New investment in Classified could herald the end of the front derailleur?

[Cycleops]

British wheelset manufacturer Parcours has announced a long-term partnership with Classified.
Rapha have invested £10m in Classified's two speed rear hub.
https://www.bikeradar.com/news/classified-parcours-partnership/

 

[All uphill]

Now if only someone could go one step further and create a three speed hub we would be back to 1902.

 

[classic33]

Keep a triple up front, put a seven speed block/freewheel on a five speed hub.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Clickbait thread title @Cycleops - Oi hope youse ead hangs the right amount of shame.
A 2sp hub costing four figures v two rings and an FD hmmmm!

 

[Cycleops]

It's clickbait that keeps this forum going Ajax, doncha know.

 

[cougie uk]

I'm still watching this one. Cost needs to come down but how many times have you not paid attention and come to a standstill in a huge gear that you then struggle to get going again ? Being able to change a whole chainset down whilst stationary would be handy.

 

[marzjennings]

Sturmey Archer already make such a thing and I remember building a 3*5*3 mtb back at Truro cycles about 30odd years ago. I'm not sure what 'innovation' Classified are actually creating here.

 

[craigwend]

https://road.cc/content/review/classified-powershift-kit-wheelset-296931?amp

 

[Tenkaykev]

I'm still watching this one. Cost needs to come down but how many times have you not paid attention and come to a standstill in a huge gear that you then struggle to get going again ? Being able to change a whole chainset down whilst stationary would be handy.

Don’t you dismount and pretend you’ve had a mechanical? I do😉

 

[Ajax Bay]

No rim brake version: very limited appeal.

 

[oldwheels]

Keep a triple up front, put a seven speed block/freewheel on a five speed hub.

I remember an American recumbent bike magazine ( now defunct) which advocated something similar. An insane number of gears available even discounting the duplicates.

 

[classic33]

I remember an American recumbent bike magazine ( now defunct) which advocated something similar. An insane number of gears available even discounting the duplicates.

105 speed, the seven speed hub I didn't have access to at the time.

 

[Sallar55]

https://road.cc/content/review/classified-powershift-kit-wheelset-296931?amp

Have had a shot, a bike with the hub was left at my LBS. Had a try and its very good instant change at any speed.. Cant buy the hub they just sell the complete wheel and switch.

 

[cougie uk]

Don’t you dismount and pretend you’ve had a mechanical? I do😉

They'd probably suspect I was up to something after the third time in a ride.

 

[PaulSB]

I can't begin to understand what this is, other than a new gearing system, but at £2,299 for a wheel it's hard to imagine it heralding the end of anything.