Concept unchains bike technology
Prize-winning prototype introduces a drive shaft system that could be revolutionary
No chain. No derailleurs. The future of the bike world looks kind of weird, to be honest. But a new drivetrain showcased at the Eurobike trade show this week is turning heads.
The concept by CeramicSpeed won the prestigious Eurobike Award, picked over 300+ entries. It is still only a prototype, and currently the drive shaft system requires a special frame.
But it offers a wicked-cool concept that could certainly make its way to production bicycles.
Essentially, the company created a pinion-style drive shaft system that replaces the traditional chain and derailleur model. Its 21 bearings transfer torque from the front chain ring through a drive shaft and onto a flat, 13-speed rear “plate.”
CeramicSpeed claims the system creates significantly less friction than chain-based drivetrains. Additionally, its nearly two-dimensional profile could significantly reduce drag, making it a more aerodynamic system.
As a company, CeramicSpeed has been at the forefront of experimental, ultra-efficient bike technology in recent years.
Now, in conjunction with the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Colorado, the company is working to take the derailleur-free drivetrain to market. I, for one, am excited to see how far they can go.