Autogears

Cyber Watcher

Hi Folks

Whilst channel hopping on ntl cable TV, I saw an advert for a bike called something like Overlander
or something like that. But what I found interesting was the description of the gear system. The
bike had automatic gears, seven flat gears and seven hill gears, as well as a high low ratio
setting. The advert indicated it was the only automatic gear bike on the market, is this true,
because it is such a new development or are there any other bikes with automatic gears.

Yours Chris

Tony Raven

Cyber Watcher <cyber.watcher@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> Hi Folks
>
> Whilst channel hopping on ntl cable TV, I saw an advert for a bike called something like
> Overlander or something like that. But what I found interesting was the description of the gear
> system. The bike had automatic gears, seven flat gears and seven hill gears, as well as a high low
> ratio setting. The advert indicated it was the only automatic gear bike on the market, is this
> true, because it is such a new development or are there any other bikes with automatic gears.
>

An age old concept. There are others such as the notorious Autobike whose derailleur was operated by
weights moving radially on the rear wheel. That also was advertised via cable TV. I think Sheldon
Brown's summary was the most apt:

"A crudely built bike, with a rudimentary automatic transmission. This is marketed for people who
think they are too stupid to be able to learn to operate a normal bicycle."
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_a.html

The thing to think about is if its such a good bike, why are they selling it on cable TV and not
through bike shops/Halfords etc?

Tony

http://www.raven-family.com (http://www.raven-family.com/)

"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place" George
Bernard Shaw.