Is electronic shifting 'cheating'?

Steve2020

I realise that if the rules allow it it is not cheating. And cycling is a sport where races are won and lost through technology (lemond '89 and all that).

But isnt it conceptually different to have something on the bike which would normally be powered by the rider being powered by a motor? I know the differences are minute but it doesnt seem right to me. The whole point of a bike is it is human powered.

I can see the appeal of it. But I can see the appeal of electric bikes as well. I know we fit gadgets like computers but none of these actually do a job which is normally done by the rider. Why not have an auxiliary motor to power the jockey wheels to make them effectively frictionless? Electronically assisted brakes?

What do other people think?

Jamey

All that stuff would actually make the bike weigh more, so it would probably be a disadvantage rather than an advantage.

Tom Butcher

I think it's a fair point - where do we draw the line - personally I think it does take away a little bit from the idea of the bicycle as a human powered machine. I may be biased though as I wouldn't want electronic shifting for my own bike - simply because I don't want to be bothered with making sure I have enough charge - it's just one more aggravation - then again I'd rather we were all on steel frames and used 5 speed blocks with downtube shifters,

Smokin Joe

No, it isn't cheating. The bicycle is still powered by the rider turning the pedals, and if the experience is made more convenient with a push button gearchange, so much the better as far as I'm concerned. It is like saying that integrated shifters or even gears themselves are cheating, when most of us accept them as being something we would not like to do without.

Those who believe a bicycle should be minimalist simplicity are perfectly free to ride one like that, but most of us are prepared to indulge in some technical innovations to one degree or another for the benefits they bring. Even with electronic gearshifts the bicycle will still be far simpler than most of the gadgets we use every day.

As for steel frames, five speed blocks and dt shifters, I rode them for years and I am delighted we have progressed. Today's machines are infinately superior.

Tom Butcher

But what about the point this gadget is powered by batteries - integrated shifters and other innovations don't cross that line - they are still powered by the rider. I suppose you could argue lights and computers can be battery powered so why not the gear change - but they are more accessories fitted to the bike - the gears are integral to the machine itself. In short should a bicycle be a machine powered solely by the rider or is it sufficient that only the forward locomotion is powered by the rider.

oldwelshman

Tom Butcher wrote:

But what about the point this gadget is powered by batteries - integrated shifters and other innovations don't cross that line - they are still powered by the rider. I suppose you could argue lights and computers can be battery powered so why not the gear change - but they are more accessories fitted to the bike - the gears are integral to the machine itself. In short should a bicycle be a machine powered solely by the rider or is it sufficient that only the forward locomotion is powered by the rider.

Maybe we can use a dynamo to power the electronics for the electonic shifters?
Maybe I need to do more weight training so I can change gear more easily also?
I don't see the point in electronic shifters at all personally so will not be going anywhere near them.

McBain_v1

I love the idea of electronic shifting, all of the midget-sized componentry is really fantastic looking, all those micro-actuators everywhere - it's a bike mechanics dream to be able to hook the bike up to a laptop loaded with diagnostic software surely :?:


Well, probably not... but that still doesn't mean its ruddy good anyway :P

DavidBelcher

oldwelshman wrote:

Maybe we can use a dynamo to power the electronics for the electonic shifters?

The old Mavic Zap system (as used by Boardman at GAN) actually did use a mini-dynamo driven off the jockey wheels. But like much of the set-up, it was over-ambitious and not 100% reliable.

David

aracer

Not quite, David. There was no dynamo, but the shifting was driven by rotation of the jockey wheel by mechanical means. The electronics simply actuated the control parts, which supposedly used a lot less power. However as you say the design was inherently flawed - in this case because the basic idea put too much stress on the compnents.