weights and centrifugal force... although how well it worked I couldn't say.

 

[Arch]

The Equinox worked well enough. I can't remember if it had an override. And it was a semi recumbent comfort city bike, so not designed for long distance or serious hills. But it worked at what it was designed for and everyone who tried it said how comfortable and easy it was - just what most non-cyclists-who-could-actually-ride-those-short-trips need. Trouble is, if it's not 'mainstream' then a) it's expensive and people get self conscious and want a 'normal' looking bike, even if it's actually crap...