Abstract: A reach-adjustable lever assembly that is mountable to a handlebar for actuating one of a gear-change and braking device. The lever assembly includes a lever with a finger grip pivotably connected to a housing and a reach adjust mechanism. The reach adjust mechanism includes a cam actuator and a cam. The cam actuator is rotatably supported by one of the housing and the lever. The cam is threadably connected to the cam actuator and is configured to engage the other of the housing and the lever. The cam is displaceable upon rotation of the cam actuator to pivot the lever to position the finger grip relative to the handlebar.

Abstract: A bicycle shifter for pulling and releasing a control cable connected to a gear change mechanism that includes a housing mountable to a handlebar, a takeup member, a control member, a holding mechanism and a release mechanism. The takeup member is movable for pulling the control cable in a cable-pull direction and releasing the control cable in a cable-release direction. The control member is movable in a shift direction from a rest position for a first shift movement to permit motion of the takeup member in the cable-release direction. The first shift movement corresponds to a single gear change. The control member is movable in the shift direction from the rest position for a second shift movement to move the takeup member in the cable-pull direction. The second shift movement corresponds to a plurality of gear changes. The second shift movement is greater than the first shift movement. The control member is biased toward the rest position.

Abstract: A master cylinder assembly for a hydraulic actuation system for a handlebar-steered vehicle. The assembly includes a housing mountable to a frame member of the handlebar-steered vehicle and having a chamber including a fluid cavity with first and second regions. The first region is in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuation system. A piston is slidably disposed in the fluid cavity. An actuator is operatively connected to the housing and operatively connected to the piston to slidably displace the piston between an open fluid circuit position and a closed fluid circuit position. A first seal is disposed on either the piston or a wall of the fluid cavity. The first seal is configured to be in sealing engagement between the fluid cavity and the piston with the piston in the closed fluid circuit position to block fluid flow between the first and second fluid cavity regions.

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 bicycle transmission assembly that is mountable to a bottom bracket shell of a bicycle frame. The bicycle transmission assembly includes an input crank assembly, an output chainring, a planetary gear mechanism, a control system and a mounting system. The input crank assembly is mounted to a rotatable crank axle mounted to the bottom bracket shell. The planetary gear mechanism is mounted to the bottom bracket shell and provides a plurality of transmission paths. The planetary gear mechanism includes a sun gear, a ring gear and a locking element operatively connecting the sun gear and the ring gear. The control system is operatively connected to the planetary gear mechanism for selecting one of the transmission paths.

Abstract: A bicycle transmission assembly that is mountable to a bottom bracket shell of a bicycle frame. The bicycle transmission assembly includes an input crank assembly, an output chainring, a planetary gear mechanism, a control system and a mounting system. The planetary gear mechanism is mounted coaxially about an axis of the bottom bracket shell and provides a plurality of transmission paths. The control system is operatively connected to the planetary gear mechanism for selecting one of the transmission paths. The mounting system mounts the planetary gear mechanism and the control system to the bottom bracket shell. The mounting system includes at least one attachment point disposed on at least one frame boss extending radially outwardly from the bottom bracket shell. The control system is mounted nonrotatably to the at least one attachment point.

Abstract: A bicycle transmission assembly that is mountable to a bottom bracket shell of a bicycle frame. The bicycle transmission generally includes an input crank assembly, an output chainring, a planetary gear mechanism, a control system and a mounting system. The output chainring engages a bicycle drive chain that includes a plurality of chain links. The planetary gear mechanism includes a ring gear and provides a plurality of transmission paths. The planetary gear mechanism is mounted coaxially about the shell axis. The control system is operatively connected to the planetary gear mechanism for selecting one of the plurality of transmission paths. The mounting system mounts the planetary gear mechanism and the control system to the bottom bracket shell. At least one chain link overlaps the ring gear as viewed along the shell axis. The at least one chain link engages the output chainring.

Abstract: A bicycle control device includes a lever for actuating a brake control mechanism and a shift control mechanism in a cable-release direction and a cable-pull direction. The lever is rotatable about a brake axis to actuate the brake control mechanism and rotatable about a shift axis to actuate the shift control mechanism in the cable-release direction and in the cable-pull direction. The bicycle control device is configured to not displace the shift control mechanism upon actuation of the brake control mechanism.

Abstract: A multi-speed sprocket assembly configured to receive a bicycle chain including a plurality of pairs of inner link plates, a plurality of pairs of outer link plates and plurality of rollers connecting the pairs of inner and outer link plates. The multi-speed sprocket assembly generally includes a smaller diameter sprocket and a larger diameter sprocket rotated about a rotation axis in a driving direction. The smaller and larger diameter sprockets include first and second pluralities of teeth spaced about their peripheries, respectively. The larger diameter sprocket has an inboard side including first and second projections axially extending therefrom. The second projection is disposed circumferentially aft, opposite the driving direction, and radially outwardly of the first projection. The first and second projections simultaneously support one outer link plate as the bicycle chain shifts from the smaller diameter sprocket to the larger diameter sprocket.

Abstract: A shifter for a bicycle transmission that includes a spring element that functions as a preloaded spring for cable-release operations and a detent pawl. The shifter also includes a housing having a detent contour, a cable spool for winding and unwinding a control cable thereon, and an actuator. The actuator includes a release element, a spring seat and a driver. The spring element includes a detent pawl, a base and a spool driver. The detent pawl is engageable with the detent contour to maintain the shifter in a current detent position. The base is supported by the spring seat and the spool driver is operatively engages and rotates the spool.

Abstract: A method of varying a rest position and a length of an actuation arc of a lever in a hydraulic disc brake system. The hydraulic disc brake system comprises a master cylinder including a cylinder having a first end and second end and a port communicating with a hydraulic fluid reservoir between the first and the second cylinder ends. A piston is received in the cylinder. The piston has a seal between the cylinder and the piston and the piston is movable within the cylinder by a lever operatively associated therewith to selectively pressurize hydraulic fluid within the cylinder by moving the seal between the port and the second end of the cylinder. The hydraulic disc brake system further comprises a caliper in fluid communication with the master cylinder. The caliper has a pair of brake pads operatively associated with a disc received therebetween. The caliper is actuated by movement of the lever in an actuation arc between a rest position and an engagement point with the pads in engagement with the disc.

Abstract: A transmission including an input cog assembly mounted to an input shaft and an output cog assembly mounted to an output shaft. The input and output cog assemblies include a plurality of varying diameter input and output cogs, respectively, arranged sequentially. A chain links a pair of input and output cogs for transmitting power from the input cog assembly to the output cog assembly. The chain, in operation, has a high-tension side and a low-tension side. A derailleur is engageable with the low-tension side of the chain to laterally urge the chain from a current output cog to a destination output cog.

Abstract: A master cylinder assembly for a hydraulic actuation system for a handlebar-steered vehicle including a fluid cavity having an adjustable length. The master cylinder assembly generally includes a housing, a piston assembly, an actuator and an adjuster. The housing is mountable to a frame member and includes a chamber having a fluid cavity with first and second regions. The first region is in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuation system. The piston assembly includes a piston slidably disposed within the fluid cavity. The actuator is operatively connected to the housing and operatively connected to the piston to slidably displace the piston between an open fluid circuit position permitting fluid flow between the first and second regions and a closed fluid circuit position blocking fluid flow between the first and second regions. The adjuster is operatively connected to the housing to adjust a length of the fluid cavity.

Abstract: A method of varying a rest position of a one-piece lever in a hydraulic brake system. The hydraulic brake system comprises a master cylinder including a cylinder and a port, a piston received in the cylinder, the piston having a radial seal between cylinder and the piston, the piston being movable within the cylinder by a one-piece lever operatively associated therewith to selectively pressurize hydraulic fluid within the cylinder by closing the port. The hydraulic brake system further comprises a caliper in fluid communication with the master cylinder, the caliper having a pair of brake pads operatively associated with the disc received therebetween. The caliper is actuated by movement of the one-piece lever in an arc between a rest position and an engagement point with the pads in engagement with the disc. The length of the arc is variable by movement of the engagement point relative to the rest position along the arc.

Abstract: A hydraulic disc brake master cylinder having a bar clamp attached to a master cylinder housing allowing the attachment of the master cylinder to a handle bar along a longitudinal clamp axis. The master cylinder also includes a cylinder wall associated with the master cylinder housing extending axially along the cylinder axis. The cylinder axis is not parallel to the longitudinal clamp axis. This embodiment further includes a reservoir for hydraulic fluid which includes a first wall which first wall includes only a radial portion of the cylinder exterior. The reservoir also includes an elastomeric diaphragm. The cylinder axis and the longitudinal clamp axis lie in a plane substantially bisecting the first wall. Thus, the symmetric master cylinder lever may be disposed on either the right or left portion of a handle bar without effecting operation of the master cylinder lever by a user.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a lever actuated bicycle hydraulic disc brake master cylinder. The disc brake master cylinder has a housing defining a cylinder having first and second ends and a port communicating with a fluid reservoir between the first and second ends. A piston is received in the cylinder and the piston has a seal having a leading seal edge between the piston and the cylinder. The lever is operatively associated with the piston to move the piston from an unactuated position with the leading seal edge a select distance between the port and the first end of the cylinder to an actuated position between the port and the second end of the cylinder.

Abstract: A control cable adjustment device for adjusting a control cable extending between a control mechanism and an operating mechanism. The adjustment device includes an adjuster rotatably connected to a housing of the control mechanism and a spring element having at least one retention segment. The retention segment engages a detent contour of the adjuster to retain the adjuster in its current position. Another segment of the spring element may have a second function as a return spring for a gear shifter or a brake lever. However, if the spring element does not serve a dual purpose, the spring element has a support segment that is braced against an existing control cable insertion opening in the housing of the control mechanism.