most wanted cycling innovation?

oblongomaculatus

What new bike development would you like to see?

Mine would be automatic gear changing. You decide what cadence you want to ride at, say 100rpm, and then whenever you accelerate or decelerate, the gear changes automatically to keep you at 100rpm. As electronic shifting has been around for some time now, I suspect this could be done now with software, by linking the system's brain to a cadence sensor. You'd need to be able to alter the setting easily on the move as your requirements change, and switch it off when you want to return to manual shifting, but an extra button or two, with a small lcd display (or a link to your Garmin) would take care of that.

Also, phasers, to vaporise Chelsea tractors, taxis that park in cycle lanes, pedestrians who step off the pavement without looking etc, but I suspect those may be a few years away yet...

dilatory

Aren't MTBs getting this? Sounds rotten to me. I like to ride around 90-100rpm but sometimes I want to slow it down and mash up a hill to save my HR a little. Would rage if it kept changing my gears.

If you're gonna faff between on and off with your auto gears, why not just change gears... Di2?

Mark_P

Instead of gear shifters, you could have 'cadence shifters'. You'd need it when you get out of the saddle.
For me it would be something along the lines of a Kinetic Energy Recovery System on the brakes, at least for my commuter bike. Not sure how you'd do it without a considerable increase in the mass of the bike, either through a flywheel or a motor with banks of capacitors connected to induction brakes.

smoggysteve

HUD on my glasses so see my speed without looking down. directions for those that follow routes.

mr_evil

I would like to see someone invent efficient internal gearing of some sort.

oblongomaculatus wrote:

Mine would be automatic gear changing...

This has been tried a few times before, for instance the CSA Autobike. Just like in cars, there are some significant problems with the idea, e.g. the system can only change gear based on current conditions, whereas with manual gears the rider can change gear in advance. Maybe if could work if combined with a camera and some intelligent software.

phreak

I don't suppose it's really needed, but I suspect before long there will be a Google Glass type innovation whereby all of your normal computer readings are shown via your glasses. Not sure it would stop Froome looking at his stem mind you.

jkboxall

The ReconJet is HUD sunglasses for cycling / snowboarding, similar (but bulkier!) technology to google glass. I tried on the snowboarding ones at ICEbike, fairly impressive, I'd like to try to the cycling specific ones, but for $599 (preorder I think), its a bit steep!

http://www.reconinstruments.com

peteb0

Mr Evil wrote:

e.g. the system can only change gear based on current conditions, whereas with manual gears the rider can change gear in advance. Maybe if could work if combined with a camera and some intelligent software.

Simple. Use GPS to look for upcoming changes in gradient and corners etc. Already done in the current RR Ghost.

If you really wanted to, you could also hook it up to a power meter and set your shift strategy based on cadence/power/the road ahead. Ant+/bluetooth already links all these things and a smartphone probably has the computing power needed (pretty simple really).

I would be surprised if someone isn't looking at this (or similar) for a TT bike where it would make most sense.

(If Sky/British Cycling are listening, give me a shout )

oblongomaculatus

There are many possibilities once you link electronic shifting to various sensors, as well as gps data. How essential any of it would be for most of us is another question. You would have to try it to see if it was useful for the type of riding you do. I suspect automatic shifting linked to cadence and/or power would be of most benefit on long training rides without too many sudden changes of gradient, rather than in a race, where the rider is better able to react to a rapidly changing situation than a computer system.

Mark_P

On the other hand think about the experience of driving a manual transmission car compared with that of driving an automatic. Would you really want to do that to bikes?

peteb0

Horses for courses. RR use it as it allows the car to flow effortlessly/unobtrusively. The same system in a Ferrari V8 would be out of place

Like I said, it makes most sense for something like a TT where the rider wants to stay in a small power band with largely predictable terrain etc. Trying to use such a system in a crit race, for example, would be folly.

I highly doubt it would ever be essential for the wider cycling population, but the capability is there and there are potential advantages in some applications.

Tjgoodhew

I cant think of anything worse. I really didnt like electronic shifting as i prefer the manual feel of changing gear. If the bike was to do it for me it would surely take some of the fun out of actually riding ???

slowbike

No to the automatic gear shift - not yet anyway.

I do want -

HUD in glasses
Tyre Pressure display - for those times you think you've got a flat but have to check

ugo.santalucia

Slowbike wrote:

No to the automatic gear shift - not yet anyway.

I do want -

HUD in glasses
Tyre Pressure display - for those times you think you've got a flat but have to check

That's something very useful... a tiny pressure sensor at the valve or inside the tyre, wireless that gives you a red warning light when you go below X PSI would be a nice safety feature... probably too useful, it will never happen... but you might have 12 sprockets and red anodised bits instead...

simonhead

gloves that dont smell of ............ after they get wet

DavidJB

SmoggySteve wrote:

HUD on my glasses so see my speed without looking down. directions for those that follow routes.

this.

fudgey

they would need invent batteries that are small, lightweight and dont run out before any of that lot lol.

smoggysteve

Batteries in 3D tv glasses last a long time. You only really need it to illuminate a very small led patch with an arrow for direction and a speedo and the ant+ feed. A usb rechargeable would do.

arthur_scrimshaw

Motorist treating cyclists as equals on the road.

I appreciate it's not in the spirit of your thread but it would be an innovation.

fudgey

i was referring to the automatic transmission systems, not the glasses lol

MichaelW

We have an innovation like gates belt drive, proven to work well, and almost no manufacturer can be bothered to use it.

dodgy

How many bike rides have you had spoiled by not having automatic gear changing, HUDs or whatever?

How many have you had spoiled by a puncture? How many commutes get spoiled daily by a puncture, what about racing results ruined by same?

I'd like to see the problem of punctures sorted before all the eletrickery.

(puncture fairy well and truly summoned).

arthur_scrimshaw

Re Belt Drive

The reason is it's appeal is quite limited, you're restricted to hub gears which are heavy and expensive and in the case of Rolhoff very expensive, the range of gearing limited because of the single 'chainring' and the total number of gears available and the frames have to be modified so the belt can be fitted/removed.

Other than that it's brilliant.

Bar Shaker

dodgy wrote:

How many bike rides have you had spoiled by not having automatic gear changing, HUDs or whatever?

How many have you had spoiled by a puncture? How many commutes get spoiled daily by a puncture, what about racing results ruined by same?

I'd like to see the problem of punctures sorted before all the eletrickery.

(puncture fairy well and truly summoned).

Just fill your tubes with Slime and use a decent tyre. Sorted.

Not very light though, like riding through syrup too.

lawrences

Fudgey wrote:

i was referring to the automatic transmission systems, not the glasses lol

What's wrong with current Di2 batteries? All automatic shifting is is a software update to Di2. Which has already been done by several people.

Bikes will never be a big enough industry to be a driver in the need to create smaller better batteries.

dodgy

Bar Shaker wrote:

dodgy wrote:

How many bike rides have you had spoiled by not having automatic gear changing, HUDs or whatever?

How many have you had spoiled by a puncture? How many commutes get spoiled daily by a puncture, what about racing results ruined by same?

I'd like to see the problem of punctures sorted before all the eletrickery.

(puncture fairy well and truly summoned).

Just fill your tubes with Slime and use a decent tyre. Sorted.

Not very light though, like riding through syrup too.

Precisely. I could also ride on the rims with no tyres

smoggysteve

Only thing about the automatic gears is how would you override the system? If you set it to keep you at a certain cadence what happens when you want to sprint? What if your cadence keeps you changing up and down every other second? Would get a bit annoying.

The pressure sensor would work. It works in cars but not sure how it would help as most punctures are sudden not gradual and the gradual ones are instantly noticable by the spongy feel in the ride.

Anti lock brakes would be good to prevent skidding if you slam them on too hard.

fudgey

lawrences wrote:

Fudgey wrote:

i was referring to the automatic transmission systems, not the glasses lol

What's wrong with current Di2 batteries? All automatic shifting is is a software update to Di2. Which has already been done by several people.

Bikes will never be a big enough industry to be a driver in the need to create smaller better batteries.

There was mention of sensors for gradients etc so they will need constant power etc etc etc. not just power at the press of a button.

its never going to happen, so dont worry about it

iPete

A cheaper, easier, more efficient method for the re-laying of smooth tarmac.

Bar Shaker

SmoggySteve wrote:

Only thing about the automatic gears is how would you override the system? If you set it to keep you at a certain cadence what happens when you want to sprint? What if your cadence keeps you changing up and down every other second? Would get a bit annoying.

The pressure sensor would work. It works in cars but not sure how it would help as most punctures are sudden not gradual and the gradual ones are instantly noticable by the spongy feel in the ride.

Anti lock brakes would be good to prevent skidding if you slam them on too hard.

You would set a cadence range. If you wanted your cadence to be 90 rpm, it would change down at 85 and up at 100, for example. Or whatever you asked it to do. The system would work well for flat'ish rides and would be great for TT.

Anti lock brakes are never going to happen. The actuators would just be too heavy, let alone the sensors and ECU.

The pressure sensor is a very good idea. I have a mate who was quite badly smashed up by taking a corner in a race with a 3/4 deflated tyre. The tyre was ripped off and he ended up with several broken bones. Such a system would have warned him of the pressure loss.

markhewitt1978

Maintenance free bikes. I know we have the likes of hub gears and belt drives etc, but they suck and are heavy. Something which has the lightness and efficiency of derailleurs chains and gears but can be given all sorts of punishment in all weathers and at the most needs a service once a year.