I just noticed that Di2 sends the Gear information out using ANT.
Imagine instead using the Heart Rate, Cadence and Power and sending a gear signal to Di2 instead.
The first hands free automatic transmission for a bicycle.
I think I just had an original thought! 
Sorry but I think you will find it far from original. But keep thinking.
How would it know when you need to grind and when you need to spin?
Sorry but I think you will find it far from original. But keep thinking.
How would it know when you need to grind and when you need to spin?
If you’re old enough to remember Johnny Carson - when he played the great Karnak…
maybe the shifter could be all knowing and omniscient!
This from a guy who has manual transmission cars (old school cheapskate that I am).
GPS would determine grade and you would set predetermined RPM settings for various grades. Would be cool.
You could always have a simple over ride, and it could also be pretty sophisticated to learn you preferences. All the auto shifting for bike comments are the same as for cars, then race cars, I suspect the end result will be the same.
My response would be the same as it is for cars and motorcycles. What is so hard about shifting?
Sorry but I think you will find it far from original. But keep thinking.
How would it know when you need to grind and when you need to spin?
I would just program my preferred cadence vs power curve and it would stick to that.
I never want to grind.
In practice I think this would have no utility since shifting is essentially effortless (even with mechanical shifting!) as it is, and you would occasionally want to override the auto shifting, say, mid turn perhaps, or before a sprint or attack where you need to be in the right gear BEFORE your huge power spike.
The interface for override would likely be annoying.
But it would be a fun project to play with. I’d like to try it!
I think you’re right for road racing where there are constant changes in speed and acceleration. But for triathlon and time trialing it’d be nice to be able to zone out without having to constantly monitor cadence. Often times I’ll end up spinning in excess of 100rpm just because I haven’t been paying attention when I’d ideally like to be 87-92rpm.
Just one less thing to worry about
…and just as you stand up to grind it changes up and it’s goodbye nuts.
You could always have a simple over ride, and it could also be pretty sophisticated to learn you preferences. All the auto shifting for bike comments are the same as for cars, then race cars, I suspect the end result will be the same.
… a simple over-ride? You mean like a shifter?
Nothing but just as in race cars, races can be won or lost with a quick or slow shift. FI drivers hated the idea of auto shifting for exactly the reasons everyone has talked about, right up until the drivers that had auto shifting starting winning.
Voice command shifting could be pretty cool, except for people with a stuttering problem.
They’d just have to be sprinters
.
Don’t follow F1, and why can’t I find tapes for my 8-track player anymore?
Or thought command?
you could just…quit worrying anyway and go ahead and do 100 if your body tends to fall into 100 anyway =)
I think you’re right for road racing where there are constant changes in speed and acceleration. But for triathlon and time trialing it’d be nice to be able to zone out without having to constantly monitor cadence. Often times I’ll end up spinning in excess of 100rpm just because I haven’t been paying attention when I’d ideally like to be 87-92rpm.
Just one less thing to worry about
Or thought command?
I saw that movie!