automatic gears on a bike ???

[jig-sore]

i was thinking about this on my ride home tonight. would it be possible/practical to have automatic gear shifting on a bike.

we have electronic shifting. we have cadence monitors. so why not connect a cadence monitor to the gear system so that it activates a shift at a preset RPM ???

you could have adjustable shifting limits. say change up if you spin over xxRPM and shift down if you spin below yyRPM.

am i dreaming or should i be contacting shimano ???

 

[mark barker]

It'd certainly be possible, and maybe even desirable for commuter bikes... Get that letter sent!

 

[snailracer]

Been done: Trek Lime, circa 2007.

 

[blubb]

Afaik Shimano did one too was called nexus automatic or so.

 

[gb155]

I read that Dura-Ace Di2 can be changed remotely by the team car, they view cadence, HR etc and shift accordingly

Also, Im 99% sure I read that the Pro Teams have a device on the Di2 Groupo that changes as you say , so shifts up and down to keep a riders cadence to a set level

I read this before last years Tour de France , in relation to an article about Team Sky

 

[XmisterIS]

It would perhaps be a good idea, but it doesn't take into account exhaustion! Sometimes, after a long hill climb (or even during the hill climb), or when heading into a merciless headwind, I like the pop down a few gears and spin along at low cadence just to get my breath back! If I had automatic gears that forced me to maintain a certain cadence, I would probably collapse!

 

[TheDoctor]

Nexus automatic about a decade back, Deal drive back in the 80s, doubtless a few others.
Bindun.

 

[iAmiAdam]

No thankyou, a computer can't know when I want to change gears.

 

[Black Sheep]

It would perhaps be a good idea, but it doesn't take into account exhaustion! Sometimes, after a long hill climb (or even during the hill climb), or when heading into a merciless headwind, I like the pop down a few gears and spin along at low cadence just to get my breath back! If I had automatic gears that forced me to maintain a certain cadence, I would probably collapse!

the one I had a go on (fitted to a city bike) back in about 2002 had overide buttons to change up or down making it manual and then you could swap back to auto at the touch of another button.

 

[snailracer]

It would perhaps be a good idea, but it doesn't take into account exhaustion! Sometimes, after a long hill climb (or even during the hill climb), or when heading into a merciless headwind, I like the pop down a few gears and spin along at low cadence just to get my breath back! If I had automatic gears that forced me to maintain a certain cadence, I would probably collapse!

Surely, you get the same effect when you hit the bottom gear? The system has no more gears to change down, so your cadence slows.

 

[Hilldodger]

The bicycle is a beautiful and simple design - why complicate it?

 

[snailracer]

The bicycle is a beautiful and simple design - why complicate it?

I see from your avatar that even a chain is too much complication .

 

[Hilldodger]

I see from your avatar that even a chain is too much complication .

Quite right. These modern safety bicycles are just a passing fad.

 

[ianrauk]

I read that Dura-Ace Di2 can be changed remotely by the team car, they view cadence, HR etc and shift accordingly

Also, Im 99% sure I read that the Pro Teams have a device on the Di2 Groupo that changes as you say , so shifts up and down to keep a riders cadence to a set level

I read this before last years Tour de France , in relation to an article about Team Sky

I can't see that somehow mate. It would be downright dangerous in my book.

 

[mickle]

No thankyou, a computer can't know when I want to change gears.

Computers only know what you tell them.