The concept of a bicycle automatic transmission is wild and sharp – and could be a significant game-changer

Enlarge / Haven by Mercer prototype in front assembly For A automatic bike transmission. Haven Mercier

Depending, depending on how You look has he, either A plot Or not very a lot has amended about THE path bikes change gears Since THE mid 19th century.

A plot has has been refined along THE transmission path, In which your feet push cranks, those cranks turn A big gear, And A chain connects that big gear has A smaller gear on THE back wheel. Shift has selected up a lot of improvements, be they electronic Or wireless, as to have derailleurs And internal gearboxes. Materials And tolerances to have only improved on THE decades.

But In almost all case, You are always manually adjustment something has move THE chain And change gears, depending on, depending on THE resistance You are feeling on THE bike. Even THE most weird recent ideas always involve indexed movement between of different sizes gears.

It is Why "Automatic Transmission System For A Bike," A WE patent deposit by Haven Mercier And published on November 23, has caught THE attention of bike passionate, myself included. If he works as he said he do (as watch In A Short video demonstration) And can be product as A reliable product has ladder, he could TO DO For a few interesting bicycles. It is not supposed has replace manual shift entirely, THE patent author said Me, but he could allow For bikes that go up Hills And speed through apartments without a lot thought has all Since THE rider. He could even offer a few electric bike efficiency.

He Also looks, has A a look, as A nightmare has to do the housework And maintain, but It is A prototype, SO give he a few time.

Haven by Mercer automatic transmission bike, as demonstrated by THE inventor. Watch For THE in front And back gears expansion And contract.

Shift with your feet

by Mercer system takes THE plateau And back gear And makes them able has develop And contract base on couple. In THE in front, he do This by replace A Single ring with eight pulley wheels, pushed has their the longest extension When there East No tension on THE cranks by springs. Each of those pulleys East on A One Way landing SO that When couple East put on THE cranks (has go faster Or climb A hill), THE springs compress, THE pulleys fold In, And THE entire in front element becomes smaller.

On THE back hub, six pulley wheels are drawn In their the smallest size by THE springs. When force East applied, THE pulleys move out And THE pinion as A entire expands. THE gear (SO has talk) adjust as THE rider applies And delete couple Since THE pedals.

There are two chain tensioners below THE back mechanism. They both take up soft When THE in front And back are expansion Or procurement has different rates And guide THE chain as he come In has different angles Since THE in front plateau. by Mercer patent suggests A little different configurations A automatic transmission bike could to have, including with traditional in front derailleur cages, A little guidance pinion In place of A in front cage, And other configurations.

Diagram of THE in front chain element In Haven by Mercer patent application. USPTO / Haven Mercier

Diagram see of THE back chain she...