I’m not a hardcore biker—heck, I’m not even a softcore biker. Wait, I’m not sure that came out right. I don’t do a lot of biking—how about that? But I am intrigued by these new Shimano coasting bikes which boast the first automatic transmissions for bicycles.
Admittedly, I think most people who have reached adulthood have probably learned to cope with manual shifting, so it’s not as though this is a desperately needed function. But for those who find themselves put off by the buttons and levers, this might just make life easier all around. I wouldn’t expect automatic transmissions to appear in the Tour de France any more than I’d expect them to appear in Indy car racing, but for a leisurely bike around the lake, why not?
Shimano is partnering with Trek to bring automatic transmission bikes to the masses; the models appear to be in prototype at the moment, but you could be seeing them soon.
[via OhGizmo!]
Some race cars have used automatic transmissions. In fact automatic transmissions have been banned from some racing series because they are faster than manual. trans.
Though I am sure you know LOTS more about computers then I do, I feel confident that I know a bit more about bicycles then you do ;-)
This is certainly NOT the first automatic gear shifting system for bicycles!
Ofcourse one can't be an expert on everything, but just a quick Google search would have showed you this...
The most well known was a system by Browning in the '90s: http://www2.bsn.de/Cycling/articles/browning.html
Google around a bit, and you'll find many more.
It is true however that this is the first time that a major components-maker (the leading one, actually) is manufacturing it.
I've probable allready scared away most of my fellow 'nerds' here, but to be completely acurate here I should mention that the Browning system was in fact backed by Suntour, at that time the biggest competitor to Shimano, but they were really ahead of their time then.
To get this post computer-related again, let me add one more thing.
The Browning/Suntour system not becoming a succes was a shame really, as Shimano was considdered to be sort of the Microsoft of the cycling industry, monopolising the market. Suntour could then be considdered the Apple of the industry, coming up with really groundbreaking ideas, but thaty weren't as good at marketing I guess.
They were however bought by SRAM, wich to date still is a serious contender to Shimano, so all is not lost :-)