Ceramic Speed chain-free

[nakman]

I just saw this for the first time...



It sure looks cool, but my first thought is that would deflect under load something fierce... particularly on the bigger ring when I'm standing on the pedal. But they likely thought of that already. Sure looks neat, anyone ever ridden one?

 

[nakman]

seems like the youtube comments have covered the main points, and then some. Still cool though, you have to admit

 

[DaveInDenver]

My first thought was the Christini all wheel drive bicycles use a ring and pinion setup that lets the back wheel drive the front.

https://christinibicycles.com

 

[DaveInDenver]

And there are chain-less bikes already. These guys use a shaft drive.

https://www.beixo.com
https://brikbikes.com

And there was another some years ago called Dynamic Bicycles that seems to be gone.

 

[DaveInDenver]

But to the concept at hand. It was developed in partnership with CU. Go Buffs!

https://www.designboom.com/technology/ceramicspeed-chainless-bike-07-10-2018/

They have a website, although it's mostly about their existing tech and the Driven stuff.

https://www.ceramicspeed.com/en/driven

 

[nakman]

that ring & pinion driveline that runs through the frame is just amazing... how fun would it be to design that. All of this seems like it's solving a problem that doesn't really exist though, but still the innovation is neat to see.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Solutions looking for problem is how I'd put it, too. A chain over a sprocket has transferred power since Moses first learned to ride a bike and gaining that lost 3% has alluded us ever since.

Sure, two dozen mini bearings and a ton of CNC nets you a little better efficiency but, man, it's got to be expensive to buy and not last long caked with Utah mud.

The shaft drives that exist mostly do so commuters in Copenhagen don't have to lube their chains every day or get oil on their trousers, not as an mechanical improvement.

 

[Stuckinthe80s]

Maybe this is a precursor to a better e-bike application? Even then, it would just apply to urban commuters.