Why no gear indicator?

[B1rdie]

What gear am in?
The usual, Shimano AM42 shoes, Endura socks, Shimano Ranger trousers, Shimano long sleeved top, Specialized gloves, Bell Super 3R helmet and Oakley Straightjacket specs, Merino underwear.

Sounds good for flatlands northern hemisphere, but too heavy a gear for the tropics …. Light breatheable shorts and short sleeve jersey … underwear?!? picture that album from Queen with the song bicycle .

 

[TimC7]

Well you plainly do, if you have time to look at a gear indicator when your out riding .

Must be tragic not to have the mental faculty to be able to consider everything when you can only concentrate on pedalling

 

[militantmandy]

Must be tragic not to have the mental faculty to be able to consider everything when you can only concentrate on pedalling

Ah I see. You just have flat trails where you have to pedal. All makes sense now

 

[TimC7]

And another thing, why have 3 power levels in mode 1 and 3 more in mode 2? Why not just have 6 levels available without stopping to change mode??

Ah, I know why, judging by the neanderthals on here there's a lot who struggle to count that high

 

[Paulquattro]

Must be tragic not to have the mental faculty to be able to consider everything when you can only concentrate on pedalling

That's rich coming from someone who cant ride a bike without a gear indicator
And taking a look at the flat trails you ride no wonder you have time to endlessly stare at your bars and not the trails , jumps and features ahead
If you want to meet up for a pedal we will see who can only concentrate on pedalling .

 

[TimC7]

TBH I'm just amazed anyone can be so triggered by discussing a free and easy addItional display option which they would be under no obligation to ever look at . .

 

[RiderOnTheStorm]

If you want to meet up for a pedal we will see who can only concentrate on pedalling .

 

[ratherbebiking]

Gear indicators belong on kids bikes so you can teach them how it works and better direct them on how and when to change gears. Riding an MTB is like driving a manual vehicle and should become second nature with time and experience.

 

[Stihldog]

My Kiox display is set on clock mode. That seems to be the most important thing to me because time seems to fly-by when I’m out riding and I don’t want to miss a meal.

 

[Dax]

Must be tragic not to have the mental faculty to be able to consider everything when you can only concentrate on pedalling

That's rich coming from someone who cant ride a bike without a gear indicator
And taking a look at the flat trails you ride no wonder you have time to endlessly stare at your bars and not the trails , jumps and features ahead
If you want to meet up for a pedal we will see who can only concentrate on pedalling .

Keep it classy guys

 

[Pickle1970]

I never look at my display other than to see what mode it's in.
If I could run my ep8 without the display I would

 

[Konanige]

Most of us spent years wondering when Shimano were going to remove the gear indicators on the shifters!!! I have none on my car either!!

 

[Downhillr]

When you drive your car you don’t look down to see what gear your in, you just know when to shift.

Lol, decades ago teaching my pretty much mechanically challenged daughter to drive her manual shift, for which she had no ear (and challenged my patience) an indicator may have been useful although the distraction may have sent her plowing into car ahead!
My other daughter is more mechanically intuitive and picked up shifting no problem.
Perhaps there are different types of riders with similar characteristics, some need the aid and others don’t.

 

[Downhillr]

Cadence is useful information even if the bike does not have a motor.
The OP is about knowing what sprocket is engaged, in situations when looking down or spinning the cranks are not possible, alas “technical terrain”…
Even if one considers it logical to do the maths while riding, why not have the computer do it?!

Hmmm, for me the problem would be that on technical terrain I’m certainly not looking down because I’m too busy looking ahead and picking my line therefore I’m not looking down at a display either, as that would be recipe for a crash and my cadence in such situations is irrelevant since the crank aren't “spinning” but rather being pedaled inconsistently.

 

[Downhillr]

If you haven't got the spare mental capacity to check then maybe you should slow down a bit

I'd agree, but also, at a stop, how many times do you check that you are in first still That is why I like seeing on my Garmin what gear I'm in. Needed no.. nice to have, yes.

Never

 

[B1rdie]

Hmmm, for me the problem would be that on technical terrain I’m certainly not looking down because I’m too busy looking ahead and picking my line therefore I’m not looking down at a display either, as that would be recipe for a crash and my cadence in such situations is irrelevant since the crank aren't “spinning” but rather being pedaled inconsistently.

I love to ride sections where timing the pedalstrokes is mandatory, in these situations, knowing what gear i’m in is useful to decide the assistance mode to be used, since changing gears is very complicated.
But, most of the time while climbing, I will be spinning, and then, knowing the cadence allows me to estimate how much of a speed gain can be achieved before e tech section, or, for how long I can keep climbing that steep.

 

[Tribey]

Oh dear, my car does have a display to say what gear is selected!

 

[Plummet]

I have no need for such things. Need to bigger gears change up, need smaller gears... chain down.

 

[RiderOnTheStorm]

I think having a display showing selected gear is more of a learning tool. For beginner riders (or new car drivers) this can be very helpful for learning how to ride/drive correctly, to learn when to switch up or down, feel the gears. For experienced riders (drivers) I don't think it adds any value. Just my 2 cents...

 

[Doug Stampfer]

I'd like one on my shifter. For the downhill tracks where a quick pinch climb looms around a corner. Saves me that split second more looking down at the cluster to check or spinning my feet out changing down. I've been riding mtbs for 34yrs so i don't think I'm a beginner - maybe not great but not a beginner.

 

[Doug Stampfer]

Lol, decades ago teaching my pretty much mechanically challenged daughter to drive her manual shift, for which she had no ear (and challenged my patience) an indicator may have been useful although the distraction may have sent her plowing into car ahead!
My other daughter is more mechanically intuitive and picked up shifting no problem.
Perhaps there are different types of riders with similar characteristics, some need the aid and others don’t.

I hknow people I swear are mechanically dyslexic. After years of riding they'll still not change gears for hills or if they do it's the wrong way. The mainstreaming of the pinion motor /gearbox will be a godsend!

 

[Downhillr]

I love to ride sections where timing the pedalstrokes is mandatory, in these situations, knowing what gear i’m in is useful to decide the assistance mode to be used, since changing gears is very complicated.
But, most of the time while climbing, I will be spinning, and then, knowing the cadence allows me to estimate how much of a speed gain can be achieved before e tech section, or, for how long I can keep climbing that steep.

I’m not clear what you mean by changing gears being complicated? For me I typically see the coming incline grade and knowing the pace I’m at the gear I’ll need is pretty much intuitive.

 

[jackamo]

Why don't Shimano have a gear readout on their displays? The software knows speed and cadance so it's an easy calcultion and would be useful when approaching obstacles, junctions, knarly bits etc. Nothing worse than being in too high or low gear and struggling to get the right one when it's too late.

Never found a gear indicator any use on any bike I've ever had , completely pointless.