Abstract: A multiple sprocket assembly receives a chain and transferring torque therefrom to a rear wheel hub of a bicycle. The multiple sprocket assembly includes a plurality of different-sized, multiple-toothed sprockets arranged coaxially about the rear wheel hub. Each sprocket has a tooth front face facing an adjoining smaller sprocket. A plurality of annular support elements extend between the sprockets, each annular support element including an annular disc having a disc front face facing the adjoining smaller sprocket. The tooth front face of the sprocket has an offset relative to the disc front face of the annular disc.

Abstract: A composite rim for a bicycle wheel generally includes a radially outer tire-engaging portion, a radially inner spoke-engaging portion and first and second sidewalls. The second sidewall is spaced apart from the first sidewall. The first and second sidewalls extend between the tire engaging and spoke-engaging portions. The rim includes at least one through-hole and a pattern of through-thickness stitching reinforcement at the through-hole. The tire-engaging and spoke-engaging portions and first and second sidewalls form a toroid.

Abstract: A suspension system for a handlebar-steered vehicle includes an upper tube, a lower tube reciprocally slidable relative to the upper tube. A positive spring assembly biases the upper and lower tubes away from each other. A piston assembly is attached to the lower tube. The suspension includes a travel adjustment mechanism including a locking mechanism and an actuator. The locking mechanism is connected to the positive spring assembly and selectively maintains a first portion of the positive spring assembly in a compressed state with the upper and lower tubes drawn toward each other. The actuator is operatively connected to the locking mechanism to releasably engage the locking mechanism to maintain the first portion of the positive spring assembly in the compressed state.

Abstract: A mounting device is shown for mounting components to a bicycle handlebar having a handlebar axis. The mounting device includes a mounting bracket mountable to the handlebar about the handlebar axis. The mounting bracket includes a first clamp portion and a second clamp portion hingedly connected to the first clamp portion to interiorly receive the handlebar. An interior channel is defined by spaced sidewalls and formed in a portion of the circumferential length of one of the first and second clamp portions, and a hole is formed through the clamp portion and opens to the channel.

Abstract: A detachable coupling for connecting a pull cable connected to a shift actuator to a shifting cable connected to an internal gear hub for transmitting a shifting movement of the shift actuator to the internal gear hub. The detachable coupling includes an internal gear hub casing having a cable guide extending therefrom and a connecting sleeve having a contoured slot configured to be removably attachable to the cable guide. An end of the shifting cable is configured to be removably coupled to an end of the pull cable for transmitting the shifting movement along a cable transmission path.

Abstract: A stable and play-free pivot connection of a bicycle derailleur between a parallelogram link and either a base member or a chain cage. The pivot points are formed with first and second bushings that are arranged as far from one another as possible. The parts are connected by pivot pins having a anti-rotation contour for preventing rotation of the pin within an inner pivot part. The axial displacement of the pivot pin is prevented by a securing element or by a deforming element engaging a holding contour on the pivot pin. One of the first and second bushings is protected and arranged in a blind hole and the other of the first and second bushings is covered on the outside by a pin head of the pivot pin.

Abstract: A drive system driving a vehicle wheel at various speeds. The drive system generally includes a transmission assembly configured to drive the vehicle wheel in a forward direction and a motor rotatable in a first direction and a second direction and configured to drive the transmission assembly. The transmission assembly is configured to operate in a first operating mode when the motor is rotating in the first direction to provide at least one first wheel speed in the forward direction. The transmission assembly is configured to operate in a second operating mode when the motor is rotating in the second direction to provide at least one second wheel speed in the forward direction.

Abstract: A riveted sprocket assembly that includes a sprocket carrier having a plurality of carrier arms and a plurality of sprockets attached to the carrier arms by rivets. First and second rivet heads of the rivets are countersunk into the carrier arms on one face and into the sprocket on the other face. The second rivet head is formed on the sprocket on the front face of the sprocket carrier. To prevent the riveting tool from damaging the sprocket during the riveting process, the rivet holes of the sprockets include a clearance portion around the second rivet head. This results in the sprocket having three-stepped rivet holes: a small diameter for the rivet shaft, an intermediate diameter for the rivet head and a larger diameter for the riveting tool. To minimize weight, the carrier arms narrow in a central region between radially inner and radially outer rivet holes on the carrier arms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bicycle wheel hub that generally includes an axle, an input sprocket, an output shell, a one-way clutch and a locking mechanism. The one-way clutch operatively connects the input sprocket and the output shell and is configured to drive the output shell in a first direction. The locking mechanism is configured to operatively connect the output shell and the input sprocket to drive the output shell in a second direction to operate the bicycle wheel hub in a fixed drive mode. The locking mechanism is configured to operatively disconnect the output shell and the input sprocket to operate the bicycle wheel hub in a freewheel drive mode.

Abstract: A cable adjustment device for a Bowden cable having a control cable displaceable within a cable casing for a bicycle component. The adjustment device includes a guide element axially and rotationally fixed to the bicycle component and has a control cable bore therethrough. An adjustment element is rotationally fixed and axially displaceable in the guide element. The adjustment element has an abutment for engaging the cable casing. The adjustment device also includes an actuation element. The adjustment element is threadably coupled relative to the actuation element for converting the rotational movement of the actuation element into the axial movement of the adjustment element.

Abstract: A multi-speed sprocket assembly is provided for engaging a bicycle chain displaceable by a derailleur. The multi-speed sprocket assembly generally includes at least one smaller sprocket and at least one larger sprocket. The larger sprocket includes first and second transitional segments for alternatively receiving a shifting chain segment of the bicycle chain shifting from the smaller sprocket to the larger sprocket. The first transitional segment includes a first run-on ramp configured to receive an outer link plate of the shifting chain segment. The first run-on ramp has a first support point configured to bend the transferring bicycle chain at a first angle to position a first chain roller against a no-load tooth flank of the larger sprocket while a second chain roller rests against a load tooth flank of the smaller sprocket. The second transitional segment includes a second run-on ramp configured to receive the outer link plate of the shifting chain segment.

Abstract: The present application relates to an input torque measuring device for a drive train of a bicycle. The drive train includes a first crank arm and a second crank arm. An inboard end of each crank arm is rotatably mounted to the bicycle at a bottom bracket of the bicycle. At least one chain ring is configured to rotate a driven wheel of the bicycle. A spider is connected to the first crank arm adjacent the bottom bracket and extends out to the at least one chain ring. The spider is configured to transmit force applied to the crank arms directly to the at least one chain ring. The spider may include a plurality of sensors configured to respond to the force applied by the spider to the at least one chain ring. The sensors produce an electronic signal relative to the force transmitted by the spider to the at least one chain ring and a processor configured to receive the electronic signals from each sensor of the spider.

Abstract: A mounting device for mounting first and second bicycle control components to a bicycle handlebar having a handlebar axis. The mounting device generally includes first and second mounting brackets. The first mounting bracket is adjustably mounted to the handlebar about the handlebar axis. One of the first and second bicycle control components is attached to the first mounting bracket. The second mounting bracket is adjustably attached to the first mounting bracket. The other of the first and second bicycle control components is attached to the second mounting bracket. The second mounting bracket is displaced between alternative attachment positions on the first mounting bracket. The first mounting bracket is rotated between alternative mounting positions on the handlebar.

Abstract: A multi-speed hub for cantilever mounting to a bicycle frame generally includes a planetary gear mechanism, a hub shaft, a hub shell, a spoke shell, a driver and a driven gear. The hub shell is cantilever-mounted to the bicycle frame and configured to enclose the planetary gear mechanism and the hub shaft. The spoke shell, driver and driven gear are rotatably supported by the hub shell. One end of the hub shaft is indirectly supported by the hub shell and the other end of the hub shaft is fixed to the bicycle frame.

Abstract: The present application relates to an input torque measuring device for a drive train of a bicycle. The drive train includes a first crank arm and a second crank arm. An inboard end of each crank arm is rotatably mounted to the bicycle at a bottom bracket of the bicycle. At least one chain ring is configured to rotate a driven wheel of the bicycle. A spider is connected to the first crank arm adjacent the bottom bracket and extends out to the at least one chain ring. The chain ring is attached to the spider by a fastener extending through a bushing within an opening of the spider. Sensors may be attached to the spider or the crank arms and may be directly connected to a flexible circuit board. The sensors, the flexible circuit boards and other components of the input torque measuring device may be encapsulated in a protective material.

Abstract: A bicycle suspension system of the present invention generally includes a bicycle suspension and a hydraulic control assembly. The hydraulic control assembly includes a fluid pump, a fluid responder and a fluid path. The fluid pump is mountable to a bicycle handlebar. The fluid responder is mountable to the bicycle suspension. The fluid path links the fluid pump and the fluid responder. The fluid responder is operatively connected to the bicycle suspension to operate the bicycle suspension between first and second suspension settings in response to fluid displacement between the fluid pump and the fluid responder.

Abstract: A pawl for controlling the rotation of a gear in a planetary gear mechanism. The pawl includes a nose and first and second pivot axes. The nose is engageable with the gear. The pawl is rotatable about the first pivot axis between a first mode permitting rotation of the gear in a first direction and a second direction and a second mode preventing rotation of the gear in the first direction. The pawl is rotatable about the second pivot axis to permit rotation of the gear in the second direction while the pawl is the second mode.

Abstract: A bicycle multi-gear cassette mountable to a wheel hub that generally includes a truncated conical shell and a plurality of toothed sprockets having different numbers of teeth. The shell includes a plurality of coaxial annular cylinders of variable diameter extending along an axis of the shell and a plurality of coaxial annular discs of variable diameter extending radially of the axis. The cylinders and discs are alternatingly arranged in a stepped sequence. The toothed sprockets are disposed on the shell and extend radially of the shell axis. At least one of the toothed sprockets includes a recess on a side facing an adjacent toothed sprocket having a smaller number of teeth. The recess includes a first region having a first depth and a second region having a second depth. The first depth is greater than the second depth. The shell and the plurality of toothed sprockets embody a single piece.

Abstract: A trigger shifter for operating a bicycle gear change device that includes a housing mountable to handlebar, a cable spool for pulling and releasing a control cable connected to the gear change device, a pull lever mechanism and a release lever mechanism. The pull lever mechanism includes a pull lever rotatable about a first axis defining a first plane of motion perpendicular to the first axis. The release lever mechanism includes a release lever rotatable about a second axis defining a second plane of motion perpendicular to the second axis. The first and second planes of motion form an angle therebetween in the range of 20 to 70 degrees.

Abstract: A bicycle suspension system including a travel adjustment apparatus. The bicycle suspension system includes a piston tube and a piston assembly slidably disposed in the piston tube forming a shock-absorbing mechanism. The piston assembly is in contact with the piston tube. The travel adjustment apparatus includes first and second fluid chambers, a fluid valve mechanism for controlling fluid flow between the first and second fluid chambers, and an actuating assembly operatively connected to the fluid valve mechanism operable between at least two rider-selectable travel settings to operate the fluid valve mechanism between at least two valve settings corresponding to the rider-selectable travel settings.