SRAM Is Up To Something

[xctofi]

SRAM has just released a new website teasing a "revolution in transmission technology" called the Truvativ Hammer Schmidt. We have some guesses as to what sort of a transmission system this is, but shall remain tight lipped for a little bit longer. Here's a hint though, you can probably forget about the front derailleur...

If you can speculate what the engineering gurus at SRAM have dreamt up for the future of MTB transmission technology leave a comment below and let us know what you think...

For more info go to magicmechanics.com/

MTBR Thread

[Jenner]

Nice find Sir Tofi, but still dang man..... those XOs' price will remain the same, I thought they were ditching the RDs as well, we'll be on the lookout for this promising breakthrough though.

[enzo]

That's why I keep postponing my purchase

WTG! Tofi Sram boy!!! ;D ;D ;D

[flipnidaho]

I've seen prototypes of an internally geared crank at the NAHMBS...

[Patrick]

From the looks of that poster I think its a gearbox or something, Truvativ kasi

[mountguitars]

hmmm.........i've seen their shift guide. saw it from ka verong's yeti. looks awesome. i'd like to have one myself. darn thing prevents any noise created by the chain.

would this be for the freeride or AM market perhaps?

[Ben Dover]

the rumor about it

www.chinamtb.com/category/new-products/

[xctofi]

Had a very interesting morning yesterday. It all started with a bright-and-early 7 A.M. breakfast with a representative of SRAM (which was super fun to wake up for after the premiere of and party for Kranked 7: The Cackle Factor held Sea Otter in Monterey over the weekend).

After some bacon and eggs I was thrown into a van driven by Tyler Moreland (are Canadian free riders really just allowed to drive in this country? Shouldn’t’ there be some special licensing involved? Waivers? Anyone?).

Anyways we arrived at the Embassy Suites in Monterey and I was led past a security guard to a dark room. There an attractive young girl blindfolded me, and I know what you’re thinking—girl, blindfold, dark hotel room? This is where it gets freaky! And how!

But this was really, really freaky. (And because we’re talking about mountain bikes here the girl quickly disappeared…)

But once inside I was told I had 30 seconds to ride a bike set up on a trainer. I knew what to look for (figuratively speaking, I’m still blindfolded at this point): the front shifting.

This whole elaborate rouse was set up by SRAM as the first real taste of a “revolutionary” front shifting system SRAM has been working on for months now. The shifter only had two positions, and by feathering the rear brake and shifting at the same time I could feel the gear ratio changing. What I didn’t find was the clackety-clunk of a traditional front derailleur in action. Instead the shifting action came smoothly, via the same sensation you get from an internal 3-speed beach cruiser hub.

So that’s all the info we have for now, but there you have it. SRAM’s Hammerschmidt, which we teased HERE last month, promises to take the front derailleur out of front shifting. The possible benefits are many. (Think single-ring, go-anywhere bike with a bashguard/chain retention device of your choice.) Stay tuned.

So that’s all the info we have for now, but there you have it. SRAM’s Hammerschmidt, which we teased HERE last month, promises to take the front derailleur out of front shifting. The possible benefits are many. (Think single-ring, go-anywhere bike with a bashguard/chain retention device of your choice.) Stay tuned.

www.mtbtrailreview.com/blog/truvativ-hammerschmidt-update/parts/

[glockbiker]

If I would hazard a guess, it'a probably a variable diameter chainring mechanism.

The concept is not new but it has not been very successful in real life applications. UNLESS.... SRAM has developed a variation of the design that would work on bikes!

Whatever the design is, Shimano's industrial spies are probably sorting SRAM's garbage for clues, ha-ha-ha.