7 ms·

So this new system saves about 2% of effort, which is large savings for competitive cyclists. For 99% of cyclists, though, it doesn't matter. The overwhelming

So this new system saves about 2% of effort, which is large savings for competitive cyclists. For 99% of cyclists, though, it doesn't matter. The overwhelming part of your work goes into air resistance, then rolling resistance at lower speeds, and probably the chain in last place. In the last few seconds of video the mechanism can be heard -- oh boy, it is loud. The pawl in bikes can range from nearly silent to annoying, but this one seems to be even worse.

bobowzki 7y ago
And also most people's bikes aren't perfectly maintained.
- loeg 7y ago
  Probably this system also loses efficiency if not perfectly maintained.
  - almostarockstar 7y ago
    Looks like it has less exposed moving parts that a classic bike. Could be easier to maintain / clean / lube.
    - loeg 7y ago
      Not the naked variant — it's about the same as a chain derailleur. Maybe with the cover. It doesn't exactly look easier to clean that giant sharp dinner plate. Idk.
jerrya 7y ago
But perhaps for the average cyclist this "split pinion works under load shifting mechanism" is easier to use and more reliable.
- hpaavola 7y ago
  To me it sound like it is possible to shift only one gear at a time and only when pedaling. So if you stop at traffic light with high gear, you can not switch to lower gear while waiting for the light to switch.
  - adrianN 7y ago
    Most chain drives can't switch gears without pedaling either.
    - hpaavola 7y ago
      Internal gear hubs typically (always?) can change gears when not pedaling, derailleur gears can't.
      - loeg 7y ago
        And most chain drives are derailleur systems, not IGH, so you're both right :-).
        dom_hutton 7y ago
        And most IGH systems are chain drive as well, so all three of you are correct :-)
        basch 7y ago
        if chain includes belt.
      - pmontra 7y ago
        My experience with Shimano gears is that if I change when stopped or while not pedaling the change completes when I start pedaling again. The only important thing is to go easy on pedals if starting from still and don't change both the front and the rear gears.
      - 7y ago
dzhiurgis 7y ago
> For 99% of cyclists, though, it doesn't matter. What matters is clean look. Chains are dirty and look dangerous. Good bikes (like Dutch omafiets) cover the chain, but if scaled manufacturing cost of this system is $30 extra, people would pick this one.
jascii 7y ago
They claim 99.2% efficiency (in lab conditions) and compare that to 97% for a chain drive. In lab testing, bicycle chain drives have been found to be 98.6% efficient: https://web.archive.org/web/20080306054536/http://www.jhu.edu/news_info/news/home99/aug99/bike.html https://web.archive.org/web/20080306054536/http://www.jhu.ed... so that would be an improvement of 0.6% rather then the 2% quoted..

bobowzki 7y ago

And also most people's bikes aren't perfectly maintained.

loeg 7y ago
Probably this system also loses efficiency if not perfectly maintained.
- almostarockstar 7y ago
  Looks like it has less exposed moving parts that a classic bike. Could be easier to maintain / clean / lube.
  - loeg 7y ago
    Not the naked variant — it's about the same as a chain derailleur. Maybe with the cover. It doesn't exactly look easier to clean that giant sharp dinner plate. Idk.

jerrya 7y ago

But perhaps for the average cyclist this "split pinion works under load shifting mechanism" is easier to use and more reliable.

hpaavola 7y ago
To me it sound like it is possible to shift only one gear at a time and only when pedaling. So if you stop at traffic light with high gear, you can not switch to lower gear while waiting for the light to switch.
- adrianN 7y ago
  Most chain drives can't switch gears without pedaling either.
  - hpaavola 7y ago
    Internal gear hubs typically (always?) can change gears when not pedaling, derailleur gears can't.
    - loeg 7y ago
      And most chain drives are derailleur systems, not IGH, so you're both right :-).
      - dom_hutton 7y ago
        And most IGH systems are chain drive as well, so all three of you are correct :-)
        basch 7y ago
        if chain includes belt.
    - pmontra 7y ago
      My experience with Shimano gears is that if I change when stopped or while not pedaling the change completes when I start pedaling again. The only important thing is to go easy on pedals if starting from still and don't change both the front and the rear gears.
    - 7y ago

dzhiurgis 7y ago

> For 99% of cyclists, though, it doesn't matter. What matters is clean look. Chains are dirty and look dangerous. Good bikes (like Dutch omafiets) cover the chain, but if scaled manufacturing cost of this system is $30 extra, people would pick this one.

jascii 7y ago

They claim 99.2% efficiency (in lab conditions) and compare that to 97% for a chain drive. In lab testing, bicycle chain drives have been found to be 98.6% efficient: https://web.archive.org/web/20080306054536/http://www.jhu.edu/news_info/news/home99/aug99/bike.html https://web.archive.org/web/20080306054536/http://www.jhu.ed... so that would be an improvement of 0.6% rather then the 2% quoted..