Did a Major Bike Brand Just Patent the Future of Cycling Technology? – Gear Patrol
Or does Shimano’s automatic cleat-shifting concept portend on-bike electronics jumping the shark?
Steve Mazzucchi
·
I can recall the moment quite vividly. My buddies and I were attempting to cycle from NYC up to Cold Spring, a 62-mile journey. We’d already repaired a couple of flat tires when, 20 miles in, I struggled to get the rear derailleur on my sweet, swift Giant Defy to shift up and down among its many sprockets.
With great shame, I realized that the battery on one of the electronic shifters had died, turning this hitherto high-tech bike into a very expensive two-speed. In need of a recharge, we made a pit stop at a bike shop in the lovely little town of Hastings-on-Hudson — and grabbed a round of beers at a nearby bar.
The cleat could reposition in response to changing riding conditions — paved vs. unpaved terrain, climbing versus sprinting — when a slightly different angle and/or pressure point is superior.
By the time we got back on the road, we were hours off schedule, and in the end we only made it as far as Ossining (a 36-mile ride) before — after another round of beers — we had to catch a train back to the city. Lesson: Too much tech (especially in the hands/feet of a doofus like yours truly) can actually leave you falling behind.
Which brings me to the latest cycling tech news (big ol’ hat tip to Velo‘s Jessie-May Morgan): Renowned component maker Shimano has won a patent for automatic, on-the-fly adjustment of cleat positioning via a wireless electronic system that can shift the shoe forward, back or side-to-side based on info collected via sensors.
If that sounds like a bunch of technobabble, we get it. In more relatable terms, based on the diagrams, there appears to essentially be a motorized adjuster sitting between a cycling shoe and cleat, enabling the shoe to dynamically shift forward and back or slide side-to-side along rails.
The upshot? Your feet could continuously reposition on the pedals for (presumably) maximum efficiency and comfort. There’s also a small, Nintendo D-pad-like controller that would allow the rider themselves to make adjustments, but the patent focuses more on automatic, sensor-driven repositioning.
Which sounds nice, in theory. But also leaves me unsure how big the benefit is. While it’s a pain to sort out cleat positioning whenever you get a new pair of shoes, it’s not that big of a pain, and once you get it dialed, you’re all set, right?
With an admirable leap of logic, Morgan speculates that this system could surface on the pro road, gravel and/or mountain bike circuits sometime next year, due to the potential performance enhancements one might be able to gain from micro shifts in foot positioning.
For example, the cleat could reposition in response to changing riding conditions — paved vs. unpaved terrain, climbing versus sprinting — when a slightly different angle and/or pressure point is superior.
Considering the diagram appears to show the type of SPD pedal typically used in mountain biking, as opposed to the SPD-SL style of pedal common to road bikes, I wonder whether Shimano sees more potential on the mountain bike side of the business than on the road bike side — or if it’s just technologically more feasible.
Regardless, it’s tough to see how applicable this tech will be to the average (or even well above average) cyclist on any kind of bike, especially if the system costs hundreds of dollars more than a typical shoe/cleat/pedal setup.
Some electronic enhancements, including e-shifting, can indeed be game-changing. Despite my aforementioned fail, I have come to appreciate the advantages, as evidenced by my enthusiasm for the Archer Components D1x Trail programmable shifter a few years back. Being able to shift smoother, faster and more precisely can make a huge positive difference.
But other “upgrades,” such as electronic dropper posts, feel much more like something brands do just because they can — leaving the consumer with a lighter wallet, a heavier bike and one more thing to worry about charging.
Perhaps only time will tell which category this patent falls into. Then again, what do I know? I spend most of time on a bike without any shifters or brakes to speak of, after all.
Founded in 2007, Gear Patrol is the definitive buying guide for enthusiasts. Our independent experts test the best in cars, tech, home, outdoors, style and watches. We combine hands-on testing, decades of experience and original photography to craft reports, reviews and guides. Why? Because we believe everyone deserves the best product.
Work with our award-winning creative services studio and advertising agency to bring your brand or product story to life. Learn more.
© 2024 GPS Media | For Life's Pursuits™
This article was autogenerated from a news feed from CDO TIMES selected high quality news and research sources. There was no editorial review conducted beyond that by CDO TIMES staff. Need help with any of the topics in our articles? Schedule your free CDO TIMES Tech Navigator call today to stay ahead of the curve and gain insider advantages to propel your business!
Steve Mazzucchi
·
I can recall the moment quite vividly. My buddies and I were attempting to cycle from NYC up to Cold Spring, a 62-mile journey. We’d already repaired a couple of flat tires when, 20 miles in, I struggled to get the rear derailleur on my sweet, swift Giant Defy to shift up and down among its many sprockets.
With great shame, I realized that the battery on one of the electronic shifters had died, turning this hitherto high-tech bike into a very expensive two-speed. In need of a recharge, we made a pit stop at a bike shop in the lovely little town of Hastings-on-Hudson — and grabbed a round of beers at a nearby bar.
The cleat could reposition in response to changing riding conditions — paved vs. unpaved terrain, climbing versus sprinting — when a slightly different angle and/or pressure point is superior.
By the time we got back on the road, we were hours off schedule, and in the end we only made it as far as Ossining (a 36-mile ride) before — after another round of beers — we had to catch a train back to the city. Lesson: Too much tech (especially in the hands/feet of a doofus like yours truly) can actually leave you falling behind.
Which brings me to the latest cycling tech news (big ol’ hat tip to Velo‘s Jessie-May Morgan): Renowned component maker Shimano has won a patent for automatic, on-the-fly adjustment of cleat positioning via a wireless electronic system that can shift the shoe forward, back or side-to-side based on info collected via sensors.
If that sounds like a bunch of technobabble, we get it. In more relatable terms, based on the diagrams, there appears to essentially be a motorized adjuster sitting between a cycling shoe and cleat, enabling the shoe to dynamically shift forward and back or slide side-to-side along rails.
The upshot? Your feet could continuously reposition on the pedals for (presumably) maximum efficiency and comfort. There’s also a small, Nintendo D-pad-like controller that would allow the rider themselves to make adjustments, but the patent focuses more on automatic, sensor-driven repositioning.
Which sounds nice, in theory. But also leaves me unsure how big the benefit is. While it’s a pain to sort out cleat positioning whenever you get a new pair of shoes, it’s not that big of a pain, and once you get it dialed, you’re all set, right?
With an admirable leap of logic, Morgan speculates that this system could surface on the pro road, gravel and/or mountain bike circuits sometime next year, due to the potential performance enhancements one might be able to gain from micro shifts in foot positioning.
For example, the cleat could reposition in response to changing riding conditions — paved vs. unpaved terrain, climbing versus sprinting — when a slightly different angle and/or pressure point is superior.
Considering the diagram appears to show the type of SPD pedal typically used in mountain biking, as opposed to the SPD-SL style of pedal common to road bikes, I wonder whether Shimano sees more potential on the mountain bike side of the business than on the road bike side — or if it’s just technologically more feasible.
Regardless, it’s tough to see how applicable this tech will be to the average (or even well above average) cyclist on any kind of bike, especially if the system costs hundreds of dollars more than a typical shoe/cleat/pedal setup.
Some electronic enhancements, including e-shifting, can indeed be game-changing. Despite my aforementioned fail, I have come to appreciate the advantages, as evidenced by my enthusiasm for the Archer Components D1x Trail programmable shifter a few years back. Being able to shift smoother, faster and more precisely can make a huge positive difference.
But other “upgrades,” such as electronic dropper posts, feel much more like something brands do just because they can — leaving the consumer with a lighter wallet, a heavier bike and one more thing to worry about charging.
Perhaps only time will tell which category this patent falls into. Then again, what do I know? I spend most of time on a bike without any shifters or brakes to speak of, after all.
Founded in 2007, Gear Patrol is the definitive buying guide for enthusiasts. Our independent experts test the best in cars, tech, home, outdoors, style and watches. We combine hands-on testing, decades of experience and original photography to craft reports, reviews and guides. Why? Because we believe everyone deserves the best product.
Work with our award-winning creative services studio and advertising agency to bring your brand or product story to life. Learn more.
© 2024 GPS Media | For Life's Pursuits™
This article was autogenerated from a news feed from CDO TIMES selected high quality news and research sources. There was no editorial review conducted beyond that by CDO TIMES staff. Need help with any of the topics in our articles? Schedule your free CDO TIMES Tech Navigator call today to stay ahead of the curve and gain insider advantages to propel your business!
