Originally Posted by halfspeed (Post 18116042)

If so, I think they've miscalculated. I think a lot of the "bike shouldn't require anything not human powered" complaints are just rationalizations for "new stuff scares me because I don't already understand it".

Originally Posted by kbarch (Post 18116306)

I understand batteries; they're a nuisance, more trouble than they're worth sometimes.
I understand hydraulic systems; it's ludicrous to think they're appropriate for something as light and simple as a bicycle.
Perhaps some day someone will bring out electronic shifters that can read your mind, but that would be just as unworthy an endeavor.
Sometimes I think there are way too many engineers wasting way too much time.

Originally Posted by wphamilton (Post 18115440)

I agree! When integrated with the powermeter and speedometer, I believe that there is enough information for an algorithm to predict the cyclist's next shift. Which is the same thing as deciding when to shift.

In fact, I see it as a logical progression from having ever-more gears in back. At some point, with smaller gaps between shifts, it becomes functionally the same as a variable speed transmission but without the efficiency loss. You won't really feel a discreet difference between adjacent gears, and hence won't care precisely which gear you're in, and it's a small step from there to the computer-controlled gear selection.