What's next in bike world?

May 13, 04 12:02

Post #1 of 34 (5843 views)

I came from a time when it was all about weight, folks even drilled their brake calipers full of holes to get it done. One year ago I went from 6 speed to 10 and shed 6lbs off my bike (new bike too). What's next, 11,12,13 speed, electro shift, or are we at the point were only weight and a little bit of aero things will be done.? Just curious.

For a sort of rant on the supid cost of bicycle sports. I'm not sure over the last few years who (campy or shimno) pushed the envelope of components and price. What I mean by stupid is 2k for a "gruppo" is stupid. (not stupid if your retirement and all other lifes monetary obligations are fully funded) As a campy 10speed stupid person, this isn't really a complaint, as things sure are sweet since last year, but where does it end? For TT's and Tri's I'm barely faster on the good stuff. However, I couldn't imagine keeping up on my old bike in roadraces. Frustrating to think that when I replace this set up in a few years we'll be closer to 10k for a nice setup.

My intention isn't to argue costs and do the lifes prioities and even the--well don't buy it then, discussion. Thankfully the 03 to 04 Campy change was minor enough to keep my money where it belongs. So sorry for you shimano guys desperatly trying to sell one of your kidneys to finance their latest improvements. I take it back, did you see the Campy carbon cranks?&^*&^%--thou shalt not covet.

Re: What's next in bike world? [marko16] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 12:43

Post #2 of 34 (5800 views)

There is supposed to be an electrionic version of Record in 2005 or 2006. Prototypes are already being tested. I believe it will be wired system.

Personally, I don't think there is much more that can be done. STI/Ergo was a huge advancement and there really hasn't been anything like it in the last 15 years. I think it may well be the last significant improvement in road cycling.

I like the Octalink system, but I consider it a minor refinement rather than a revolution.

Re: What's next in bike world? [john] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 13:00

Post #3 of 34 (5753 views)

I bet you'll see more electronics including integrated gps and power measurement. You'll be able to download every statistic of your ride for analysis eventually.

Re: What's next in bike world? [marko16] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 13:05

Post #4 of 34 (5748 views)

if the 'electronic' shifting becomes commonplace, what about 'automatic shifting' as well?

You could have something that could be programmed with a 'power range' you'd be willing to expend (say, 175-225W ) and this auto-shifter would automagically select the correct gear to use (if the power spikes it would go in an easier gear, for example, if it gets too low it'd go in a harder one). Of course there'd be a button to press to put things back to manual for when you want to surge etc.

Besides this unless somebody comes up with some new form of continually variable transmission that would do away with the 'speeds' concept I really can't think of much else that's missing... well, maybe some sort of 'intelligent' seat that dynamically autoconforms itself to your butt while you're riding to maximize comfort ;)

Re: What's next in bike world? [marko16] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 13:10

Post #5 of 34 (5737 views)

I saw an aero HiWheeler in Society Hill a couple of years ago. It had TT bars, a tri spoke big wheel, and a little disk in the back. It could have been carbon, it was definitely blue and I think I saw a red S on the "downtube"

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Re: What's next in bike world? [Marco in BC] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 13:12

Post #6 of 34 (5732 views)

Automatic bike transmissions already exist but I don't think they will ever catch on. Weight, durability, and precision are the current problems, but even if it was perfected I think a serious racer would always want to be able to vary his gearing to spin more/less. So it will probably never catch on with the racing set.

The fact is that bikes are pretty damn good as they are. They are perhaps mankind's greatest invention in the transportation and recreation categories.

Re: What's next in bike world? [Wolfwood] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 13:16

Post #7 of 34 (5719 views)

The real refinement will be TV as you ride;-) The GPS and TV screen will direct you to McBurger world, and just what we need, your wife will break in right in the middle of the workout--when are you comming home?

Progress?

Re: What's next in bike world? [marko16] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 13:20

Post #8 of 34 (5700 views)

Carbonrotopowercranks.

Re: What's next in bike world? [marko16] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 13:21

Post #9 of 34 (5694 views)

Maybe someone will recognize that recumbents are actually bicycles and a bit faster than uprights to boot. Although most of them can't climb worth a darn.

Jim

**Note above poster works for a retailer selling bikes and related gear*

Re: What's next in bike world? [john] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 13:35

Post #10 of 34 (5666 views)

"There is supposed to be an electronic version of Record in 2005 or 2006. Prototypes are already being tested. I believe it will be wired system."

Hopefully it'll work better than Mavic's last wireless attempt. Interesting idea though. I think that as long as the governing bodies (UCI etc...) will only accept a bike that looks like the bike Eddy Merckx's rode (double triangle), there will be little innovation. Just more thinking "inside the box", or double triangle in this case. The question is, is that a bad thing? Softride, Titanflex, and recumbents all seem to be on the fringe, even though there are some benefits to each design. Another question I would raise is what defines a competitive advantage? Can someone tell me how these rules are not arbitrary and capricious? Then again, it doesn't really matter, rules are rules.

In my opinion STI/Ergo along with clipless pedals have made cycling not only more efficient, but significantly safer, at least on the road. I wouldn't want to go back to quill cleats and down tube shifters. I just finished rebuilding my 1984 Lotus Elite a couple months ago. This was first bike I ever raced, and still love to ride it. It's retro in the sense that I put a new quill stem on it, white bar tape, and a Brooks Professional saddle, but that's where is stops. Shifting is STI 9 speed, and the pedals are Speed play. Still it's fun to ride. I just wish I had the speed I had back in college!

Joel

Re: What's next in bike world? [marko16] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 13:45

Post #11 of 34 (5643 views)

I'll tell you what the next big inovation in cycling will be.

Internal gearing.

One chanring on the front, one cog in the rear, all gearing housed in the rear hub. This has been made and used in crusers and such but its too heavy for race use. If it can be refined it would great. It would eliminate chain slip, skipping and all the problems with a chain that has to move around. One could also keep constant pressure while climbing/attacking/sprinting and shift geats. There would be more power transfered to the pedals and you could make the rear triangle more rigid for power transfer to the rear wheel.

I shouldn't be writing this here, you freaks will make all the money for my idea.

Re: What's next in bike world? [LaWoof] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 14:12

Post #12 of 34 (5599 views)

I agree that internal gearing will likely be the next significant improvement. Rohloff continues to refine there's - still to heavy for road bikes, but the downhill mtbrs (are they cyclists?) use them at all levels of competition.

Both Campy and Shimano are developing integrated power meters - both, I believe, will be in the bottom bracket area. Campy's electronic shifting group was suppose to be launched in '05, but I haven't heard much about it since last fall. Simoni was using it last year, but the photo's of his bike this year seem to show it's no longer there. Maybe they're just trying to keep it under wraps a little better until this fall's trade shows. Though, I fail to see how electronic shifting will improve anything.

Jim Manton / ERO Sports

Re: What's next in bike world? [Jim] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 14:41

Post #13 of 34 (5560 views)

Actually, on most recumbents you can climb fine, just like you can on triathlon bikes. All it requires is some common sense and the right gear.

As for new stuff, Shimano's 14-speed cog and chain patent is pretty cool, but I guess it is not yet production-ready. Electronic shifting does not seem that useful to me, is there anybody out there getting hand cramps from the enormous force it takes to shift right now? And yes, it will be wired, if it turns out to be wireless power it would be a MAJOR innovation, as in earth-shattering. I'd like wireless power on my laptop before I'd get it on my bike though.

Gerard Vroomen
3T.bike
OPEN cycle

Re: What's next in bike world? [gerard] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 14:45

Post #14 of 34 (5551 views)

Thought I saw a wireless (no cable) shift system from Mavic a year or two ago - hell of a price though...

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Re: What's next in bike world? [marko16] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 15:03

Post #15 of 34 (5534 views)

From my perspective the greatest changes in the bike industry- and bicycles- would be supply chain management.

Every day we spend three hours (minimum- probably more) on the "where's my bike?" question. If we have a hundred sold bikes coming in it means we have to manage a hundred concerns over where they are and when they can get here. Often times the vendor cannot provide accurate information about lead times.

That needs to change. In the case of most vendors, lead times amount to a guess- and the guess is usually wrong.

I'd be a lot more excited to hear about a real time, just in time ordering process that is Six Sigma compliant than I would the latest Ultegra Ten Speed.

Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com

Re: What's next in bike world? [Zulu] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 15:06

Post #16 of 34 (5527 views)

But the power to shift was not wireless, the transmission of the signal was. The power will have to come from a battery (which in Campy's case is clipped to your bottle cage) or from somewhere else (Mavic took the power from the derailleur pulley).

Gerard Vroomen
3T.bike
OPEN cycle

Re: What's next in bike world? [gerard] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 15:10

Post #17 of 34 (5516 views)

I think electro-mechanical shifting may be a solution for a problem that does not exist.

Our experience with Mektronic and Zap soured us to the entire category. Apparently Campagnolo has an electro-mechanical (or whatever you call it) group in the works.

Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com

Re: What's next in bike world? [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 15:12

Post #18 of 34 (5507 views)

"I'd be a lot more excited to hear about a real time, just in time ordering process "

I bet you would love to have a Fry Daddy bike attachment so you can bike and make donuts, Thunder thighs.

customerjon @gmail.com is where information happens.

Re: What's next in bike world? [Mr. Tibbs] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 15:15

Post #19 of 34 (5500 views)

DAng brotha. why it gotta be like dat?

Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com

Re: What's next in bike world? [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 15:16

Post #20 of 34 (5497 views)

Love. :-)

customerjon @gmail.com is where information happens.

Re: What's next in bike world? [gerard] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 15:20

Post #21 of 34 (5492 views)

"Actually, on most recumbents you can climb fine, just like you can on triathlon bikes. All it requires is some common sense and the right gear. "

Please don't make a recumbent, I can't handle anymore bike porn from you damn 51st staters. It would be sweet though.

customerjon @gmail.com is where information happens.

Re: What's next in bike world? [Mr. Tibbs] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 15:24

Post #22 of 34 (5484 views)

That's what I used to do when I was a kid. With two friends we made the lowest recumbent ever, the top of the rear wheel was the highest point, higher than the head of the rider. Years later I was sitting through a slide show about HPVs when the presenter says "sometimes designs are rather dangerous" and up pops a slide with our recumbent on it while in action at the European championships. That was funny. We didn't think it was dangerous at all, although we did race a 200m with flying start there where after 100m the rider got so scared that he stopped pedalling and coasted through the finish. Still finished 10th despite that, that was a fast bike.

Gerard

Gerard Vroomen
3T.bike
OPEN cycle

Re: What's next in bike world? [gerard] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 15:39

Post #23 of 34 (5461 views)

Yeah - never looked at it to closely due to the price - just saw a couple of demos - thanks for the update Gerard

http://www.endurancesports.ca
Coaching and Training Camps

Re: What's next in bike world? [gerard] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 15:45

Post #24 of 34 (5452 views)

In Reply To:

I was sitting through a slide show about HPVs when the presenter says "sometimes designs are rather dangerous" and up pops a slide with our recumbent on it while in action at the European championships.

How did you keep from busting out laughing in the middle of the presentation?

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Re: What's next in bike world? [Khai] [ In reply to ]

May 13, 04 15:52

Post #25 of 34 (5438 views)

I was more embarrassed than anything else.

Gerard.

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