On-the bike, mini, resistance bicycle training and competition-equalization device

Abstract

A light, aerodynamic, mini-resistance trainer used with a two-wheel bicycle a vertical connector plate, the connector plate configured to attach to the front, upright side of a bicycle's seat tube, on a bicycle frame using the bicycle's two standard water bottle cage threaded fastener holes and M3 Allen bolts. The upper portion of the connector plate continues around the bicycle frame's seat tube and overlaps the second part of the device, namely the drive system housing. The drive system assembly is comprised of a worm gear on an axle connected to a linear gear rack.

1 . A light, aerodynamic, mini-resistance trainer used with a two-wheel bicycle outdoors on a road or similar surface and a cyclist. The device has two parts, firstly a vertical connector plate, the connector plate is configured to attach to the front, upright side of a bicycle's seat tube, on a bicycle frame using the bicycle's two standard water bottle cage threaded fastener holes and M3 Allen bolts. The upper portion of the connector plate continues around the bicycle frame's seat tube and overlaps the second part of the device, namely the drive system housing. With the drive system housing positioned within either side of the overlapping portions of the connector plate, the attachment of the drive system housing to the connector plate is made via M3 Allen bolts at either lateral end through the connector plates and screwed into the drive system housing's two vertical sides. When assembled as described the device encircles the upper portion of the bicycle frame's seat tube and provides the drive system's resistance wheel access to the rear bicycle tire. The drive system housing encases the variable resistance drive system assembly. The drive system assembly is comprised of a worm gear on an axle connected to a linear gear rack. By turning either of the two resistance dials located at either distal point of the worm gear's axle, the worm gear's rotational motion moves the linear gear rack either forward (toward the rear bicycle tire) or backward (away from the rear bicycle tire). The distal point of the linear gear rack has an axle with needle bearings upon which a resistance wheel rotates whose function it is to apply rolling resistance to the rear bicycle tire. The drive system assembly applies or retracts incremental amounts of rolling resistance to the rear tire of the bicycle. Regulation of resistance levels is applied or retracted via resistance dials located at either distal point of the worm gear axle. The worm gear axle protrudes from the drive system housing and the overlapping connector plate sufficiently to hold a resistance dial at either end of the worm gear axle, allowing the cyclist to rotate either of these two resistance dials to apply or retract incremental levels of rolling resistance to or from the rear bicycle tire. Immediately above the resistance wheel is a resistance wheel protection plate that protects the resistance wheel from debris. To manage heat created by the frictional contact between the resistance wheel and the rear bicycle tire while maintaining the required stability of the resistance wheel the device may have either or both or similar of: (a) a plurality of openings into and through the resistance wheel. These openings are set along the face (left to right) and around the circumference of the resistance wheel to dissipate heat, and (b) a plurality of angled openings into and through the sides of both, the overlapping sides of the connector plate and the vertical sides of the drive system housing, directing outside airflow directly into the drive system housing and (due to the angle of such openings) focusing such airflow at the drive system assembly. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the present technology is used in conjunction with an analog or digital set of cyclist data-points/metrics producing an individual handicap for one or more cyclists based on multiple past performance data-points, the present technology provides the physical handicap/resistance to the bicycle's rear tire creating a new category of cycling competition, namely equitable or handicapped bicycle competition. Here, cyclists with various levels of proficiency may participate/compete together, where the participants are allocated a handicap based on their past performance and that allocated handicap is associated with a resistance level setting related to the present technology's resistance levels and then such corresponding physical rolling resistance is applied to the rear tire of the participants' bicycles' rear tires during such competition activity (similar to golf handicaps or horse racing weight handicap systems) by the present technology. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the resistance level can be set manually via a cyclist rotating a resistance dial to a desired resistance setting by hand at any time; the system of setting the resistance level can be mechanized and such mechanization can be controlled and managed by a local or remote software program, App or other digital system/device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the device can be used to apply resistance when used on a bicycle being used on a roller type bicycle training machine, reason being that generally, such bicycle roller type training machines do not add resistance beyond those physical properties of the bicycle, the cyclist and the latent friction of the rollers themselves and therefore the current technology can deliver resistance training when used on a bicycle being used on a roller type bicycle training machine.