Gears through the Years

[@B_COOPER]

That uphill on the French bike was a damn good laugh. I needed that!

[@dagkaman3312]

that retro direct going uphill is hilarious to look at, good video!

[@kiuk_kiks]

Moonwalking uphill had me creasing 😂

[@MisterSal9895]

Wow this video is amazing lol good job

[@laurencegardner]

This is a fantastic video, best one I’ve found for looking at the history of bike gears! Thank you

[@alistair410]

5 speed suntour is where I came in, now on 12 speed Campagnolo.

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

In those days I thought Suntour beat Shimano. How is Campy 12? I have a Campy 10 that I love!

[@alistair410]

@@grafhilgenhurst9717 I don't really remember shimano being around back then (mid to late 80s} I went to campagnolo in 92 and been on campag ever since. Recently bought the 12 speed Chorus groupo, brilliant, typical bomb proof Campag.

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

Shimano and Suntour were neck and neck in those days. I preferred Suntour (and way better than Simplex!). Then Shimano got a patent for the swinging parallelogram design that pretty much was the end of Suntour. @@alistair410

[@lisastarmer7012]

That was great!

[@simongee8928]

The only problem with the Retro Direct is that if you pedal backwards for any distance, the pedals will unscrew and fall off - ! 😅 An odd oversight for a great idea.

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

Never had that problem in the 2 miles I rode it. I did have the pedals fall off a unicycle once, after I'd been riding it for 5 miles. Turns out I was riding it backwards the whole way! 🤣

[@jonathanlord5254]

Just a little addition to fill in the gaps. In the 1950s was the Oscar Egg, Osgear with a spring loaded chain roller running on the bottom chain line taking up the slack over 3 sprockets. In the 1960s we were blessed in the U K with the Benelux horizontal spring action using down tube control lever and manual lever on seat post to change 2 front gears, turn it left/ right to select. Ray Booty in 1950s set national 100 mile record 3 hrs 32 mins using heavy Sturmy Archer 3 speed close ratio gear ! Then in the 60s came the 3/32 inch width lighter flexible chain we use today. Thus ending the racing on fixed gear for time trials as was then established practice in the U K . It became possible to to race 6 speed and more, breaking away from the limiting 5 speed of the 1/8 inch standard chain width previously only available. Chain pitch is still universally and W- Wide 1/2 imperial inch. The rest is history, you all are experiencing now. Thank you for a fascinating video particularly the back pedalling gear change of the French design ! Who else ?

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

Thank you, sir! Chains keep getting narrower. And more expensive!

[@chengong388]

There’s so many hilariously stupid designs in the past… would love to see a much longer video on those.

[@colincampbell4261]

Thank you.

[@simongee8928]

It always struck me as odd that Japan, with no history of cycling to speak of, is the world leader in derailleur gearing. Proves the industrious nature of the Japanese.

[@CandidZulu]

No history of cycling?! Many brands from Japan were old before they became international exporters!

[@tranhai8895]

Do you think in the near future, low-end to mid-end bicycles like MTB, road, touring, etc will be equipped with electronic groupsets?

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

Cost is coming down, market share is going up on both electronic groupsets and hydraulic disc brakes! The only downside is having to remember to "charge" your bike!

[@tranhai8895]

@@grafhilgenhurst9717 I hope I can buy a cheap MTB with electronic groupsets in the next few years. but I think E-Groupset will only get cheaper when it is mass produced in China

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

@@tranhai8895 I have a mountain bike with a 1 x 11 drivetrain. Not electronic, but it's a "no-brainer" when on a twisty trail!

[@tranhai8895]

Is the electronic groupset/shifter the new standard for Tour De France road bikes?

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

It is. I have 1 bike with electronic shifting. It never misses a shift, like the double clutch transmission in cars, which was also adopted in racing.

[@TalekarAkshay]

He is like Michael Jackson of cycles

[@tranhai8895]

Who invented the front derailleur?

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

The Simplex Competition front derailleur was introduced in 1949, and was operated by hand using a lever that extended upward parallel to the seat tube.In 1952 the company introduced a cable-operated model. I had Simplex derailleurs on my Raleigh Gran Prix!

[@tranhai8895]

@@grafhilgenhurst9717 thank you so much ❤

[@simongee8928]

It was always said that Shimano wears out, Campagnolo wears in.

[@jamess8696]

Not for the price. I'll still roll with shimano. It's like a honda... it just works and you can find them everywhere.

[@slodziak222222]

Bike moonwalk

[@cegalleta]

The ferrari comparison is absolute nonsense, specially considering it's a double clutch transmission, not even motorcycles use those.

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

OK, I WISH I were driving a Ferrari, but it shifts by clicking your fingers and letting the electronics do the rest. That much is true.

[@cegalleta]

@@grafhilgenhurst9717 but you are pressing a button with mechanical shifters as well, idk, I felt it was kind of beyond the point. Maybe if some day an electronic -internal gears transmission for bikes appears and then it'll be more safe to call it a bike dct

[@joaoc6920]

If I could offer some feedback on this old video: Its absolutely fantastic, I mean, genuinely great video. The only part I could suggest you improve are the thumbnail and title. They arent appealing enough and "A history of gears" doesnt really convey what the content of the video will be. For better of for worse, good and appealing thumbnails are the mark of a successfull youtube video.

[@grafhilgenhurst9717]

Thank you for the feedback. This was originally done for an exhibit at the Lane Motor Museum called "bicycles through the years", so you are getting it a little bit out of context.

[@n0b0dy07]

People still thinks that 3x7/9 is the true geared bike and 1x12 system are just a hype, nonsense, 1x12 is the real deal 😂😂😂