Comments on: Electronic Shift By Wire on Bicycles http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/08/01/electronic-shift-by-wire-on-bicycles/ Motorcycle News for Positive People Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:40:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ben http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/08/01/electronic-shift-by-wire-on-bicycles/#comment-134652 Ben Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:40:55 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=1922#comment-134652 After over ten years in the retail side of the bike industry, this is really the culmination of the gimmicky, over priced, over complicated, fashionista type direction high end biking is headed. There is simply no need to take an elegantly simple device and add so much unnecessary technology. Other than to show up you buddies on Saturday morning rides, there's just no need. It's heavier, more costly, and wears out much more quickly. Think about it for a second, why would you want two motors on a bike, just to shift gears?! It's this type of stuff that has in large part led to the resurgence of single speed bikes. What once was, in large part, a trend started by shop workers is now one of the largest growing sectors in the industry. In my shop, I've had many more of my customers say they are turned off by introductions like this than are excited about it. While I feel that technology has more practical uses in a high performance motorcycle, I get much the same pleasure riding my older vintage bikes as I do riding SS bicycles. It is a bit harder to go faster. It does take more concentration in terms of braking and throttle control. Is that necessarily a bad thing? Most of this is pretty far out stuff right now. Looking at what a current Shimano Dura Ace group costs, (the current high end offering,) I'd expect this set to cost somewhere around $2000. That means we will really only see it on bikes $5000 and up. While that's really a pretty small section of the market, it is a bit scary to think another 10 years down the road from now. After over ten years in the retail side of the bike industry, this is really the culmination of the gimmicky, over priced, over complicated, fashionista type direction high end biking is headed. There is simply no need to take an elegantly simple device and add so much unnecessary technology. Other than to show up you buddies on Saturday morning rides, there’s just no need. It’s heavier, more costly, and wears out much more quickly. Think about it for a second, why would you want two motors on a bike, just to shift gears?!

It’s this type of stuff that has in large part led to the resurgence of single speed bikes. What once was, in large part, a trend started by shop workers is now one of the largest growing sectors in the industry. In my shop, I’ve had many more of my customers say they are turned off by introductions like this than are excited about it.

While I feel that technology has more practical uses in a high performance motorcycle, I get much the same pleasure riding my older vintage bikes as I do riding SS bicycles. It is a bit harder to go faster. It does take more concentration in terms of braking and throttle control. Is that necessarily a bad thing?

Most of this is pretty far out stuff right now. Looking at what a current Shimano Dura Ace group costs, (the current high end offering,) I’d expect this set to cost somewhere around $2000. That means we will really only see it on bikes $5000 and up. While that’s really a pretty small section of the market, it is a bit scary to think another 10 years down the road from now.

]]> By: todd http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/08/01/electronic-shift-by-wire-on-bicycles/#comment-134597 todd Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:07:57 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=1922#comment-134597 Now riders can have pre-programed shift points for a ride, based on GPS data. No need to think about it, the team captain can set the shift points and the rider just has to anticipate the change. With the growing use of hall sensors the cranks can be separated from the sprocket. The cyclist pedals regularly - at full output/constant RPM - to power a generator that powers the sprocket motor so shifts can be seamless with a computer controlled system. No additional power source would be required except if desired to help overcome the inherent energy loss in the motors. A similar system in the steering and additional gyro stabilizers will allow the riders to compete together remotely in a climate and biorhythm controlled environment each riding a controller. Races will resemble spinning classes and spectators can either watch the group of cyclists in real time without missing the action (because they've never ride out of view) or watch the cycles circumnavigate the course. Simulators will also be on hand (or remotely in your home next to the couch)which allow novices to join in on the race and view their "ghost" image compete against the other racers on their own monitor. The recent advent of higher resolution GPS is gaining ground in the remote-mountain biking arena... -todd Now riders can have pre-programed shift points for a ride, based on GPS data. No need to think about it, the team captain can set the shift points and the rider just has to anticipate the change. With the growing use of hall sensors the cranks can be separated from the sprocket. The cyclist pedals regularly – at full output/constant RPM – to power a generator that powers the sprocket motor so shifts can be seamless with a computer controlled system. No additional power source would be required except if desired to help overcome the inherent energy loss in the motors. A similar system in the steering and additional gyro stabilizers will allow the riders to compete together remotely in a climate and biorhythm controlled environment each riding a controller. Races will resemble spinning classes and spectators can either watch the group of cyclists in real time without missing the action (because they’ve never ride out of view) or watch the cycles circumnavigate the course. Simulators will also be on hand (or remotely in your home next to the couch)which allow novices to join in on the race and view their “ghost” image compete against the other racers on their own monitor.

The recent advent of higher resolution GPS is gaining ground in the remote-mountain biking arena…

-todd

]]> By: Hopkins http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/08/01/electronic-shift-by-wire-on-bicycles/#comment-134574 Hopkins Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:22:44 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=1922#comment-134574 Why take something simple like a bicycle and make it complicated with no benefit? Now we have to re charge a battery every time we park it? Technologie should make life easier, not harder… Why take something simple like a bicycle and make it complicated with no benefit? Now we have to re charge a battery every time we park it?

Technologie should make life easier, not harder…

]]> By: pghcyclist http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/08/01/electronic-shift-by-wire-on-bicycles/#comment-134517 pghcyclist Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:58:56 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=1922#comment-134517 ROHORN- Thanx for mentioning my favorite groupo. I love mechtronic. Wireless too. Although in a group interference was a problem. JR- "those crappy derailleurs" are the fault of the mechanic and the nut holding the handlebars. A well set up derailleur can work just fine Sean- Shimano also came out with a pneumatic system titled "airlines" for bike shifting it was intended for the downhill market and never really took off. And yes it is gimmicky but it does solve that nut holding the handlebars problem, especially when your to tired to throw the shift lever properly. Kneeslider- that cheeper world of bikes at least this world starts at $10,000ish. A little outside the most peoples realm. Lets not forget about electric motorcycles as so many of us here love them. Arent the throttle by wire buy nature? Thanks guys just my opinions as a bike mechanic. I love to see some of my stuff on the best motorcycle blog on the web. ROHORN-
Thanx for mentioning my favorite groupo. I love mechtronic. Wireless too. Although in a group interference was a problem.

JR-
“those crappy derailleurs” are the fault of the mechanic and the nut holding the handlebars. A well set up derailleur can work just fine

Sean-
Shimano also came out with a pneumatic system titled “airlines” for bike shifting it was intended for the downhill market and never really took off.

And yes it is gimmicky but it does solve that nut holding the handlebars problem, especially when your to tired to throw the shift lever properly.

Kneeslider- that cheeper world of bikes at least this world starts at $10,000ish. A little outside the most peoples realm.

Lets not forget about electric motorcycles as so many of us here love them. Arent the throttle by wire buy nature?

Thanks guys just my opinions as a bike mechanic. I love to see some of my stuff on the best motorcycle blog on the web.

]]> By: Sean http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/08/01/electronic-shift-by-wire-on-bicycles/#comment-134445 Sean Sat, 02 Aug 2008 10:06:55 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=1922#comment-134445 I'm quite interested in the possibilities of ride by wire. A bike that lets you have adjustable tension on the throttle, an automatic upshift instead of the rev limiter, that preloads the brakes when you button off... It really makes sense to me. Of course, there have been airshifters around for years on drag bikes and speed bikes (generally using the elongated swingarm to hold the compressed air), and incorporating a switch that shoots the gear up or down is really just a case of rewiring a cheap aftermarket shift light. I’m quite interested in the possibilities of ride by wire. A bike that lets you have adjustable tension on the throttle, an automatic upshift instead of the rev limiter, that preloads the brakes when you button off… It really makes sense to me. Of course, there have been airshifters around for years on drag bikes and speed bikes (generally using the elongated swingarm to hold the compressed air), and incorporating a switch that shoots the gear up or down is really just a case of rewiring a cheap aftermarket shift light.

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