Method and apparatus for shifting a bicycle transmission

A computer-controlled apparatus for setting destination speed stages of a bicycle transmission, wherein the apparatus comprises:

• a manually-operated switch;
• and
• a transmission control unit coupled to the manually-operated switch for causing the bicycle transmission to move to a destination speed stage;
• wherein, when the manually-operated switch is operated for the duration of a first time interval, the transmission control unit controls the bicycle transmission to move through one speed stage to a first destination speed stage;
• and
• wherein, when the manually-operated switch is operated for the duration of a second time interval greater than the first time interval, the transmission control unit controls the bicycle transmission to move through a plurality of speed stages to a second destination speed stage.

A method of setting destination speed stages of a bicycle transmission, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• operating a shift command unit for the duration of a first time interval;
• generating, by a transmission control unit in response to the operation of the shift command unit for the duration of the first time interval, a first transmission command signal for causing the bicycle transmission to move through one speed stage to a first destination speed stage;
• and
• operating the shift command unit for the duration of a second time interval greater than the first time interval;
• generating, by the transmission control unit in response to the operation of the shift command unit for the duration of the second time interval, a second transmission command signal for causing the bicycle transmission to move through a plurality of speed stages to a second destination speed stage.

A method of setting destination speed stages of a bicycle transmission, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• operating a manually-operated electrical switch for the duration of a first time interval operating, by a transmission control unit in response to the operation of the manually-operated electrical switch for the duration of the first time interval, the bicycle transmission to move through one speed stage to a first destination speed stage;
• operating the manually-operated electrical switch for the duration of a second time interval greater than the duration of the first time interval;
• and
• operating, by the transmission control unit in response to the operation of the manually-operated electrical switch for the duration of the second time interval, the bicycle transmission to move through a plurality of speed stages to a second destination speed stage.