Electronic Gear Shifting

eshift1

Hi All!

I'm currently designing a bespoke electronic gear shifting system for a customer who has limited thumb mobility, as a result of a serious accident a couple of years ago. I'm focusing purely on the front mech and left shifter at this point as it’s the customer’s left hand that is affected. The system will utilise the existing front mech and be servo operated via a push button shifter. The system will incorporate a micro controller and be powered from a lightweight rechargeable battery.

Although this project was initially started to find a solution for an individual, as the design progresses and I research the subject further it does seem like there is a gap in the market for this type of system. Certainly one which is more reasonably priced than the current systems available from manufacturers such as Shimano.

Would you agree? Is this something you would be interested in? Have you suffered an injury yourself which affects your ability to comfortably change gear whilst riding?

I have created a really quick survey which will literally take less than 2 minutes to complete and I would really appreciate if you guys could give me your input. Please follow the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RDJ6CC8

Any additional comments you would like to make or views you would like to share on the subject are also greatly appreciated!

Thanks for your time

njee20

Does the price relate to the front mech, the shifter, or the whole lot including batteries and both mechs etc?

rockmonkeysc

Why not just adapt a Shimano electronic front mech with a more suitable shifter for your customer?

peat

Not to be a dick, because it is an interesting little project, but I know a guy who has limited use of an arm now so rides a 1x10 setup. No need for a front shifter at all.

Also has a device to control both brakes together.

The Rookie

Indeed, 1x with a range expander or 11 speed and no need for a left shifter at all, sorted!

CitizenLee

Using 1x10 or 1x11 wouldn't get the desired survey hits though

eshift1

Hi

njee20, the price relates to a complete (front) system, shifter, servo mod for the front mech and the battery.

RockmonkeySC, that is a good idea, but I wanted to keep the price down as much as possible and was worried about interfacing with front mech with regards to the micro-controller being used. I will give it some further thought though.

Peat, The Rookie and CitizenLee, I know, I know, that was one of my first thoughts, but my customer was adamant he wanted to keep 3 rings up front, old school I guess! And no not as many survey hits either, but then it would be an even shorter survey!

Thanks for all of your responses and taking the time to complete the survey, really appreciated!

rockmonkeysc

Adapting an XTR di2 shifter will be far cheaper than developing a new one. Just use the switch gear out of the shimano shifter and re-design the actual lever then there are no electronics to worry about.

bigmitch41

Im a left arm amputee (Motorcycle accident in 2001) and about to go 1x10 with a 42T cassette range expander on the back and a 32T NW front chain ring, about £80 for the two items.

Angus Young

BigMitch41 wrote:

Im a left arm amputee (Motorcycle accident in 2001) and about to go 1x10 with a 42T cassette range expander on the back and a 32T NW front chain ring, about £80 for the two items.

How does it work? I assume you're not riding one handed, so do you have a prosthetic that can be fixed to the bar?

bigmitch41

Hi Angus, I ride completely one handed with no prosthetic. I actually still have the arm but after pulling the nerves out of my spinal cord its fairly useless now, so it go's in a sling, I think internal amputee is the word.
Ive seen and heard of the riders with carbon fiber limbs with clever shock absorbing joints etc and quick release mechanism's for when it go's wrong, very impressive! I ride in local xc races, all day epics and intend to complete the IOM End2End this year, and just recently had my first taste of trail centres over the pond in Scotland at the 7Stanes, that was fun mostly reds and some blacks at Mabie, Kerroughtree, Ae & Dalbeattie! The only adaption being both brake levers on the right hand side, 1x10 should really help things after being 2x10 before.

Angus Young

BigMitch41 wrote:

Hi Angus, I ride completely one handed with no prosthetic. I actually still have the arm but after pulling the nerves out of my spinal cord its fairly useless now, so it go's in a sling, I think internal amputee is the word.
Ive seen and heard of the riders with carbon fiber limbs with clever shock absorbing joints etc and quick release mechanism's for when it go's wrong, very impressive! I ride in local xc races, all day epics and intend to complete the IOM End2End this year, and just recently had my first taste of trail centres over the pond in Scotland at the 7Stanes, that was fun mostly reds and some blacks at Mabie, Kerroughtree, Ae & Dalbeattie! The only adaption being both brake levers on the right hand side, 1x10 should really help things after being 2x10 before.

One handed own reds and blacks? Impressive. Both from a technical/physical point of view and from the way that people pick themselves up in the face of adversity. You're doing more than me (and, I suspect, many others here) and I have both arms at my disposal.

cooldad

What he said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

lostboysaint

Looking at the profile pic he road races motorbikes one-handed as well. :shock:

(line of left arm doesn't appear to lead to handlebar!).

So talk us through the mods for that as well please? Clutch is only ever for pulling away anyway Do you have a similar "Doohan" push button mod (although his was for rear brake not clutch)?

bigmitch41

The mods are kept a simple as possible, all i need is the clutch lever normally on the left hand bar moving to the right hand bar, this exits the bar end (idea taken from vintage bikes) the front brake was to stay untouched on the right hand side so I have two levers, a quick shifter for up the box and a flat shifter for clutchless down shifts and thats it, I became the first and only one armed rider to race the IOM Mountain course, obtain a replica and 100mph average lap speed, something to be proud of



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/motorsport/23867449

njee20

That's dead good, well done. Do you use a steering damper on the MTB at all?

bigmitch41

Mmm no i dont, I bought a Hopey damper from America when i first started mtb'ing and just couldnt get it to fit, i actually found them really unhelpful and just gave up in the end. Ive since learned to ride without, moving from my hard tail xc bike to my Whyte 129 full suss has been a big step in the right direction, Im slow on the decents but can climb pretty well.

bigmitch41

P.s I wouldnt ride my motorbikes without one

Angus Young

I am such an underachiever! Lol!

peat

bloody hell. Nice work Mitch!

bigmitch41

Thanks all, sorry for the thread hijack

Angus Young

It's very welcome. Interesting story and a lesson in motivation for the rest of us.

cooldad

What he said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Angus Young

BigMitch41 wrote:

Thanks all, sorry for the thread hijack

Looks like you're not alone. Fück me, it's even more impressive when you see it in action. Well done guys, heaps of respect...

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/thomas-ban ... -2015.html

The Rookie

Came across the video on FB the other day, awesome achievement, good on you, you are an inspiration.

Paging Cody/Rutland Gav to this thread!