Autoshift Technology!

April 5th, 2005 by Guitar Ted

I found something rather interesting. It’s called the LandRider Elite. It’s a bicycle that has an ability to shift on its own. Not so sure if this would take off in the Mtn Bike community, but it’s worth reading about it.

Here’s what they have to say:
“LandRider is the only bicycle in the market that features the patented Autoshift technology! Autoshift keeps you in the right gear by centrifugal force. As the rear wheel increases RPMs, two flyweights on the derailleur spin faster and faster � moving the chain to a higher gear. As you slow down, the wheels spin slower, causing the chain to move to a lower gear.”

For More info about the Landrider go HERE.

23 Responses to “Autoshift Technology!”

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1 fixedgear on Apr 6th, 2005 at 5:04 am

What a fine machine. I just love their infomercials. It’s as if adult humans are just too damn dumb to leran to shift. Let’s see, can program a cell phone, operate DVD player, use microwave…shify bicycle drivetrain? No way, that’s too hard. Of course, that is why I go with the fixed drivetrain, because I’m much too stupid to figure it out.
2 Guitar Ted on Apr 6th, 2005 at 6:37 am

I’ve actually worked on one of those! The thing does what it says. It shifts automatically, according to the amount of centrifical force gained or lost. Trouble is, you don’t know when its going to shift up or down. Also, it takes a little too long to get into lower gears due to the “flywheels” tendency to maintain its momentum, keeping the drivetrain in a gear longer than you may want. This in turn could cause you to lose your momentum, and end up in the lowest gear, struggling to regain that loss of speed. The bike, by the way, was very heavy and cumbersome. The parts spec was entry level, ( at best), and was not very impressive, especially considering the amount of money they get for that machine.
3 Road Rambler on Jun 4th, 2006 at 10:13 pm

Hey, Anyone know where you can get just the rear deraillure? I am setting up a TT bike and thought it would be fun to try something like this. It would eliminate all the cables and bar end shifters and you wouldn’t have to even think about changing gears to keep cadence up. Is the speed at which it shifts adjustable?
4 Boggieman on Jun 5th, 2006 at 4:09 pm

I too am looking for the derailleur alone. I have other designs and purposes in mind having to do with my perpetual motion machine… Yes, you are all wondering and now I am going to get loads of mail, to which I will say I am just building another lazy bike but with a ambi-auto beer opener as it can tell when my bottle or can is empty.
Lonee Barks
5 alison on Jan 23rd, 2007 at 8:18 pm

I’ve got this autoshift landrider for Christmas and I think it sucks. is there anyway to turn off the autoshift and have it act like a normal bike?
6 Norman on Jan 25th, 2007 at 10:19 pm

Where can I get parts for the landrider autoshift? I am looking for the belt that drives the autoshift from the rear sprocket.
7 Theresa on Jul 24th, 2007 at 6:26 am

I too received this bike as a gift. Originally I thought I hated it because it took a while to get use to HOW to shift. How fast you pedal or (not)creates the gear you are in. If you want it to shift to a lower gear you just slow your pedalling down and vise versa when you want it in a higher gear. I haven’t encountered loss of speed on hills because I’m not spending time trying to figure out what gear I should be in to tackle the hill….the machine adjusts to my body and how much I want to exert it.

The only bad thing I will add is that WHEN it decides to shift can sometimes surprise you and your foot may slip off the pedal when that happens. At first that drove me crazy but after riding it a while I have gotten a better idea when that will shift will occur. I have taken 30 mile rides with this bike and not felt as tired when I took out my fiance’s mountain bike on the same ride. I don’t know whether the heavier frame or the mountain tires can be attributed to that. All I know is his bike is alot more work for the same amount of distance!

Another bad thing is the auto shifter works on a very thin belt that would make it scary to take on an extended ride without a replacement. I’m thinking about obtaining that before I go on any more extended rides.
8 Theresa on Jul 24th, 2007 at 8:57 am

To Norman:

Where to purchase the parts (particularily the drive belt) Call 1-800-945-5335 and the drive belts can be purchased for $9.95 + 3.95 (S&H). You can order by credit card or send a check or M.O. to their address (99 Bay Road, Baltimore, MD 21227)
9 Bob on Sep 8th, 2007 at 10:09 pm

I bought two landriders, one is great and the other is a real lemon. After 6 weeks it was in the repair shop because it would not shift at all. The repairman did not even have a manual for the bike. Ten days later I got it back and it was now shifting but not like it should be. I took it to the repair shop in the late fall and when spring came so I could ride again, it was not fixed at all. I contacted Landrider and the person who answered the phone was nasty as could be to me. Finally she put me into someone’s voice mail where I left a message I do not get home from work until 430 PM. Two days later the person called at 215PM. She talked with my wife and agreed that I said after 430 and she would call back in a day of two. That was 25June07! I have not heard another word. I had tried to email prior to that but could not get a reply from them. The bicycle is livable but not really acceptable for the money I paid. The customer service does not support the product.
10 amy on Sep 15th, 2007 at 3:43 pm

I have a landrider and it might be ok for someone who doen’t want to haul ass on their bike (and I am no athelete) . On flat ground I can not get any power out of it at all. The auto shifts do not always work either. I was on vacation and rentaed a bike and it was a blast because i could constantly push it if i wanted to. Say I am going down hill on the lanrider and want to speed up…nothing happens. I’m selling mine.
11 Hot Dog on Jun 25th, 2008 at 8:08 pm

Being a cyclist for 15yrs, log over 5k to 11k miles a year. Gotten a chance to test ride the Landrider, hum… nice concept, but i agree with the others if you want a auto shifting 2 wheeler GET A SCOOTER! .
12 pat on Jul 22nd, 2008 at 12:49 pm

I own a landrider and I would not recommend it to anyone. The advertising is dishonest. The service is non-existant, the bike is not safe.
I have a problem with it constantly slipping as it shifts gears. If you are pushing the bike to get out of the way of auto traffic you may find yourself laying on the ground. My bike has slipped 2-3 complete rotations as it shifts gears. I went on line and looked up the owners manual(which was not supplied) and found that they recommend that you do not stand while peddalling. Why don`t they tell potential customers this before they purchase the bike? However, the slippage which I mentioned above
happened while seated. Any bike needs to be pushed at times but if you do it with this bike you could be in for serious injury. I have sent 3 emails to the service department with no response. Obviously they know they have a problem and their solution is to pretend it doesn`t exist. I would like to get rid of the bike but, I couldn`t sell it knowing of this problem. I will contact the Consumer Protection Agency to make them aware of the defects in this product maybe that will help. If you know of anyone considering a LR have them committed.
13 Koala on Sep 3rd, 2008 at 2:41 am

Maybe you shouldn’t be watching late night info-mercials selling crap products.
14 Dave on Mar 25th, 2009 at 11:29 pm

My heart goes out to the people who bought the ‘Landrider’. I would recommend a Gary Fisher Montare or Gary Fisher Zebrono(which goes up to a 25″ frame for taller riders) and shifts really easy(manually). Its kind of sad that the makers of Landrider found it more important to make money to patent and quickly ‘put out’ a VERY faulty technology. I never bought one but after reading the reviews it looks like the Landrider has way too much ‘mind of its own in regards to shifting. Thanks for the reviews.
15 pat on Mar 26th, 2009 at 7:51 am

To Koala
Anyone sending e mails at 2:41am is not in a position to give to give such advise, K.M.A.
16 Russ on Jun 18th, 2009 at 3:44 pm

Forget what the control freaks say and have said about the Landrider. You get used to it shifting for you and you’re always in the right gear for the speed you’re pedaling. Had one since they first came out and I wouldn’t have anything else. On and off road. If you want to “push” it you will get to high gear eventually and can “push” it all you want.
The belt is an off the shelf Gates 3M450 V belt. Cost you $7 - $8. Search for it on Google. Enjoy the bike.
17 dick on Jun 18th, 2009 at 8:54 pm

CARE-FREE AUTO-SHIFT

I have invented and developed a unique clever method of propelling a bicycle.
My automatic speed bike will automatically calculate the peddle pressure
Needed to regulate the pitch diameter needed to control the pedal force to
Propel the bike up a hill or and incline with ease.
(no manual or hand shifting required )
When you come to level pavement and less pedal force is needed the pitch
Diameter will automatically return to a slower required peddle speed but
Faster rear wheel speed ratio of 1 pedal turn to 2/1/2 rear wheel turns.
(Again no manual or hand shifting required)
The best part I believe in the cost of manufacturing my Care-free bike
There would be less cost involved than the standard 10-speed bike that is
The big seller in the market place at this time, fewer moving parts by far.

I have engineered and built a proto type bike that I have been riding all
Around on and experimenting with, YOU would have to try and ride
This bike to believe how neat this auto speed bicycle operates. On it’s own.

I am looking for a company that will work with me on this invention.
I have filed for a provisional patent at this time.
PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL OR ‘E’ MAIL ME
rescat@comcast.net
Phone 630-620-8503
Inventor Richard Rojic Sr.
18 pat on Aug 23rd, 2009 at 6:52 am

Russ
Yes, and we are all going to die eventually. It would be nice if the two events didn`t coincide.
19 Russ on Aug 24th, 2009 at 1:04 pm

Pat is there a thread I should follow between my post and yours?
20 Christian Goney on May 3rd, 2011 at 2:40 am

You made some decent points there. I looked on the internet for the issue and found most persons will go along with with your website.
21 Kubki z Nadrukiem on Feb 23rd, 2012 at 7:05 pm

I like the helpful information you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your blog and check again here regularly. I’m quite sure I will learn a lot of new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!|
22 dick on Feb 25th, 2012 at 12:15 am

Have a new bike the slower you pedal the faster the bike will go and this is up hill I am talking about.

1 Bad Credit Fast Repair Trackback on Feb 4th, 2008 at 6:06 am

Autoshift Technology!

23 Responses to “Autoshift Technology!”

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