Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- tech:derail [2022/04/20 17:55] – created mtbtimeline
+++ tech:derail [2022/10/27 06:23] (current) – mtbtimeline
@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 ===== Changing Gears =====
-Riding off-road demands quick, wide gear changes.  The complex machinery of derailleurs and shifters has gone through continual growth, much of which has been driven by mountain biking.
+Riding off-road demands quick changes across a wide selection of gears.  The complex machinery of derailleurs and shifters has gone through continual growth, much of which has been driven by mountain biking.
-The timeline already has a [[components:]] page, created to help date 80's bikes by their derailleurs.  This page address a full century's worth of changing gears, from the to birth of derailleurs to [[https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/technologies/component/details/rapidfire-plus.html|Rapidfire]] to [[https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/technologies/component/details/bump-stopper.html|bump stoppers]].
+Elsewhere, mtbtimeline already has a [[components:]] page created to help date 80's bikes by their derailleurs.  This page addresses a full century's worth of changing gears, from the to birth of derailleurs to [[https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/technologies/component/details/rapidfire-plus.html|Rapidfire]] to [[https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/technologies/component/details/bump-stopper.html|bump stoppers]].
-For the first 50 years cyclists suffered without gearing, consigned to riding fixies on level surfaces at restrained speeds.  In 1884 a freewheel was finally attached to safety bicycles, which led to coaster brakes which, well, didn't lead to gearing until 1899.  After many excellent derailleurs came to the market, it wouldn't be until 1937 that the Tour de France [[https://www.velonews.com/gear/road-gear/how-tour-de-france-embraced-derailleurs/|embraced derailleurs.]] and the technology became truly mainstream.
+For the first 50 years cyclists suffered without gearing, consigned to riding fixies on level surfaces at restrained speeds.  In 1884 freewheels appeared, followed by derailleurs in 1899.  After many excellent derailleurs became popular, it wouldn't be until 1937 that the Tour de France [[https://www.velonews.com/gear/road-gear/how-tour-de-france-embraced-derailleurs/|embraced derailleurs]] and the technology became truly mainstream.
 \\
@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 <div column 50% #intro2>
-Bicycle gearing was simply measured by the height of the (overly large) front wheel.  The higher the wheel, the higher the top speed, so that racers would often have wheels as tall as 60 inches.  That is, if their legs were long enough to straddle the tires and reach the pedals.((According to this [[https://www.unicycle.co.uk/faq/article/what-size-penny-farthing-to-buy|chart]], you'd need a 38" inseam to ride a 56" penny farthing.))  Gear inches are still used [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_inches|today,]] where a typical range of gears is from 22" -> 100" for a mountain bike.
+With the first [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny-farthing|penny -farthing]] bicycles, the higher the wheel, the higher the top speed, so that racers would often have wheels as tall as 60 inches.  That is, if their legs were long enough to straddle the tires and reach the pedals.((According to this [[https://www.unicycle.co.uk/faq/article/what-size-penny-farthing-to-buy|chart]], you'd need a 38" inseam to ride a 56" penny farthing.))  Bicycle gearing today is often measured in terms of the height of an equivalent penny farthing bicycle and are called [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_inches|gear inches]].
 \\
-By [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whippet_(bicycle)|1899]], lever operated, simple derailleurs became available, and were good for two rear gears on a freewheel, on a safety bike with suspension and rim brakes.
+By [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whippet_(bicycle)|1899]], lever operated, simple derailleurs became available, and were good for two rear gears on a safety bike with suspension, freewheel and rim brakes.
 </div>
@@ Line 72: / Line 72: @@
 </blockquote>
-{{1938.jpg?200|1938 Nivex}}
+{{1938.jpg?300|1938 Nivex}}
+\\
 Nivex [[https://www.renehersecycles.com/half-a-century-old-and-still-going-strong/|renehersecycles]]
 </div>
@@ Line 90: / Line 91: @@
 ===== Mountain Derailleurs =====
-Early mtb builders tried using touring derailleurs for their wide ranges.  They were not particularly robust: prone to clogging, misalignment and simply snapping under the punishment which mtbs endure.  Creating light weight, strong, performant and affordable mountain derailleurs continues to drive development today.
+The first mtb builders used touring derailleurs for their wide ranges.  They were not particularly robust: prone to clogging, misalignment and simply snapping under the punishment which mtbs endure.  Creating light weight, strong, performant and affordable mountain derailleurs continues to drive development today.
 </div>
 <div column 45%>
@@ Line 96: / Line 97: @@
 \\
 Road riders get muddy too.
+Sean Kelly, 1984 Paris-Roubaix
 \\
-Sean Kelly, 1984 Paris-Roubaix, photo by Graham Watson
+photo by Graham Watson
 [[https://twitter.com/grahamwatson10/status/851013863541571585|twitter]]
@@ Line 127: / Line 129: @@
 \\
 SunTour MounTech GTL, 38T capacity,
-mountech_gtl.jpg
 [[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/suntour_mountech_gtl_derailleur_5500.html|disraeli]]
@@ Line 142: / Line 143: @@
 Shimano states in a [[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/shimano_-_celebrating_25_great_years.html|video]] that XT was available in 1982, but the consensus is that is wasn't generally available until January 1983.  However, the December 1982 Ritchey [[https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1189682-making-shimano-xt-deer-head-timeline-4.html#&gid=1&pid=31|ads]] show some XT components.
-{{deore.jpg?150|25 Years of Deerheads}}
+{{sticker.jpg?260|25 Years of Deerheads}}
+\\
 Shimano XT decal from 2007. [[https://www.ebay.com/itm/143450097445|ebay]]
@@ Line 151: / Line 153: @@
 {{m700.jpg?300|1982 RD-M700}}
 \\
- Shimano Deore XT RD-M700, 40T capacity [[https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1064087-shimano-rd-m700-derailleur-deerhead-advice-needed.html#&gid=1&pid=8]]
+-5 variations of the Shimano Deore XT RD-M700, 40T capacity
+\\
+ [[https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1064087-shimano-rd-m700-derailleur-deerhead-advice-needed.html#&gid=1&pid=8|bikeforums]]
+((Each of the RD-M700s pictured here is slightly different.  Note the M700-SP //super plates//.))
 </div>
@@ Line 160: / Line 165: @@
 ===== 1991 Campagnolo Record OR =====
-The Record OR was Campagnolo's ultimate and last attempt to dominate the high end mountain bike component market.  They had previous created a decent 38T [[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/campagnolo_euclid_m010-md_2nd_style_derailleur.html|Euclid]] component group in a far too late bid to capture the hearts of the off road crowd.  After the Record OR, Campagnolo returned to making pretty things for the lycra set.
+The Record OR was Campagnolo's ultimate and last attempt to dominate the high end mountain bike component market.  They had previous created a decent 38T [[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/campagnolo_euclid_m010-md_2nd_style_derailleur.html|Euclid]] component group in a far too late bid to capture the hearts of the off road crowd.  After the Record OR, Campagnolo returned to making pretty things for the Lycra set.
 <blockquote>
@@ Line 185: / Line 190: @@
 ===== 1991 Shimano XTR =====
-At the same time that Campagnolo saw some space above XT in the mtb market, Shimano dropped their //R//ace version of their XT groupset; the first with integrated shifters with brakes and rapidfire triggers.  It has remained the top end of mountain bike components: the Dura-Ace of mtb gruppos.((See XTR history at [[https://www.shimano.com/en/100th/history/products/58.php|Shimano]].))
+At the same time that Campagnolo saw some space above XT in the mtb market, Shimano dropped their //**R**//ace version of the XT groupset; the first with integrated shifters with brakes and rapidfire triggers.  It has remained the top end of mountain bike components: the Dura-Ace of mtb gruppos.((See XTR history at [[https://www.shimano.com/en/100th/history/products/58.php|Shimano]].))
 </div>
 <div column 45%>
-{{str.jpg?300|1991 Shimano XTR}}
+{{xtr.jpg?300|1991 Shimano XTR}}
 \\
-[[https://velobase.com/ViewGroup.aspx?GroupID=0998dbac-dc80-4ff6-a9c7-a7b413923ea4|RD-M900]] Shimano XTR rear derailleur, [[https://www.facebook.com/ShimanomtbNorthAmerica/photos/throwbackthursday-back-in-1992-xtr-m900-was-born-the-ultimate-in-off-road-compon/10155750250682762|Shimano Facebook]]
+[[https://velobase.com/ViewGroup.aspx?GroupID=0998dbac-dc80-4ff6-a9c7-a7b413923ea4|RD-M900]] 1992 Shimano XTR groupset, [[https://www.facebook.com/ShimanomtbNorthAmerica/photos/throwbackthursday-back-in-1992-xtr-m900-was-born-the-ultimate-in-off-road-compon/10155750250682762|Shimano Facebook]]
 </div>
@@ Line 203: / Line 208: @@
-"...water in the desert for mountain bike aficionados drowning in a sea of lookalike Shimano."((Quoted [[components:start|elsewhere]] and comes from: [[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2018/jun/07/10-weird-and-wonderful-derailleurs-and-how-they-changed-cycling|theguardian]]))
+"...water in the desert for mountain bike aficionados drowning in a sea of lookalike Shimano."((Quoted [[components:|elsewhere]] and comes from: [[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2018/jun/07/10-weird-and-wonderful-derailleurs-and-how-they-changed-cycling|theguardian]]))
 Today, sadly, there are no pretty derailleurs left.  Perhaps because they are fiendishly difficult to create and there exists an impenetrable wall of patents guarding any attempts to improve upon them.
-Or perhaps because of the association dayglo derailleurs have with being difficult, pricey and fragile?
+Or perhaps because of the association day-glo derailleurs have with being difficult, pricey and fragile?
 ((For a gallery of colorful derailleurs over the years, see [[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/derailleurs_-_a_riot_of_colour.html|DisareliGears]].))  But we've lost some playfulness and freedom by accepting corporate conformance.  It's time to bring bling back.
-{{cnc1.jpg?200|CNC}}
+{{cnc1.jpg?240|CNC}}
-{{cnc2.jpg?200|CNC}}
+{{cnc2.jpg?240|CNC}}
-{{cnc3.jpg?200|CNC}}
+{{cnc3.jpg?240|CNC}}
-{{cnc4.jpg?200|CNC}}
+{{cnc4.jpg?240|CNC}}
   * [[https://www.mtbr.com/threads/precision-billet-proshift-derailleurs-shifters.471602/page-2|mtbr]]
-  * [[https://www.pinterest.com/pin/180636635028021100/visual-search/?x=10&y=10&w=538&h=403&cropSource=6&imageSignature=e36a3e2b486767572b95689645880eb0||pinterest]]
+  * [[https://www.pinterest.com/pin/180636635028021100/visual-search/?x=10&y=10&w=538&h=403&cropSource=6&imageSignature=e36a3e2b486767572b95689645880eb0|pinterest]]
   * [[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/joes_derailleur.html|disraeli]]
   * [[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/precision_billet_proshift_purple_derailleur_2nd_style.html|disraeli]]
@@ Line 232: / Line 237: @@
 <div column 50% #sram>
 ----
-===== SRAM =====
+===== SRAM Grip Shift =====
+SRAM started as a maker of [[https://www.bikemag.com/blog/exclusive-the-product-that-changed-the-world/|Grip Shift]] in 1987, a twist shift system for triathletes' aero bars.  Branching out to mountain bike downhillers, whose glove were probably too fat for Rapidfire, they signed [[https://mmbhof.org/greg-herbold/|Greg Herbold]] in 1990 and SRAM found it's niche in between the heavyweight component manufacturers.  After 7 years of making just Grip Shifts, SRAM came out with a full component set.
+{{grip.jpg?200|1988 Grip Shift}}
+SRAM Grip Shift [[https://www.bikemag.com/blog/exclusive-the-product-that-changed-the-world/|bikemag]]
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{esp.jpg?300|1994 SRAM ESP 900}}
+\\
+SRAM EXP 900, 1st gen, their first rear derailleur
+[[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/sram_esp_900_1st_style_derailleur.html|disraeli]]
+</div>
+<div column 50% #sram2>
+The real significance of [[https://www.sram.com/en/company/about/history|SRAM]] is that they exist at all.  And that they've thrived.  In the past 25 years SRAM has acquired [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZF_Sachs|Sachs]],
+[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RockShox|RockShox]],
+Avid, TruVativ, Zipp, Quarq, Powertap, Time & Hammerhead.  SRAM's 2020 revenues
+were $974M, while the Shimano Bike division reached [[https://www.pinkbike.com/news/in-100th-year-of-business-shimano-breaks-revenue-and-earnings-records-by-ridiculous-margins.html|$4B]].
+Recently SRAM has surpassed Shimano in the high end mtb market.  They won their market share by innovating faster than Shimano, introducing carbon drivetrain components, larger cassettes with 1x drivetrains, local race sponsorships, lighter weights, compatibility, suspension systems integration, acquisitions and simply being better at giving riders what they want.((See Shimano vs SRAM summary at [[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/news/shimano-vs-sram|theproscloset]].))
-The significance of [[https://www.sram.com/en/company/about/history|SRAM]] is that they exist at all.  Recently SRAM has surpassed Shimano in the high end mtb market.  They won their market share by innovating faster than Shimano, introducing carbon drivetrain components, larger cassettes with 1x drivetrains, local race sponsorships, lighter weights, compatibility, suspension systems integration, and simply being better at giving riders what they want.((See Shimano vs SRAM summary at [[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/news/shimano-vs-sram|theproscloset]].))
 </div>
@@ Line 273: / Line 300: @@
   * **1980** [[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/suntour_mighty_click_derailleur_2700.html|SunTour]] Mighty Click
-And then, in 1985, Shimano's SIS((SIS := [[https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/information/news/understanding-shimano-indexed-shifting--s-i-s-.html|Shimano Index Shifting]].)) system arrived((Dura-Ace used an SIS compatibile Positron derived index system since 1981.  See: [[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/shimano_dura-ace_ax_derailleur_7300.html|disraeli]].)) and destroyed all the competition.  (([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_(bicycle)|Simplex folded in the 90's, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SunTour|SunTour]] went bankrupt in 1988, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SRAM_Corporation#Sachs_Bicycle_Components|Sachs-Huret]] got absorbed by SRAM in 1997, [[https://www.pinkbike.com/news/mavic-saved-by-bourellier-group-focus-to-return-to-wheels.html|Mavic]] stopped making derailleurs in 90's.))
+And then, in 1985, Shimano's SIS((SIS := [[https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/information/news/understanding-shimano-indexed-shifting--s-i-s-.html|Shimano Index Shifting]].)) system arrived((Dura-Ace used an SIS compatible Positron derived index system since 1981.  See: [[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/shimano_dura-ace_ax_derailleur_7300.html|disraeli]].)) and destroyed all the competition.  (([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_(bicycle)|Simplex]] folded in the 90's, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SunTour|SunTour]] went bankrupt in 1988, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SRAM_Corporation#Sachs_Bicycle_Components|Sachs-Huret]] got absorbed by SRAM in 1997, [[https://www.pinkbike.com/news/mavic-saved-by-bourellier-group-focus-to-return-to-wheels.html|Mavic]] stopped making derailleurs in 90's.))
 \\
@@ Line 283: / Line 310: @@
 <div column 45%>
 {{tourney.jpg?300|Shimano Tourney}}
-RD-TY20-GS
 \\
 Shimano Tourney RD-TY20-GS
@@ Line 294: / Line 320: @@
 ===== A Note on Compatibility =====
-One of the great advantages of index shifting, at as far as the manufacturuers were concerned, is that it locked you into a brand.  Shiters and derailleurs had to be paired along brands.
+One of the great advantages of index shifting, at as far as the manufacturers were concerned, is that it locked you into a brand.  Shifters and derailleurs had to be paired along brands.
-Despite what [[http://www.jtekengineering.com/shiftmate/shiftmate-compatibility-charts-choices/|JTek promises]], the various brands, and generations of brands, are hopelessly incompatible.((Obviously JTek works sometimes.  Their adapters work great when the ratio of cable pull between two models doesn't change.  For example a Shimano 10 speeds shifter can be easliy adapted for an 8 speed derailleur by increasing the cable pull by a constant ratio.  Except that it's actually more complicated.))  It's mostly down to [[http://blog.artscyclery.com/science-behind-the-magic/science-behind-the-magic-drivetrain-compatibility/|cable pull]]: the millimeters of cable each click of a shifter pull & release.  Sometimes it's linear, or gradually increases, or fluctuates from large to small to large again.  See sample graph to the right ->
+Despite what [[http://www.jtekengineering.com/shiftmate/shiftmate-compatibility-charts-choices/|JTek promises]], the various brands, and generations of brands, are hopelessly incompatible.((Obviously JTek works sometimes.  Their adapters work great when the ratio of cable pull between two models doesn't change.  For example a Shimano 10 speeds shifter can be easily adapted for an 8 speed Shimano derailleur by increasing the cable pull by a constant ratio.  Except that it's actually more complicated.))  It's mostly down to [[http://blog.artscyclery.com/science-behind-the-magic/science-behind-the-magic-drivetrain-compatibility/|cable pull]]: the millimeters of cable each click of a shifter pull & release.  Sometimes it's linear, or gradually increases, or fluctuates from large to small to large again.  See sample graph to the right ->
 \\
@@ Line 303: / Line 329: @@
 <div column 45%>
 {{cable.jpg?300|Cable Cable Pull }}
+\\
 Cable pull chart [[https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-mechanics/1114359-definitive-guide-derailleur-cable-pull.html|bikeforums]]
 </div>
@@ Line 311: / Line 338: @@
 ===== Internal Hubs and Gearboxes =====
-For most of the 20th century, the British eschewed derailleurs in favor of internally geared hubs, for their cleaner aesthetic.  With modern derailleurs getting more complicated, it's no wonder that today internal hubs, such as [[https://www.rohloff.de/en/products/speedhub/speedhub-variations|Rohloff's]] are making a comeback and that all other derailleurs only come in a single color: black.((Rohloff's cost upwards of $1,500.))
+For most of the 20th century, the British eschewed derailleurs in favor of internally geared hubs for their cleaner aesthetic.  With modern derailleurs getting more complicated, it's no wonder that today internal hubs, such as [[https://www.rohloff.de/en/products/speedhub/speedhub-variations|Rohloff's]] are making a comeback and that all other derailleurs only come in a single color: black.((Rohloff's cost upwards of $1,500.))
 \\
@@ Line 337: / Line 364: @@
 To be finished...
+\\
+Should include:
+  * rapidfire : under bar shifting
+  * clutches : chain stabilizing tension derailleur clutch
+  * bump stoppers : a Shimano effort to quiet bouncing derailleurs
+  * electronic shifting : incl. wireless
+  * integrated shifters : brakes and shifting merged - more of a road advantage
+  * 1x systems : giant cassettes to the rescue
+  * belt and direct drives : not really a plus
+  * more?
 </div>