Bicycle Development

[Drago]

CVT hub or BB integrated gearboxes for sensible weight.

 

[HertzvanRental]

Look

It's already available: http://www.fallbrooktech.com/cycling/harmony

That's not too far away from having an engine!!

 

[Pale Rider]

CVT hub or BB integrated gearboxes for sensible weight.

NuVinci hub as mentioned earlier, or for those who want their gears in the bottom bracket, there's the Pinion gearbox.

Already fitted to some high end European tourers/trekking bikes.

http://pinion.eu/en/p1-18-gearbox/

 

[Drago]

One as thinking of something properly light. And perhaps affordable too I guess.

 

[Citius]

Once disks are allowed in road racing I bet take up will be almost an instant 100%. Calipers will quickly be consigned to the dustbin.

Well obviously, because the manufacturers will push their disk bikes onto their sponsored teams.

 

[Pale Rider]

One as thinking of something properly light. And perhaps affordable too I guess.

Aye, all the Pinions are 2kg+, so whatever its strengths are, light weight isn't one of them.

 

[HertzvanRental]

If discs are more efficient, what's the problem? Or am I missing something?

 

[Citius]

Unequal braking in the peloton.

If some had discs and some did not - particularly in the wet - it would be a guaranteed pile up.

Any change must be done by everyone at the same time, which would take some organising even if you wanted to do it.

That isn't the problem. The problem is establishing standards, particularly for neutral service. The braking thing is over-stated.

 

[Citius]

If discs are more efficient, what's the problem? Or am I missing something?

What you are missing is that they are not yet approved for road competition by the UCI. The timetable for adoption has been released and it will happen in the next few years, regardless of whether riders want it or not.

 

[HertzvanRental]

What you are missing is that they are not yet approved for road competition by the UCI. The timetable for adoption has been released and it will happen in the next few years, regardless of whether riders want it or not.

I understand that but struggle to understand why they have not been approved. Is there a down-side?

 

[Citius]

I understand that but struggle to understand why they have not been approved. Is there a down-side?

There has been no real desire to push the change through, because there is no real performance advantage. The down side is the cost of the change to the thousands of UCI registered pro and pro-am teams who don't have wheel sponsors.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Unequal braking in the peloton.

If some had discs and some did not - particularly in the wet - it would be a guaranteed pile up.

Any change must be done by everyone at the same time, which would take some organising even if you wanted to do it.

The difference between single and dual pivot calipers was considerable when the latter was introduced, yet the change in pro racing was not universal to begin with and it took even longer in amateur events. There were no problems, just as there were none in Motorcycle racing when some bikes still had drums and others discs.

 

[biking_fox]

Shape.

There's a lot to be done with modern materials to change the basic frame shape. I don't know what the physiologists have determined as the most efficient leg stroke position (probably something more recumbent that currently), but coupled with an ultra-material stiff strong and light could fundamentally change the basic bike design as we know it. However popular opinion will always be the determining force in whether it becomes common. UCI could help by allowing 'bent races. Not forgetting however that the current narrow bike design is a lot more practical than nanny of the others that have been tried in th e past hence it's enduring appeal.

 

[Cadire]

I think the next technological leap forward for cycles will be the drive-train. Belt drives maybe?

Also, bikes will start 'talking' about how they feel, like F1 telemetrics

 

[User16625]

Helibikes.