Conference noted::bicycle

        It's 3:30 AM and the 7 month old needs to be tranquilized.  I use a
        bottle and the TV to do this.  What's on ?  Info-mercials.
    
        The one we watched was the Auto-Bike product.  Automatic, 6 speed
        transmission.  The sales pitch was slick.  A coat & tie dressed man
        says, '6 speeds is plenty', as his eyes shift to the left (a sure sign
        of a blatant lie).  A competitive mtb-er runs the Auto-bike through 
        muddy trails and then comments, 'The rims aren't bent, the tires and
        brakes work'.  An apparent bike shop owner, 'loves Auto-bike for
        the simplicity'.  A bike designer 'raves about the quality' as he
        hammers the frame on a work bench.  A bike messenger says, 'it shifts 
        for you so you can keep your eyes on the road'.  A student 'likes the 
        big, springy seat'.  An elderly man 'hates to decide on what gear to 
        use'.
    
        On and on it goes, '4 payments of $89.99 plus $49.95 shipping'.
    
        I have also seen the Auto-bike for sale in the JC Penney's catalog.  It
        weighs-in at about 45 lbs.  Of course the TV add does not mention this.
        Forgive me for not including the phone number so you can order your
        Auto-bike today.  If you have absolutely nothing to do at 3 AM, scan 
        the channels for some entertaining propaganda. ;)

    
    	45 pounds!!
    
    	I figured it'd be heavy, but I never imagined it'd be THAT
    	heavy.
    

    April Fools right?
    

    -1 Unfortunately not. However, every bike does serve someone a purpose
       somewhere. I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone toward this
       product.
    
       Re; the poor guy worrying about which gear to go in... Sounds like
       he need therapy.

	Visit beautiful Worcester, MA and see one LIVE at the Herman's 
	store at the Greendale Mall.

	Here is what the mechanism looks like

		A plastic casting is clamped to the hub by the
		gear cluster.  That casting has three arms that
		extend out about 6 inches (clearing the large 
		cluster gear by several inches).  Each arm extends
		a few inches into the wheel (between the spokes) 
		and has a hole for a shaft parallel to the wheel
		axle.  A circular plastic plate with a large 
		central hole and three rods sticking out the back 
		fits over the gear cluster and slides into the 
		three holes in the arms.  The deraileur has a 
		shoe that clips over the edge of the circular plate.
		The shifting is done by weighted levers pressing
		in on the ends of the three rods.

	The shifting mechanism itself would only weigh a couple of
	pounds and that could be reduced by using airfoils instead
	of weights to measure rotational velocity.  The mechanism
	could be added to most any spoked-wheel deraileur bike.

	Here is how it works:

		As the rear wheel speed increases the weights
		apply tension to the levers...

		The levers apply pressure to the rods....  

		The rods move the plastic plate out over the gear cluster...

		The deraileur riding on the edge of the plate moves the
		chain...

		The system shifts up.

		As speed decreases the spring tension in the
		deraileur moves everything back.

	One problem I would expect is getting smooth shifts when
	you don't have either indexing (at least none that I could 
	see) or direct control of deraileur position.

I saw it advertised in the Macy's add this weekend.  The copy included things
like "wide padded seat" (or springy, cushioned, something like that) and "great
exercise".

So, when I want to hammer up a hill, it will pick the right gear for me to
hammer in, will it?

Tim

    
    	As long as the gear you're looking for is between 1 and 6, then
    	yes, it will.
    
    	If you want gear 1.4, you have to settle for gear 1 or gear 2.
    

    The bicycle will not pick the gear you want. Nor can it possibly
    discern between a riders ability/strength.
    
    This bicycle does have a usefull purpose for those folks who are
    casual/weekend riders. Serious or competitive riders need not apply.
    
    I saw the infomercial (well, bit and pieces through some channel
    surfing). The "testimonies" of the people were pretty funny, e.g.
    shifting is confusing, I don't have to worry about what gear I'm
    in, I don't have to shift the bike, blah, blah, blah...
    
    The there was the "competition" staged to show that the bike was
    better/faster in different types of terrain. Just as funny as the
    testimonies.
    
    There are so many variables involved with the efficiency of a bicycle
    as well as the "bike to human" interface. Funny how they avoided all
    that.
    
    Chip
    
    

        I believe that the thoughts around "one size fits all" apply here.

    rich

    -1 Abso-tively! :-)
    
       Chip

	Just saw an article in the Denver Post about the Autobike.

	The part the made me really wince is:  it keeps your cadence
	at a constant *65 rpm*.

	Ouch!  Too low for me!

    re: .12
    
    Too low for anyone, except the target market of the bike:-(
    
    Bob