These 'digital drive' bikes replace a bicycle chain with software

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These 'digital drive' bikes replace a bicycle chain with software Electrek

Ever heard of a “digital drive” bike? It might seem like a strange concept, but several companies are developing commercial offerings that use electronics instead of a bike chain to power a bicycle’s rear wheel.

A digital drive is essentially a form of series hybrid electric bike, unlike a conventional e-bike that is more of a parallel hybrid. On many conventional e-bikes, the rider can either power the bike completely manually with the pedals or completely electronically with the throttle. But in a series hybrid e-bike, which is another term for digital drive, the rider powers the pedals manually that then feed directly into a generator to power the motor in the rear wheel electronically, no chain needed.

The chainring (the big gear by the pedals) is replaced by a generator, and the chain is replaced by software that helps mimic the feeling of a bicycle chain by providing similar resistance.

But without any mechanical power delivery, there’s no chain to rust or gears to adjust. That removes nearly all maintenance associated with a bike’s drivetrain, leaving just the tires and brake pads as the only regular maintenance items.

It also provides a simple form of automatic shifting, though in practice it would be more like an infinitely variable gear range. Software control regulates the pedal resistance, meaning that any gear ratio could be achieved from the same pedal cadence. Riders could even program in their optimal customized pedal cadence based on their own comfort. The problem of getting bogged down on an uphill climb ...

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