NIJKERK, the Netherlands - What exactly will be on show at Taipei Cycle remains at this moment for a big part in the dark. But the Chicago based component maker is turning to a new page in internal gear hubs (IGH); that’s what SRAM
CEO Stan Day and IGH category manager Marcus Schneider made clear at a recent meeting with Bike Europe.
To get a‘taste’ on what’s coming IGH manager Schneider shows a new 2-speed hub. No, it’s not a simple 2-speed. It’s one that shifts automatically depending on speed and wheel size. So, no electronics involved; it’s an all mechanical system.
The new 2-speed is SRAM’s first-born of the new hub gear generation. It will be available by summer 2011. Production at SRAM’s Taiwan factory, which is with the ceasing of the production in Schweinfurt, SRAM’s new IGH facility, will start next May. It will come in all versions (freewheel, coaster, disc, roller brake compatible) and in steel or alloy hub shells.
“As the dimensions of the 2-speed hub are the same as a single speed, our initial ideas were that this is a perfect gear hub for folding bikes,” continues category manager Schneider. “However, many of our OE customers find this gear system suited for many more bike types. It’s being spec’ed for a wide range of MY 2012 models.
From City to Trekking as well as for a wide variety of kid bikes. It will be all over at Eurobike next September. But first, of course, at the upcoming Taipei Cycle. However, be sure that the 2-speed will not be the only star there. We will not overload the market with a huge series of new gear hubs; but there will definitely more that just the 2-speed.”
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