Subheader Icon 877-412-3651
Request a quote
Article Bicycle Drivetrain Wins 2018 Eurobike Innovation Award Image

Bike parts manufacturer CeramicSpeed partnered with the University of Colorado’s department of mechanical engineering to introduce a chainless bicycle drivetrain concept. The revolutionary drivetrain, known as DrivEn, won the 2018 Eurobike Innovation Award at the Eurobike show, a major tradeshow in Germany.

According to Jason Smith, CeramicSpeed’s chief technology officer, “Advancements in drivetrain technology have been evolutionary since the 1920s. DrivEn is truly revolutionary given its unique rolling element power transfer and unmatched efficiency. The DrivEn concept has the ability to change the way the cycling industry views drivetrain design and drivetrain efficiency.”

Here are some of the features of the DrivEn prototype:

  • Derailleurs and chains are replaced with a pinion-style driveshaft system.
  • The system utilizes low-friction 21 CeramicSpeed bearings that transfer torque effortlessly from the front ring through the drivetrain and onto the 13-speed rear cog.
  • The bike creates 49 percent less friction than the high-end Shimano Dura-Ace chain-and-derailleur setup.
  • The bike has less drag, less weight, and takes up less space than traditional bicycles.

Smith said, “CeramicSpeed has proudly accomplished what many have said couldn’t be done. We achieved a 99 percent-efficient multispeed drivetrain while eliminating the chain and complex rear derailleur.”

Related Articles

Latest China Moves Closer to Opening Deep Geological Nuclear Waste Lab Nearly 1,837 Feet Below Surface Image
Construction

China Moves Closer to Opening Deep Geological Nuclear Waste Lab Nearly 1,837 Feet Below Surface

A Critical Step for Long-Term Nuclear Safety China is nearing a major milestone in its nuclear energy program as engineers push forward with a deep geological research laboratory designed to study the safe disposal of radioactive waste. Known as the Beishan Underground Research Laboratory, the facility is taking shape in the remote Gobi Desert in Gansu province. As a result, when completed, it

Latest A Guide to Purchasing Inconel: Tips and Considerations Image
Aerospace

A Guide to Purchasing Inconel: Tips and Considerations

Inconel® is a family of nickel-chromium superalloys known for high strength, corrosion resistance, and oxidation resistance at elevated temperatures. Well-suited to demanding applications, Inconel alloys typically comprise 50–70% nickel, 15–25% chromium, and other elements such as iron, cobalt, molybdenum, and tungsten. The specific composition of an Inconel alloy depends on its intended applicati

Latest Hyundai Steel Plans Hydrogen-Ready Low-Carbon Mill in Louisiana Image
Industry News

Hyundai Steel Plans Hydrogen-Ready Low-Carbon Mill in Louisiana

Hyundai Steel plans to build a hydrogen-ready low-carbon steel mill in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. The project carries an estimated cost of $6 billion and marks the company’s first U.S. steelmaking facility. State officials say the mill will support automotive, energy, and industrial markets that need cleaner flat-rolled and long-product supply. The plant forms part of Hyundai’s broader push t

Latest 3D-Printed Metal Matrix Composite Could Boost High-Temperature Aerospace Components Image
Aerospace

3D-Printed Metal Matrix Composite Could Boost High-Temperature Aerospace Components

A research team at the University of Toronto has created a metal matrix composite that stays light, strong, and stable at temperatures where most aluminum alloys fail. The material is produced through a combination of laser-based additive manufacturing and micro-casting, giving it a reinforced-concrete-like architecture on a microscopic scale. That structure delivers strength at both ambient and e