Mountain Biking - AWD bikes

I was just looking on the web this morning, trying to find info on FS frame's that I like, when I came across this site:

www.christini.com

I do'nt know if any of you have seen or heard of it before, but I thought it was intresting. I have seen shaft driven bike's before and Nicolia a German firm make some intresting frames.

But this was unique it is basically a normal bike with chain drive, but on the opposite side of the rear cassette there is a spiral cut gear with a worm gear thingy attacthed to a shaft sticking out of the seat stay tube which connects with the spiral cut gear. The shaft goes from the seat stay to the top tube and then connects to the suspension fork, runs down that to another spiral worm gear assembly.

Its a preety cool idea, with the design the front wheel is geared differently and it will only start to work when the rear wheel slips giving a kind of traction control.

See what you think

Evo

I've seen it, but I've never ridden it.

Seems like overkill, but I won't bash a product I've never tried.

L8R

I think internal gearboxes are the way of the future, but an AWD internally geared bike would be HEAVY! The majority of us do fine with just one drive wheel anyway. Anything steeper than that it would be quicker to run up anyway.

I think Jim nailed it: H E A V Y. 'nuff said.

I would like to try one...I think it would help on climbs where it is really technical. I won't knock it. AWD can make sense. I do agree with jim, internally geared is the future (please please please)

i think it is really sweeeet but yes probably really heavy

sounds like a cool idea but it seems given the way the interlocking gears are exposed that they would grind themselves down eventually when dirt and mud gets in there. I'd love to try one out.

Hmm it probably is fairly heavy but a lot of FR and DH bike are heavy too, and with enough investment in the idea it will get lighter, as with all thing throw enough money at it, and it will work, although the idea does have to be sound in the first place.
Thing is bike have'nt changed that much over the years, especially in terms of drivetrain and certain other parts. Why is there not a decent single speed shaft drive out there? the idea is sound.
I've seen hubs with a 16 speed gearbox inside, I'm trying to find it on the web. Suspension has moved on and now we have disc brake's. Now I'd like to see what ways the drivetrain can be changed.

Evo

The issue with current drivetrains is that they are relatively simple and light weight. They do have a list of negatives, but the positives (currently) outweigh the negatives. Or being specific with semantics, the other way around!

I too would like to see some further development with gear boxes or internally geared hubs (like Rolhoff) to bring the weight down a bit. I can't tell you how many derailleurs and hangers I've gone through.

L8R

Thats one thing, a 9 speed or more rear hub would be a good way of getting rid of the rear mech, hanger and cassette, all gears would be internal and sealed so maintenance would be low. not to mention more reliable.
Seems a damn good idea to me, especially for down hill and free ride rigs, with chain device's.

Evo

I found an older internal 14 speed Rohloff hub. I rode with a guy last weekend who was riding one of these. I like the aspect of perfect ratios, but there's too many damn parts and it's heavy as all hell. Cool idea none the less though. It's still shifted by cables.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/images/speed1c.gif

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/images/speedhub50014db.jpeg


One can be had for the low low price of 850 dollars.

Yeah thats the hub I was looking at. Expensive though between £400-£600 depending on how many gears.
Anyone know if they are anygood?

Evo

The guy seemed to like his. It actually broke on the trail after he crashed. We had to do a trailside repair because the cables came out of the hub.

Its more complex that whats used now, but if its made well it should last ages. Yes its still cable acctuated but I can't see that as to bad a thing.
The insides look cool as well.

Evo

i found this link on another messageboard a while back. thought you guys might want to have a look:

http://www.rohloff.de/technik/speedhub/funktionsprinzip/speedhub_strip.html

Watching that hurts my head trying to figure out how it works! No wonder I dropped out of Mechanical Engineering!

L8R