On another rant... "Wide Range" Enviolo Bicycle CVT Gearing

Enviolo CVT bicycle "gear" hubs. They're infinitely variable over a claimed 380% gear range. In a mountain bike context, with a 38 tooth chainring and an 11 to 48 tooth cassette, that's infinitely variable between a lowest gear of, say 22 gear inches for climbing, to a highest gear just shy of 86 gear inches... not exactly a sprint downhill gear. A typical mountain bike, running say, a Microshift AdventX 10 speed derailleur system on 11 to 48 teeth, or 480% range will give you a more mountain biking friendly 95 gear inches. Both of these comparive drivetrains are assuming a 38 or 40 tooth cog on the cranks, depending on a 26" or 27.5" wheel, respectively. Derailleur, to me, wins on torque and speed for wide range.

However, Enviolo does have a torque sensing option and will select the the ratio automatically, claiming this, especially with eBikes, is more efficient. Possibly so, but is it easier to ride, really? The Enviolo Heavy Duty models and up, have a 100Nm maximum torque on a typical long haul touring bike, or a fully laden cargo bike, that torque limit drops to 85Nm. My Greenspeed trike's BBS01 Bafang mid drive e-assist can max out at 80Nm with me just pressing the button. (The button, by the way, is only still connected because I'm still in the warranty period.) I'd rather "full Euro" mainly because it's too easy to bump the "thumberator" when manouvering the bike into readiness to climb on board, or wheeling the trike about, walking beside it. (You can actually push a recumbent and steer it by pushing the seat left or right as you push the trike forwards, almost like wheeling a bicycle by holding the seat! Trike pro tip right there BTW.)

Microshift's AdventX derailleur systems can be had for around AU$300, an Enviolo Heavy Duty CVT hub starts at AU$650 for the manual kit, running to AU$1200 for the whole auto kit. The AdventX isn't quite as smooth between gears, having 9 discrete gear steps, but is compatible with HG cassettes and chains, can be serviced by any bike shop. Meanwhile Enviolo has no really serviceble parts and is probably best bought as factory standar on the bike... and that's big bucks, because only "middle class dad" cargo bikes and ebikes come with Enviolo as standard - we're talking prices like a P-plater's first car on their 18th birthday.

But, for me anyway, that working load limit of 100Nm torque, pulled by legs and full e-boost at street legal 250 watts, could go to 120Nm easily, possibly as high as 140Nm, especially on an e-cargo bike. You know, uphill, wrong gear, full button electrics, standing on the chain side pedal, pulling up hard on the handlebar? Bye bye AU$650 hub gears. In this situation, if you're thinking quick, you could grab a fist full of twist grip (I'm comparing derailleur with manual CVT) you might head off damage. The breaking strain of a derailleur drive, cassette or hub is not a figure I've seen in specs before. Having run Microshift's legacy R9 for 7 years in gravel and near mountain contexts on my old 29er touring bike, I'd have to say, unbreakable. It's not mid drive, so it's only been me trying to do the damage, but that system shifts under any load with nothing but wear and tear, no breakage, and it has 400% gear ranging over 8 steps. And I've never fealt like I needed more.

The beauty of the traditional cycle drivetrain is simplicity, and simplicity of serviceablity. With 9, 10, 11 and 12 speeds readily available, the steps are barely noticable and single chainrings give us even more simplicity than traditional 2x and 3x drivetrains, gearing as simple as a car's, and no clutch. I rule Enviolo a rich rider's toy.

Yeah, I know, shut up, Boomer. Fine.