Rolling out the new Coasting bicycles

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Trek Lime

Proper bicycling technique is all about spinning. There's also a lot of spin in the roll out of bicycles that use Shimano's Coasting concept.

Trek, Raleigh and Giant all have bicycle models based on the new Coasting prototype, a design to make bicycling more friendly for the 161 million Americans out there who don't already ride a bike.

US-based Trek is leading the charge with its new Lime bike. A couple of weeks ago it gave away Lime bikes to the entire Friday audience of the Ellen Degeneres show and launched a Lime blog, where it announces, among other things, celebrities who ride a Lime (Tom Hanks).


What is it?

I know how bike blogger gwadzilla feels when he writes: “lime bike? automatic transmission? I did not get the memo.” The idea of bicycles that shift automatically is new to me, too.

BikePortland and Bicycle Design and some other bike blogs have been writing about the new bikes for several weeks. Cyclelicious has an interesting interview with Raleigh USA marketing director Carey Schleicher-Haselhorst.

There's some excitement that Shimano's Coasting concept, with its automatic gearing system, is going to get more people to buy, and hopefully ride, bicycles. Shimano and the bike makers are banking on the idea that there are lots of people out there who would like to ride, but they're put off by the choices and sales presentations at bike stores. They just want a simple bike.

Jonathan Maus at BikePortland wrote an excellent piece about the Coasting system from a presentation that Shimano gave at the 2007 National Bike Summit. The gist of the story is how Shimano joined product design group IDEO to develop a bicycle prototype engineered to get non-cyclists back on two wheels.


Raleigh Coasting

Research

The IDEO website explains their design strategy was the result of research into what influences casual bicyclists:

“1) A better riding experience – many adults miss the easy, joyful feel of riding a bike as a kid; 2) Product platform – a new feature set was needed, with automatic shifting and less visible mechanics; 3) The purchasing experience – independent bicycle dealers need to learn to engage with a new customer base that may include more women, amateurs, and inexperienced bikers.”

They created a “reference design” for bikes using Shimano components with lower maintenance requirements and increased comfort.

The automatic shifter is basically the Shimano Nexus hub, which has been out for a few years. A sensor detects the bike's speed, telling a micro-computer (powered by a generator on the front wheel) to shift up or down. The bikes use coaster brakes; backwards to stop.


Giant Suede DX

There are no visible brakes, no gear shifters, no cables, and nice wide, comfortable-looking seats. High handlebars.

To round out the “Coasting experience,” Shimano has launched a Coasting website where it lists bikes using the Coasting concept, dealers where the bikes are sold, and good routes for riding the bikes. (The last I checked, the dealer list was not online, and only a few routes were listed in a less than a dozen states.)

The whole process of coming up with the Coasting design is explained in-depth at Hemispheres magazine article entitled “Geared to Grow.”(.pdf)

Three bike makers are releasing Coasting bikes.

Trek Lime:

This is making most of the fuss right now. Jen Benepe at Benepe's Bike Blog got to ride one recently and wrote about it at “Trek unveils its effortless Lime bike.” She writes:

“I could be wrong, because after I rode the bike I realized its effortlessness could well be the start of a bike revolution. But I can also easily picture my stepmother who I have tried endlessly to get on a bike, picking this one up and enjoying it.”

Also, check out a review and pics at BikePortland

Raleigh Coasting:

The Raleigh Bicycles blog writes about the new bike, as does GeekSugar, which was “delighted” to see the six-pack rack in front that comes with a built-in bottle opener.

Giant Suede Coasting and Suede DX Coasting:

Basic Coasting-style bicycle with cell-phone and MP3 holder, front handlebar bag and rear rack with padded pannier that can hold a laptop.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/03/27/rolling-out-the-new-coasting-bicycles/

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