Abstract: An apparatus comprising a body, an actuator assembly and an actuator control assembly. The body is attached to a handlebar of a handlebar-steered vehicle. The actuator assembly includes a lever arm in pivoting engagement with the body about a pivot axis spaced apart from an axis of a handlebar to which the body is attached. The lever arm is associated with a suspension adjust cable. The actuator control assembly includes a locking assembly and an adjustment assembly. The locking assembly is associated with each of the body and the actuator assembly. The locking assembly is capable of preventing pivoting of the actuator relative to the body in a first position corresponding to a first suspension setting. The adjustment assembly is associated with each of the body and the actuator assembly. The adjustment assembly is capable of preventing pivoting of the actuator relative to the body in a second position corresponding to a second suspension setting.

Abstract: A suspension system that includes a simplified lockout mechanism and an adjustable blow-off mechanism. The system includes a valve mechanism and a valve actuating assembly, a valve mechanism housing and a resilient member disposed between the valve mechanism and the valve mechanism housing. The valve mechanism is slidably mounted along the valve mechanism housing and it separates a first chamber from a second chamber. The valve actuating assembly operates the valve mechanism between open and closed positions. The resilient member is configured to be deformable by the valve mechanism as the valve mechanism is slidably displaced by an increasing pressure in the first fluid chamber. The sliding valve mechanism is configured to collide against the valve actuating assembly when a blow-off pressure is reached in the first fluid chamber switching the valve mechanism from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: A shifting device including first and second shift control members, a takeup element, a holding member, and a release member. The takeup element configured for winding and unwinding a tensioned control cable. The first control member is rotatable about a handlebar and configured to rotate the takeup to at least pull or wind the control cable onto the takeup. The second control member is a return-to-neutral member for rotating the takeup to release the. The holding member is rotatable with the takeup and retains the takeup in select angular positions. The release member is operable for disengaging the holding member in response to the actuation or return stroke of the second control member for allowing the takeup to unwind the cable a sufficient amount to enable a single gear shift.

Abstract: A bicycle suspension system that includes an indicator for displaying the travel of a bicycle suspension system in response to an applied load. The system includes an inner tube telescopically engaging with the outer tube along an axis. A biasing mechanism biases the inner and outer tube apart from each other along the axis. The indicator is disposed along a length of the inner and outer tubes. The indicator may include a plurality of markings on the inner tube and a pointer on the outer tube. Each marking corresponds to a distance that the inner and outer tubes may be displaced relative to each other. The suspension system may include an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the distance the inner and outer tubes may be displaced relative to each other in response to an applied load. The rider may select the desired travel by actuating the adjustment mechanism to align the marking corresponding to the desired travel with the pointer.

Abstract: An electronic shifter for shifting a bicycle gear mechanism between a plurality of gears and using a relative shifting method. The shifter includes a stationary member mountable on a handlebar of the bicycle and a rotatable member rotatable with respect to the stationary member to define predetermined positions of the members with respect to each other. An electrical switch is operatively connected to the rotating member for generating a shift signal in response to the rotating member rotating from one predetermined position to another predetermined position.

Abstract: A shifting device including first and second shift control members, a takeup element, a holding member, and a release member. The takeup element configured for winding and unwinding a tensioned control cable. The first control member is rotatable about a handlebar and configured to rotate the takeup to at least pull or wind the control cable onto the takeup. The second control member is a return-to-neutral member for rotating the takeup to release the. The holding member is rotatable with the takeup and retains the takeup in select angular positions. The release member is operable for disengaging the holding member in response to the actuation or return stroke of the second control member for allowing the takeup to unwind the cable a sufficient amount to enable a single gear shift.

Abstract: An electronic shifter for shifting a bicycle gear mechanism between a plurality of gears and using a relative shifting method. The shifter includes a stationary member mountable on a handlebar of the bicycle and a rotatable member rotatable with respect to the stationary member to define predetermined positions of the members with respect to each other. An electrical switch is operatively connected to the rotating member for generating a shift signal in response to the rotating member rotating from one predetermined position to another predetermined position.

Abstract: A semi-automatic gear change system mountable about a drive wheel axle of a bicycle. The system includes a drive wheel sprocket assembly that includes a plurality of sprockets having different number of teeth. The sprocket assembly is coupled to the drive wheel axle. A derailleur entrains the chain onto a selected one of the sprockets. A manually actuated shifter is coupled to the derailleur to select one of the sprockets. An internally geared mechanism having a plurality of a transmission modes couples the drive wheel axle to the drive wheel. An automatic shift actuator is coupled to the internally geared mechanism to actuate a shift between one of the transmission modes and another of the transmission modes based on predetermined shift points.

Abstract: A bicycle derailleur is provided with a parallelogram link that is sufficiently rigid axially to maintain the distance between the link pivot axes during derailleur actuation but substantially flexible in torsion and shear to permit simple alignment of the pivot holes and control of the link width during formation and assembly of the link, thereby ensuring smooth operation of the derailleur during gear shifts.

Abstract: A brake or clutch operating device having a hand lever pivotally attached to a mounting bracket secured to a handlebar, the hand lever rotatable about a rotation axis that is offset from the pivot axis, and a transmission mechanism for converting a rotational force applied to the hand lever into a rectilinear force drawing the hand lever toward the handlebar. The transmission mechanism and hand lever configured to force rotation about the rotation axis in response to rotation of the hand lever about the pivot axis, the resulting compound motion of the hand lever following the natural arched motion of the rider's fingers during lever actuation.

Abstract: A parallel-push brake assembly for bicycles that provides substantially translational motion of the brake pad using a mechanism that is relatively free of tolerance build-up or slop.

Abstract: A brake operating device having a brake lever pivotally attached to a mounting bracket secured to a handlebar, the brake lever rotatable about a rotation axis that is offset from the pivot axis, and a transmission mechanism for converting a rotational force applied to the brake lever into a rectilinear force drawing the brake lever toward the handlebar. The transmission mechanism and brake lever configured to force rotation about the rotation axis in response to rotation of the brake lever about the pivot axis, the resulting compound motion of the brake lever following the natural arched motion of the rider's fingers during lever actuation.

Abstract: A parallelogram link mechanism of a bicycle derailleur has a coil spring tensioned from a first axis of the parallelogram to another axis thereof that is diametrically opposed to the first axis. The coil spring exerts a primary spring force against the rider-supplied derailleur actuation force throughout the actuation range of the derailleur. A secondary member exerts a secondary force throughout a portion of the actuation range of the derailleur, producing a substantially constant resultant actuation force experienced by the rider. The secondary member can take various forms, including an abutment member which selectively abuts the coil spring at an angle to the spring axis; a second spring internal to the first; a member which is attached to spaced-apart coils of the coil spring to limit their linear expansion; and an internal member which limits constriction of a segment of the coil spring inwardly toward the spring axis.