Eurobike Engineering Highlights

During our visit to the Eurobike 2019 fair, we found an interesting display of innovative engineering ideas. Especially two projects caught our eye, that are both daring and innovative at the same time.

New drivetrain from CeramicSpeed
It’s quite unusual to see a complete redesign of a drivetrain. Usually, innovation is approached within the standard chain and derailleur configuration that we all know. However, CeramicSpeed is attempting to break the mould with its new concept drivetrain called “Driven“. It uses a dual Pinion configuration with a fixed front Pinion and a split rear Pinion that handles the gear shifts. The Pinions are made up of a ring of CeramicSpeed bearings which form the method of engagement. The gear change is wireless with the shifting mechanism, actuator and rechargeable battery housed inside the hollow carbon shaft. By splitting the rear Pinion each half can move independently with gear changes using what CeramicSpeed describes as a “step and follow pattern”. They have been working with the University of Colorado’s Mechanical Engineering Department on the project and it looks both stunning and daring! For a closer look on how it works, check out their video.

Titomic: Additive-manufactured carbon and titanium
The company uses a technology called “Titomic Kinetic Fusion” for the application of cold-gas dynamic spraying of titanium alloy particles onto a scaffold to produce a load-bearing structure. As with the tube-and-lug frame they exhibited at Eurobike, this can be used to create small components, which are then fused via carbon tubing. Titomic also showed a 3D printed carbon frame they developed together with their partner Varuu cycles. This clearly shows the potential of additive manufacturing in the cycling industry.