00:00The drivetrain as we know it, with two derailleurs and a chain, has been the favoured method of
00:05converting spinning legs into speed for nearly 100 years. As we all know, over this time we have
00:12seen countless improvements to the system, which has landed us with where we're at today,
00:18which by all accounts is a pretty refined and efficient system. However, as we reach what may
00:25be a plateau of innovation in this space, suggesting we may actually have the best version
00:29of the system, it's only natural to wonder what the next generation of drivetrains will be.
00:35While the current system serves the masses really well, for some, there are some potentially huge
00:41gains to be had in other technologies. CeramicSpeed debuted its wacky looking system back in 2018,
00:53much to the intrigue of anybody who set eyes on it. It works by using sculpted plates rather than
01:00chain rings and sprockets with an electronically controlled driveshaft which can shift between
01:05different diameters of the plate to engage a different gear. As yet, it's still very much
01:12in the testing and development phase. However, CeramicSpeed claims that it was able to achieve
01:16a speed of 45kmph on the track, on a single speed prototype during part of its load testing phase.
01:26If this drivetrain ever does hit the market, in the first instance, it will undoubtedly be incredibly
01:33expensive. But of course, that's the same for any brand new and truly revolutionary tech. It always takes
01:39a bit of time for it to trickle down to those lower echelots. If CeramicSpeed really are successful
01:46in creating a drivetrain that is 99% efficient, it will of course attract the attention of those chasing
01:52every single one. Drivetrains like this could find a home on top-end TT and triathlon bikes, maybe even
02:01aero bikes optimised for flat races that will end in a sprint. The drivetrain efficiency is one thing,
02:08but the other benefits that come along with a setup like this is that there's no chain to come off.
02:13The system is more compact and therefore more aero. CeramicSpeed are claiming that they have recorded
02:20an advantage in specialised wind tunnel. But finally, since there are no delicate components
02:26hanging off of the frame, if a rider is to have a crash, they should just be able to jump on the bike
02:31and carry on. Snapped mech hangers will become a thing of the past, although SRAM's direct mount rear
02:37derailleur also seems to be doing a pretty good job of this.
02:45From one direct drive system to another, but one is actually in existence and is available to purchase,
02:52is the driveshaft tech from Honbike. They have done away with convention and constructed a pretty
02:57sturdy and utilitarian version of a similar concept. In Honbike's case, they have also made the housing for
03:05the driveshaft integral to the frame and it doubles as the chainstay which holds the rear wheel in place.
03:12Honbike has offered the system within their e-bike range and given the system weight,
03:17it's unlikely something similar would make it over to the world of road bikes. However,
03:22it's not impossible. There are a lot of engineers in the world, all of whom are much smarter than me,
03:28so perhaps there could be a middle ground between what Honbike has created and what Ceramic Speed
03:33are working on and perhaps that's where we'll see more of an affordable direct drive system emerge from.
03:45One of my favourite drivetrains and one which I feel is often overlooked is the Humboldt belt drive.
03:51Commonly found on urban and commuter bikes, the belt drive is just that. A belt very similar to the one
03:57that you might find in your car, but also has humps or teeth that engage with a similarly shaped front
04:04chainring and rear sprocket. Unsurprisingly, the belt itself can't be shifted, so to work
04:10around that limitation, belt drive bikes are often ones that instead incorporate a hub gear.
04:16For riders who demand bomb-proof simplicity, I don't think you can get much better than this.
04:21There's no oily chain to make your legs or clothes dirty, it doesn't need lubing and it
04:27cannot rust. The hub gear is completely sealed from the elements and often only ever need servicing
04:33once every few thousand miles and even then it's just a case of topping up any oil that might have
04:39escaped. Hub shifting is notoriously smooth, it's very much a fit and forget type of system.
04:47Perhaps it's down to a lack of awareness or education, but I think that this tech on a flat bar hybrid
04:54is quite possibly the best option out there. There are minimal downsides for the intended user,
05:00but there is so much to be gained.
05:07E-bikes have actually played host to quite a few innovations years before they've made their way onto
05:13road bikes. Let's not forget that Shimano Di2 was first found on an e-bike nearly five years before it
05:19showed up as an option for road bikes. So I think it's prudent to keep a keen eye on the latest
05:26innovations that pop up in that sphere as one day it would not be a surprise to see it become the new
05:31normal for road bikes. One innovation that has come from the behemoth that is Shimano is their
05:38automatic stepless shifting. You may be thinking, what does it do? Well, quite what it says on the tin.
05:46You start pedalling and when you do, you'll be in a nice easy gear to get you going. Then,
05:51as you build up speed and work up to a faster cadence, the auto box will move up the gears to
05:57allow you to increase your speed while keeping you at a comfortable cadence. But the really remarkable
06:03part about this is the ease at which it changes gear. You barely feel a change, it's more of an audible
06:10click quickly followed by a change of cadence. Perhaps this could be a great option for those who
06:16just want to focus on riding and let the bike take care of the rest.
06:25Lastly, and potentially most importantly, Classified seems to be leading the charge in
06:30terms of the next best alternative to the conventional drivetrain. Perhaps this is because
06:36it's not too far removed from what we already have. As the brand seeks to ditch the front derailleur
06:42and replace it with a wireless two-speed hub gear, we're still left with a conventional chain
06:47and rear derailleur setup. But the new tech does mean that front shifts can be conducted under extreme
06:53load without the risk of misshifting or dropping a chain. And chain lines can be optimised for an even
07:00more efficient setup. The last hurdle that the brand has to overcome is the integration with the shifters
07:07themselves. At the moment the hub is operated by a wireless button that mounts to your handlebars,
07:15but hopefully one day in the future the tech can be integrated into the OEM shifters without voiding
07:22any warranties. My hope is that SRAM decide to acquire Classified and then build it into their entire ecosystem.
07:30Imagine this, a pair of zip wheels with a classified hub that also makes use of the brand's ownership of
07:38PowerTap to create a zip classified PowerTap set of wheels and then perfectly integrates with SRAM's
07:46already wireless group sets. What a dream that would be. One for the future I'm sure and perhaps
07:53I'm being a little optimistic that such a thing could ever exist, but it's not outside the realms of
07:59possibility. Let me know, what do you think the future is for the Humble drivetrain? Do you think
08:06it will ever develop beyond the conventional two derailleur system we already have? Do you think
08:11Classified or CeramicSpeed have the answer? If you enjoyed the video then please do drop it a like,
08:17subscribe to the channel for more content and I will see you again very soon.
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