On Friday, November 17, 2017 at 1:45:34 PM UTC-8, Andre Jute wrote:
On Friday, November 17, 2017 at 5:18:59 PM UTC, jbeattie wrote:
On Friday, November 17, 2017 at 8:40:18 AM UTC-8, Andre Jute wrote:
When did you last see a shaft drive bicycle? That one failed in the market, again, recently, this time by inadequate engineering (plastic gears! -- Jesus wept). I predicted that it would happen; it was such an obvious case of the marketing department and the cost-accountants overriding the engineers, not always a bad thing for poorer consumers than the ones I generally appeal to but in this case disastrous. However, a shaft drive light enough and durable enough for bicycles isn't rocket science, so, if a shaft drive is possible, and offers all the advantages of the Gates Drive without requiring a split frame and in addition is aesthetically superior, why don't we see shaft drives buzzing around on all sides?

I see racks filled with shaft-drive bikes every day. http://www.galmlaw..com/wp-content/u...1/Biketown.jpg https://www.biketownpdx.com/how-it-works/meet-the-bike

I think that first picture was actually the drop-off spot for some portion of the city's fleet of Biketown bikes. At the racks, usage varies -- the one near my office is usually about half full, but I don't pay much attention.. I think the program is limping along, but at least it is not a drain on taxpayers -- yet. We have more than enough drains already.

-- Jay Beattie.