Which Major Component is the Least Evolved Part of a Bike? - Page 2

Stephen2014 · #16 01-20-2017, 11:56 AM

Why do derailleurs even exist when there's hub gears? And shame that shaft drive hasn't become high tech mainstream since the Victorian shaft drive bikes that were around.

cmbicycles · #17 01-20-2017, 12:01 PM

On group rides , usually the rider is the least evolved... maybe drivers, it's a toss up

a4racer · #18 01-20-2017, 12:16 PM

Saw this poll this very morning!

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/pinkbik...tain-bike.html

chiasticon · #19 01-20-2017, 12:33 PM

method of securing handlebar tape.

it always amazed me that machines worth over $10k will just have some electrical tape wrapped around the end of the bar tape, to secure it. like you engineered the crap out of everything else on this machine and the one thing the rider stares at the whole time just has some random tape you got from Home Depot wrapped around it to keep it on there. oh sure, they provide some branded ones. but the Home Depot stuff works better anyway.

jtbadge · #20 01-20-2017, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiasticon

method of securing handlebar tape.

it always amazed me that machines worth over $10k will just have some electrical tape wrapped around the end of the bar tape, to secure it. like you engineered the crap out of everything else on this machine and the one thing the rider stares at the whole time just has some random tape you got from Home Depot wrapped around it to keep it on there. oh sure, they provide some branded ones. but the Home Depot stuff works better anyway.

That's the worst part to me - the provided finishing tape just never works as well as plain old electrical tape.

Mark McM · #21 01-20-2017, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen2014

Why do derailleurs even exist when there's hub gears? And shame that shaft drive hasn't become high tech mainstream since the Victorian shaft drive bikes that were around.

Derailleur chain drive are much better suited to a bicycle power plant than shaft drive.

Compared to an internal combustion engine and most motors, the human engine operates at a much lower speed, but at a relatively high torque. Due to the high torque demand, the derailleur chain drive's higher stiffness/weight ratio is better for a bicycle. In addition, the power/weight ratio of the human engine is low, and with so little power, it can not tolerate as much loss in the drivetrain. Geared transmission has higher losses (typically about 10%) than a derailleur transmission (as little as 2%), not to mention lower weight for the derailleur transmission.

Shaft drive bicycles never became mainstream because in most ways they are inferior in a bicycle application.

Gummee · #22 01-20-2017, 01:43 PM

It seems to me that bicycle design has been evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Things get incrementally better as we figure out the materials, their properties and the best way to manufacture those parts.

Geometries have changed, but we still have double diamond frames.
Chains have gotten thinner and stronger
etc etc etc

So, the more things change, the more they stay the same: its the rider not the bike (like a certain un-nameable Texan said)

M

jimwhimpey · #23 01-20-2017, 02:07 PM

Hubs.

Stephen2014 · #24 01-20-2017, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark McM

Derailleur chain drive are much better suited to a bicycle power plant than shaft drive.

Compared to an internal combustion engine and most motors, the human engine operates at a much lower speed, but at a relatively high torque. Due to the high torque demand, the derailleur chain drive's higher stiffness/weight ratio is better for a bicycle. In addition, the power/weight ratio of the human engine is low, and with so little power, it can not tolerate as much loss in the drivetrain. Geared transmission has higher losses (typically about 10%) than a derailleur transmission (as little as 2%), not to mention lower weight for the derailleur transmission.

Shaft drive bicycles never became mainstream because in most ways they are inferior in a bicycle application.

Yes, that's why I mean shaft drive ought to be developed more, and if it's less loss than hub gears now that sounds great. Because I have rode hub gears for years and I love them, absolutely prefer them to the archaic derailleur method. And if the loss is 10% that means 90% non-loss.