Skip to main content

This prototype chainless bike suggests the future of cycling could be ceramic

The future of cycling may just have been revealed at Eurobike, an annual cycling trade show that is taking place right now in Germany. At the event, a company called CeramicSpeed took the wraps off a prototype bike that looks like something straight out of a science-fiction movie, complete with a revolutionary new chainless drive system that promises to be a revelation for riders, improving speed and efficiency without an increase in power.

Recommended Videos

More cycling tech

CeramicSpeed developed its new DrivEn system in conjunction with the University of Colorado’s mechanical engineering department. The innovative crankset does away with the traditional chain drive, replacing it with a system that uses 21 ceramic bearings to transfer power generated from the pedals through front- and rear-mounted pinions instead. This cuts down on the number of moving parts involved with the drivetrain considerably.

The DrivEn prototype does away with the chain, derailleurs, and pulleys found on most traditional bikes, which has the effect of reducing the number of friction points found in the drive system. As the chain slides through a typical cycling crankset, there are eight points where it can generate friction, lowering efficiency as a result. But CeramicSpeed’s new drive drops that number down to just two friction points, which means more of the power that is generated from pedaling goes directly into pushing the bike forward, translating into more speed for less work.

Ceramicspeed Driven Chainless Drivetrain

According to CeramicSpeed, the DrivEn actually gets more efficient at higher speeds. In fact, the company claims that when a rider hits 380 watts of output, efficiency actually climbs to 99 percent, something that is unheard of on a traditional bike model. If true, that means that nearly all of the power generated by a rider is being transferred directly to the wheels of the bike. That should lead to faster rides for both serious and casual cyclists alike.

It is unclear when — or even if — the DrivEn system will be brought to market, but it does show the level of technology and innovation the cycling industry is toying with at the moment. The prototype was even good enough to earn CeramicSpeed a Design Award at Eurobike, indicating a product that will be worth keeping an eye on in the future.

Kraig Becker
Kraig Becker is a freelance outdoor writer who loves to hike, camp, mountain bike, trail run, paddle, or just about any other…
Be ready for storm season: Dual fuel portable generator is $150 off today
Pulsar dual fuel portable generator with gas can in background

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that a ton of early Black Friday deals have dropped. There are the usual suspects like laptops, electronics, gaming gear, and beyond. But me, I prefer to pick up unusual items during the huge holiday sales. You know exactly what I mean, the kind of stuff that doesn't usually go on sale any other time. One of those items is a portable generator. Where I live it seems like they rarely go on sale, and when you need them most they're never in stock. People flock to the stores to buy them just before a big storm. Well, right now, Pulsar and Walmart have an incredible deal on a 12,000-watt dual-fuel generator. Normally $900 it's down to $749 which saves you $151. It can run for up to 12 hours on an 8-gallon fuel tank.

 
Why shop the Pulsar 12,000-watt dual-fuel portable generator for Black Friday?

Read more
The BLUETTI Handsfree 2 is a solar backpack and power station — It’s $200 off
BLUETTI Handsfree 2 solar backpack and power station -- black friday deal

While you're busy shopping through all of the Best Cyber Monday deals, here's a little something that might pique your interest. You'll be even more excited if you spend a lot of time outdoors or off-grid. You might want to wait on grabbing that Cyber Monday portable power station deal. Allow me to explain. The BLUETTI Handsfree 2 is a backpack, like any other outdoor pack you might encounter, except for one thing. It's also a power station and solar generator. Believe me when I say this thing is insane and super useful. But for Cyber Monday, there's a deal that includes the BLUETTI Handsfree 2 and a 100-watt solar panel to charge it on the go. Normally $799, it's yours for just $599, saving you $200. Wow. You have to read what it can all do, so don't leave just yet.

 
Why buy the BLUETTI Handsfree 2 solar backpack and power station?

Read more
Cyber Monday is here: Shop these snow blower deals while you can!
The Ego 24-inch Self-Propelled 2-Stage XP Snow Blower on a white background.

When you think of Cyber Monday, you might think of Cyber Monday TV deals, but now is also the time for more practical items like snow blowers. We’ve picked out all the best Cyber Monday snow blower deals with big savings on popular brands, and we’ve also taken the time to provide you with some buying advice so you know what to look for when buying one.

With so many different snow blowers out there, we’ve considered everything you need to know about and included different budgets in our decision-making process, too. Read on, and we’ll take you through all these great Cyber Monday deals. If you’re looking for something a little more fun (but still practical), we’ve picked out all the best Cyber Monday Apple Watch deals, too. Let’s take a look together.
Our top pick: Greenworks 40V 20-inch Brushless Cordless Snow Blower -- $247 $420 41% off

Read more