From a mountain biking perspective, it sounds like machine gun fire when someone is riding a 1x and there is a sudden change in terrain. I makes me laugh at the number of gears the person has to fly through.

The variable shifting was more along the idea of automatic shifting that you described above that could be programmed.

John

I think good automatic electronic shifting is within reach, and perhaps 10-15 years from now, we'll look back and see it as a historical inevitability. Forget the crude mechanical attempts from the past with rotating weights -- you need data, all of it, to do it right. Power output, cadence, and an inclinometer, along with a simple paddle switch of some kind so that the user can easily tell the system how hard they intend to ride. Maybe a pressure sensor in the saddle to detect and adjust for out-of-the-saddle efforts. No matter how easy it is to shift gears, I don't think many people enjoy still having to do it.

I'm sure that Shimano and other companies are already researching this stuff (I am surely not the first person to be thinking this way), but are probably keeping it under wraps while they milk the electronic shifting innovation for a while longer.

Since 2007 or so, I've sworn I'd go 1x on my roadie when they get 12sp, since my first NICE road bike was 2x6 12 speed. :)

Specialized is offering a couple of their Allez models in 1x11 already.

Electronic auto shifting is on the way...

Hands-on with the Bioshift Automated Bike Shifting System | DC Rainmaker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCNRqMUigZU

It looks like Shimano is going one step further. Auto shifting + pedal assist E-Bike.

Updated Shimano STePS brings fully automated Di2 shifting with E-bike power assist ? new updates

Somebody needs to make a freewheel that accepts cassette cogs so people can interchange them and make the gearing whatever they want.

One might not be able to get one that accepted all 5 to 11 cogs, but it should be easy enough to make one that would take a few specialized larger cogs, then the rest could be standardized cassette cogs which should also be cheap to replace should they ever wear out.

If the threading on the hubs is reasonably true, and the freehub doesn't spin once installed, then one might be able to add a more lateral bearing race to the hub.

I assume that each person wears out a few "favorite" gears faster than the rest of the cassettes, so replacing individual sprockets would be reasonable.