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
00:24be 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 45 kilometers per hour on the track, on a single speed prototype during part of its low
01:24testing phase. If this drivetrain ever does hit the market, in the first instance, it will undoubtedly be
01:32incredibly expensive. But of course, that's the same for any brand new and truly revolutionary tech.
01:39It always takes a bit of time for it to trickle down to those lower echelons.
01:43If CeramicSpeed really are successful in creating a drivetrain that is 99% efficient,
01:50it will of course attract the attention of those chasing every single watt.
01:55Drivetrains like this could find a home on top-end TT and triathlon bikes, maybe even aero bikes
02:02optimised for flat races that will end in a sprint. The drivetrain efficiency is one thing, but the
02:09other benefits that come along with a setup like this is that there's no chain to come off. The
02:14system 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
02:30on the bike
02:31and carry on. Snapped mech hangers will become a thing of the past. Although,
02:36SRAM's direct mount rear derailleur 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 Honda. They have done away with convention and constructed a pretty sturdy
02:58and utilitarian version of a similar concept. In Honbike's case, they have also made the housing
03:05for the driveshaft integral to the frame and it doubles as the chainstay which holds the rear wheel
03:11in place. Honbike 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, it's not
03:23impossible. 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,
03:49is the humble belt drive. Commonly found on urban and commuter bikes, the belt drive is just that,
03:56a belt very similar to the one that you might find in your car, but also has humps or teeth
04:02that engage
04:02with a similarly shaped front chainring and rear sprocket. Unsurprisingly, the belt itself can't be
04:09shifted, so to work around that limitation, belt drive bikes are often ones that instead incorporate a hub
04:15gear. For 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 cannot rust.
04:28The hub gear is completely sealed from the elements and often only ever need servicing once every few
04:34thousand miles, and even then it's just a case of topping up any oil that might have escaped. Hub
04:44is too much a fit and forget type of system. Perhaps it's down to a lack of awareness or education,
04:51but I think that this tech on a flat bar hybrid is quite possibly the best option out there. There
04:57are
04:58minimal downsides for the intended user, but 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
05:12onto road bikes. Let's not forget that Shimano Di2 was first found on an e-bike nearly five years
05:19before it showed up as an option for road bikes. So I think it's prudent to keep a keen eye
05:24on the
05:25latest innovations that pop up in that sphere, as one day it would not be a surprise to see it
05:31become the
05:31new normal for road bikes. One innovation that has come from the behemoth that is Shimano is their
05:37automatic stepless shifting. You may be thinking, what does it do? Well, quite what it says on the
05:46tin. You start pedalling and when you do, you'll be in a nice easy gear to get you going. Then,
05:51as you
05:52build up speed and work up to a faster cadence, the auto box will move up the gears to allow
05:57you to
05:57increase 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
06:10audible click quickly followed by a change of cadence. Perhaps this could be a great option for
06:16those who just 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 terms of the
06:30next best alternative to the conventional drivetrain. Perhaps this is because it's not too far removed
06:37from what we already have. As the brand seeks to ditch the front derailleur and replace it with a
06:43wireless two-speed hub gear, we're still left with a conventional chain and rear derailleur setup.
06:49But the new tech does mean that front shifts can be conducted under extreme load without the risk
06:55of misshifting or dropping a chain. And chain lines can be optimised for an even more efficient setup.
07:02The last hurdle that the brand has to overcome is the integration with the shifters themselves.
07:09At the moment, the hub is operated by a wireless button that mounts to your handlebars. But hopefully,
07:15one day in the future, the tech can be integrated into the OEM shifters without voiding any warranties.
07:23My 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
07:37PowerTap 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 possibility.
08:01Let me know, what do you think the future is for the Humble drivetrain? Do you think it will ever
08:06develop beyond the conventional two derailleur system we already have? Do you think Classified or Ceramic Speed have the answer?
08:14If you enjoyed the video, then please do drop it a like, subscribe to the channel for more content, and
08:19I will see you again very soon.
Comments