Recently the wraps came off the new technology SRAM has dubbed “Hammerschmidt”. What Hammerschmidt amounts to is the application of almost 100 year old internal gear technology in a place on your bicycle that you wouldn’t normally think of having it. Namely your crankset. The purpose is to rid the bicycle, (In this case long travel suspension bikes) of the pesky front derailluer.

In practical terms, Hammerschmidt releases designers of full suspension bikes from having to make a provision for a front derailluer. This is an increasingly difficult thing to accomplish as travel on off road bicycles reaches the six inch level and beyond. Riders benefit by getting better bottom bracket clearance, and better chain line, amongst other things. Great stuff if your cycling includes full face helmets and body armour.

Don’t think for a minute that this won’t affect you though. The day is coming when many of our daily rides will be on bikes equipped with “Hammerschmidt-like” internally geared cranksets or bottom brackets. Front derailluers will be the province of cyclists most concerned about weight like road racers and triathletes. In fact, totally internally geared commuter bikes with belt drives are a no-brainer at this point.

There will be those that cry foul in terms of the inefficiency of internal gears and the excess weight, but commuters will eat this stuff up. Average cyclists that are confused by traditional triple cranks and multiple speed drvetrains will rejoice at the prospect of shifting whenever they want with a drivetrain that is simple to understand. Add a belt drive to eliminate chain issues and you have a winning combination.

Hammerschidt will not stay out in the mountains. It is coming to the city. Sooner than later.