New Helical Gear System in the Shimano Alfine 11 Speed

Shimano has released a new iteration of its Alfine 11-speed internal gear hub. I know some of us at here are cyclists, and so we thought we'd share some news about this exceptional new hub (it's lighter than the previous iteration's 8-speed version!) If you think about it, bicycles are really one of the most pure, commonly known examples of gearing.

Singletrack, a mountain bike blog, does a good job breaking down the Alfine 11-speed hub,

This hub gear will run super smooth thanks to the use of a completely new helical gear system. Helical gears feature an angled teeth profile that engage more gradually compared to spur (or straight-cut) profiles, resulting in a more smooth and quiet shift. This hub gear also features an improved durability by the use of an oil lubricant instead of grease.

It's interesting (to say the least) to see helical gears used in bicycle gearing. You're so used to seeing spur gears that it's disorienting. But since there's increased surface area in a helical gear set-up, you would expect a smoother, less slippery shifting profile. I'm excited to see helical gears used more often in bicycles (and everywhere).