??The future of cycling???

Ozark Bicycle said:

The new Shimano "Coasting" group, with electronic automatic shifting.
Giant, Raleigh and Trek are already "on board".

http://preview.tinyurl.com/yprhfn

(there's a link to the Trek Lime at the bottom of the AP article.)

Here's a link to the Raleigh version:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2zra4n

This seems a complicated answer to a simple question. But, Americans
love those overly complex hybrid cars, too.

Hey, if it's reliable enough, then I'm all for it. Doesn't sound that
complex to me, I mean it's still a bicycle. :-P Whatever gets folks
riding.

The front hub certainly seems overly styled for what it is--just a
dang dynohub, but other than that, it's a classy looking machine.

landotter said:

On Apr 23, 11:01 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

The new Shimano "Coasting" group, with electronic automatic shifting.
Giant, Raleigh and Trek are already "on board".

Quoted message said:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/yprhfn

Quoted message said:

(there's a link to the Trek Lime at the bottom of the AP article.)

Quoted message said:

Here's a link to the Raleigh version:

Quoted message said:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2zra4n

Quoted message said:

This seems a complicated answer to a simple question. But, Americans
love those overly complex hybrid cars, too.

Hey, if it's reliable enough, then I'm all for it. Doesn't sound that
complex to me, I mean it's still a bicycle. :-P Whatever gets folks
riding.

The front hub certainly seems overly styled for what it is--just a
dang dynohub, but other than that, it's a classy looking machine.

IMO, the complex part was the electronic "signal" from the front hub
that shifts the rear.

Yeah, I agree: anything that gets people to ride.....but I wonder if
this isn't the wron answer. What happens if/when that electronic
system goes awry?

Ozark Bicycle said:

landotter said:

On Apr 23, 11:01 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The new Shimano "Coasting" group, with electronic automatic shifting.
Giant, Raleigh and Trek are already "on board".

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/yprhfn

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

(there's a link to the Trek Lime at the bottom of the AP article.)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Here's a link to the Raleigh version:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2zra4n

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

This seems a complicated answer to a simple question. But, Americans
love those overly complex hybrid cars, too.

Quoted message said:

Hey, if it's reliable enough, then I'm all for it. Doesn't sound that
complex to me, I mean it's still a bicycle. :-P Whatever gets folks
riding.

Quoted message said:

The front hub certainly seems overly styled for what it is--just a
dang dynohub, but other than that, it's a classy looking machine.

IMO, the complex part was the electronic "signal" from the front hub
that shifts the rear.

Yeah, I agree: anything that gets people to ride.....but I wonder if
this isn't the wron answer. What happens if/when that electronic
system goes awry?

I'll wait till Michael Crichton chimes in with an answer to that.

[movie guy]In a world of man and velocipede, comes a new force...[/
movie guy]

landotter said:

On Apr 23, 11:30 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

On Apr 23, 11:24 am, landotter <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On Apr 23, 11:01 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote:
> The new Shimano "Coasting" group, with electronic automatic shifting.
> Giant, Raleigh and Trek are already "on board".

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>http://preview.tinyurl.com/yprhfn

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> (there's a link to the Trek Lime at the bottom of the AP article.)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Here's a link to the Raleigh version:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>http://preview.tinyurl.com/2zra4n

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> This seems a complicated answer to a simple question. But, Americans
> love those overly complex hybrid cars, too.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hey, if it's reliable enough, then I'm all for it. Doesn't sound that
complex to me, I mean it's still a bicycle. :-P Whatever gets folks
riding.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The front hub certainly seems overly styled for what it is--just a
dang dynohub, but other than that, it's a classy looking machine.

Quoted message said:

IMO, the complex part was the electronic "signal" from the front hub
that shifts the rear.

Quoted message said:

Yeah, I agree: anything that gets people to ride.....but I wonder if
this isn't the wron answer. What happens if/when that electronic
system goes awry?

I'll wait till Michael Crichton chimes in with an answer to that.

[movie guy]In a world of man and velocipede, comes a new force...[/
movie guy]-

"In a world where Bill & Joan used to have to shift for
themselves......". ;-)

Ozark Bicycle said:

The new Shimano "Coasting" group, with electronic automatic shifting.
Giant, Raleigh and Trek are already "on board".
......

More like, "the future of cycling /closeouts/"....

It looks like a techno-gadget they can stick on the same ol' [censored] they
sold last year. Solves no problems, but brings a long a couple new ones.

I'd say what's more important is to get rid of the riding pain, and
Shimano isn't in the frame business (at least not directly).
The bargain-bike companies are creeping along with comfort bikes, but
they've still got a long way to go.

Quoted message said:

This seems a complicated answer to a simple question.

-Indeed it is, and a question I've never heard anyone *ask*.....

Quoted message said:

But, Americans
love those overly complex hybrid cars, too.

Not all of us Americans like hybrids, and not just because there's no
Hummer version.

Hybrid cars (and their accompanying tax breaks) were perpetrated on the
US market by a small number of self-interested industries, a larger
number of clueless eco-tards and the usual bunch of obfuscating
government bureaucrats.
~

Ozark Bicycle said:

This seems a complicated answer to a simple question...

Bah! It's just another log in the fire. Carbon's getting old...

But wait 'til Serotta figures this out. Will it be re-launched as
Integrated-Bio-Technology? Hang on to your wallet...

Ozark Bicycle said:

landotter said:

On Apr 23, 11:30 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On Apr 23, 11:24 am, landotter <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> On Apr 23, 11:01 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> <[email hidden]> wrote:
> > The new Shimano "Coasting" group, with electronic automatic shifting.
> > Giant, Raleigh and Trek are already "on board".

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> >http://preview.tinyurl.com/yprhfn

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > (there's a link to the Trek Lime at the bottom of the AP article.)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > Here's a link to the Raleigh version:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> >http://preview.tinyurl.com/2zra4n

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > This seems a complicated answer to a simple question. But, Americans
> > love those overly complex hybrid cars, too.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Hey, if it's reliable enough, then I'm all for it. Doesn't sound that
> complex to me, I mean it's still a bicycle. :-P Whatever gets folks
> riding.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> The front hub certainly seems overly styled for what it is--just a
> dang dynohub, but other than that, it's a classy looking machine.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

IMO, the complex part was the electronic "signal" from the front hub
that shifts the rear.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Yeah, I agree: anything that gets people to ride.....but I wonder if
this isn't the wron answer. What happens if/when that electronic
system goes awry?

Quoted message said:

I'll wait till Michael Crichton chimes in with an answer to that.

Quoted message said:

[movie guy]In a world of man and velocipede, comes a new force...[/
movie guy]-

"In a world where Bill & Joan used to have to shift for
themselves......". ;-)

But now have arthritic hands and benefit from technology! :P

I still think the Electra Amsterdam is groovier. We'll see if Santa
gets me one. Santa better put a thumb shifter and a front brake on it,
or I'm sugaring his sleigh's tank...

http://www.electrabike.com/06_new/flash_index.html

DougC said:

Hybrid cars (and their accompanying tax breaks) were perpetrated on the
US market by a small number of self-interested industries, a larger
number of clueless eco-tards and the usual bunch of obfuscating
government bureaucrats.

You obviously already know how to solve the coming crisis. Care to
let all us clueless eco-tards in on your brilliant solution?

Thanks in advance for saving the world!

D'ohBoy

DougC said:

Ozark Bicycle said:

The new Shimano "Coasting" group, with electronic automatic shifting.
Giant, Raleigh and Trek are already "on board".
......

More like, "the future of cycling /closeouts/"....

Just think of all the useless bikes when (not if) Shimano "moves on"
to the next great thing.

Quoted message said:

It looks like a techno-gadget they can stick on the same ol' [censored] they
sold last year. Solves no problems, but brings a long a couple new ones.

I'd say what's more important is to get rid of the riding pain, and
Shimano isn't in the frame business (at least not directly).
The bargain-bike companies are creeping along with comfort bikes, but
they've still got a long way to go.

Quoted message said:

This seems a complicated answer to a simple question.

-Indeed it is, and a question I've never heard anyone *ask*.....

But I'll wager Shimano did a good deal of market research on this.
They must have some evidence this will appeal, at least for enough
units to turn a $profit$.

Is this the kind of needless gimcrackery it will take to sell bikes to
the masses in the US? :-(

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

But, Americans
love those overly complex hybrid cars, too.

Not all of us Americans like hybrids, and not just because there's no
Hummer version.

I'm with ya there!

Quoted message said:

Hybrid cars (and their accompanying tax breaks) were perpetrated on the
US market by a small number of self-interested industries, a larger
number of clueless eco-tards and the usual bunch of obfuscating
government bureaucrats.

Well said on the subject hybrids! What a boondoggle!

Will said:

On Apr 23, 11:01 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

This seems a complicated answer to a simple question...

Bah! It's just another log in the fire. Carbon's getting old...

But wait 'til Serotta figures this out. Will it be re-launched as
Integrated-Bio-Technology? Hang on to your wallet...

There probably is a more fertile market in the $1500++ market than the
~$500 market.

Howz 'bout a 650B version from the Riv? ;-)

landotter said:

On Apr 23, 11:46 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

On Apr 23, 11:38 am, landotter <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On Apr 23, 11:30 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote:
> On Apr 23, 11:24 am, landotter <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > On Apr 23, 11:01 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > <[email hidden]> wrote:
> > > The new Shimano "Coasting" group, with electronic automatic shifting.
> > > Giant, Raleigh and Trek are already "on board".

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > >http://preview.tinyurl.com/yprhfn

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > (there's a link to the Trek Lime at the bottom of the AP article.)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > Here's a link to the Raleigh version:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > >http://preview.tinyurl.com/2zra4n

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > This seems a complicated answer to a simple question. But, Americans
> > > love those overly complex hybrid cars, too.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > Hey, if it's reliable enough, then I'm all for it. Doesn't sound that
> > complex to me, I mean it's still a bicycle. :-P Whatever gets folks
> > riding.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > The front hub certainly seems overly styled for what it is--just a
> > dang dynohub, but other than that, it's a classy looking machine.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> IMO, the complex part was the electronic "signal" from the front hub
> that shifts the rear.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Yeah, I agree: anything that gets people to ride.....but I wonder if
> this isn't the wron answer. What happens if/when that electronic
> system goes awry?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'll wait till Michael Crichton chimes in with an answer to that.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[movie guy]In a world of man and velocipede, comes a new force...[/
movie guy]-

Quoted message said:

"In a world where Bill & Joan used to have to shift for
themselves......". ;-)

But now have arthritic hands and benefit from technology! :P

I still think the Electra Amsterdam is groovier. We'll see if Santa
gets me one. Santa better put a thumb shifter and a front brake on it,
or I'm sugaring his sleigh's tank...

http://www.electrabike.com/06_new/flash_index.html- Hide quoted text -

Hey, I like that! There's even a local dealer (with two locations!).

BUT.......can I get it in Carbon with paired spoke wheels? ;-)

In article <[email hidden]>,

landotter said:

I still think the Electra Amsterdam is groovier.

It's definitely pretty. But that 3-speed hub and
lonesome coaster brake is sorta ... disappointing.

cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

(Tom Keats) said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

landotter said:

I still think the Electra Amsterdam is groovier.

It's definitely pretty. But that 3-speed hub and
lonesome coaster brake is sorta ... disappointing.

What? It's set up exactly like virtually all bikes in Amsterdam. I
grew up riding such bikes as well during summers in Sweden. We didn't
need no stinkin hand brake. :-P AFAIK, the coaster brake on the Nexus
is supposed to be rather good compared to the binary versons in our
old Torpedo hubs. Only thing that's a bit off-putting is the relaxed
seat tube angle. I do understand the reasoning behind it, and it makes
a bit of sense.

If you want another brake, it just takes a couple minutes to add one.
If it's drilled for fenders, I'm sure you can retrofit it with a long
reach Tektro DP--though I'd likely have to pull a centerpull Dia-Compe
out of the parts bucket and give it a polish...

Ozark Bicycle said:

landotter said:

On Apr 23, 11:46 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On Apr 23, 11:38 am, landotter <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> On Apr 23, 11:30 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> <[email hidden]> wrote:
> > On Apr 23, 11:24 am, landotter <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > On Apr 23, 11:01 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > <[email hidden]> wrote:
> > > > The new Shimano "Coasting" group, with electronic automatic shifting.
> > > > Giant, Raleigh and Trek are already "on board".

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > >http://preview.tinyurl.com/yprhfn

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > > (there's a link to the Trek Lime at the bottom of the AP article.)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > > Here's a link to the Raleigh version:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > >http://preview.tinyurl.com/2zra4n

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > > This seems a complicated answer to a simple question. But, Americans
> > > > love those overly complex hybrid cars, too.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > Hey, if it's reliable enough, then I'm all for it. Doesn't sound that
> > > complex to me, I mean it's still a bicycle. :-P Whatever gets folks
> > > riding.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > The front hub certainly seems overly styled for what it is--just a
> > > dang dynohub, but other than that, it's a classy looking machine.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > IMO, the complex part was the electronic "signal" from the front hub
> > that shifts the rear.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > Yeah, I agree: anything that gets people to ride.....but I wonder if
> > this isn't the wron answer. What happens if/when that electronic
> > system goes awry?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> I'll wait till Michael Crichton chimes in with an answer to that.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> [movie guy]In a world of man and velocipede, comes a new force...[/
> movie guy]-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"In a world where Bill & Joan used to have to shift for
themselves......". ;-)

Quoted message said:

But now have arthritic hands and benefit from technology! :P

Quoted message said:

I still think the Electra Amsterdam is groovier. We'll see if Santa
gets me one. Santa better put a thumb shifter and a front brake on it,
or I'm sugaring his sleigh's tank...

Quoted message said:

http://www.electrabike.com/06_new/flash_index.html-Hide quoted text -

Hey, I like that! There's even a local dealer (with two locations!).

BUT.......can I get it in Carbon with paired spoke wheels? ;-)

Monocoque chain case as well, but it'll cost you. I'm getting the
version with titanium rod brakes and deep section Dunlop rims.

landotter said:

On Apr 23, 4:14 pm, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

On Apr 23, 3:11 pm, landotter <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On Apr 23, 11:46 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote:
> On Apr 23, 11:38 am, landotter <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > On Apr 23, 11:30 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > <[email hidden]> wrote:
> > > On Apr 23, 11:24 am, landotter <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > > On Apr 23, 11:01 am, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > > <[email hidden]> wrote:
> > > > > The new Shimano "Coasting" group, with electronic automatic shifting.
> > > > > Giant, Raleigh and Trek are already "on board".

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > > >http://preview.tinyurl.com/yprhfn

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > > > (there's a link to the Trek Lime at the bottom of the AP article.)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > > > Here's a link to the Raleigh version:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > > >http://preview.tinyurl.com/2zra4n

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > > > This seems a complicated answer to a simple question. But, Americans
> > > > > love those overly complex hybrid cars, too.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > > Hey, if it's reliable enough, then I'm all for it. Doesn't sound that
> > > > complex to me, I mean it's still a bicycle. :-P Whatever gets folks
> > > > riding.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > > The front hub certainly seems overly styled for what it is--just a
> > > > dang dynohub, but other than that, it's a classy looking machine.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > IMO, the complex part was the electronic "signal" from the front hub
> > > that shifts the rear.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > > Yeah, I agree: anything that gets people to ride.....but I wonder if
> > > this isn't the wron answer. What happens if/when that electronic
> > > system goes awry?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > I'll wait till Michael Crichton chimes in with an answer to that.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > [movie guy]In a world of man and velocipede, comes a new force...[/
> > movie guy]-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> "In a world where Bill & Joan used to have to shift for
> themselves......". ;-)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

But now have arthritic hands and benefit from technology! :P

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I still think the Electra Amsterdam is groovier. We'll see if Santa
gets me one. Santa better put a thumb shifter and a front brake on it,
or I'm sugaring his sleigh's tank...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://www.electrabike.com/06_new/flash_index.html-Hidequoted text -

Quoted message said:

Hey, I like that! There's even a local dealer (with two locations!).

Quoted message said:

BUT.......can I get it in Carbon with paired spoke wheels? ;-)

Monocoque chain case as well, but it'll cost you.

The more it costs, the better it is, right? And, the more I spend, the
more likely I am to use the bike, right? Right? ;-)

Quoted message said:

I'm getting the
version with titanium rod brakes and deep section Dunlop rims

I'll see your titanium geegaws and raise ya a carbon crank with an
external bearing BB!

"Ozark Bicycle" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The new Shimano "Coasting" group, with electronic automatic shifting.
Giant, Raleigh and Trek are already "on board".

http://preview.tinyurl.com/yprhfn

(there's a link to the Trek Lime at the bottom of the AP article.)

Here's a link to the Raleigh version:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2zra4n

This seems a complicated answer to a simple question. But, Americans
love those overly complex hybrid cars, too.

I don't know the joke here but the punch line is "Shift for Brains"

On 23 Apr 2007 09:01:12 -0700, Ozark Bicycle

may have said:

The new Shimano "Coasting" group, with electronic automatic shifting.
Giant, Raleigh and Trek are already "on board".

http://preview.tinyurl.com/yprhfn

(there's a link to the Trek Lime at the bottom of the AP article.)

Here's a link to the Raleigh version:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2zra4n

What Shimano is attempting to do is lure in a gullible and relatively
uninformed market segment via the use of what amounts to a lie.

This is called "marketing".

Both of the bikes cited seem to be proving that marketing is still
able to present simplicity of interface as being synonymous with
simplicity of the mechanism, which it manifestly is not. People never
stop to think that everything which is made "automatic" does so at the
cost of efficiency and simplicity. My ex used to chafe over the fact
that her Escort Wagon's gas mileage was 6mpg worse than mine over the
same route and speed...because hers had an automatic trans while mine
was manual. I have yet to find an automatic trans that's as reliable
as a manual, either.

Quoted message said:

This seems a complicated answer to a simple question.

Many "conveniences" follow that pattern.

Quoted message said:

But, Americans
love those overly complex hybrid cars, too.

The odd thing is that by comparison to a vehicle with a conventional
automatic transmission, a hybrid often isn't all that complicated.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Ozark Bicycle said:

The new Shimano "Coasting" group, with electronic automatic shifting.
Giant, Raleigh and Trek are already "on board".

http://preview.tinyurl.com/yprhfn

(there's a link to the Trek Lime at the bottom of the AP article.)

Here's a link to the Raleigh version:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2zra4n

This seems a complicated answer to a simple question. But, Americans
love those overly complex hybrid cars, too.

Whether or not it is a complicated answer depends on the question. If
the designers were asking "how should we design the gearshift
mechanism?" then yes, it would be *much* more complicated than
necessary but that's not the question. The real question being
answered by the bike manufacturers is "how do we make multi-gear bikes
less intimidating to non-cyclists?" It is actually a very simple
solution.

Regards,
Bob Hunt

Ozark Bicycle said:

The new Shimano "Coasting" group, with electronic automatic shifting.
Giant, Raleigh and Trek are already "on board".

http://preview.tinyurl.com/yprhfn

(there's a link to the Trek Lime at the bottom of the AP article.)

Here's a link to the Raleigh version:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2zra4n

This seems a complicated answer to a simple question. But, Americans
love those overly complex hybrid cars, too.

AND [censored], also, Segway Human Transporters.