Abstract:
A switch designation apparatus for a bicycle control unit comprises a first switch structured to be mounted to a bicycle for providing signals to move a moving bicycle control device, a second switch structured to be mounted to the bicycle for providing signals to move the moving bicycle control device, and a switch designation unit that allows a user to selectively designate movements of the bicycle control device signaled by at least one of the first switch and the second switch.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to bicycles and, more particularly, to a switch designation apparatus for adjusting a position of a bicycle control unit. 
   Bicycle transmissions that comprise front and rear derailleurs are well known. The front derailleur shifts a chain among a plurality of front sprockets that are coaxially mounted to the pedal crank shaft, and the rear derailleur shifts the chain among a plurality of rear sprockets that are coaxially mounted to the rear wheel. It is also known to use electric motors to operate the front and rear derailleurs. Such a system is shown in Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. 2001-267002. 
   Bicycle transmissions formed inside the bicycle wheel hub (often called internal hub transmission) also are well known. Such transmissions include a planetary gear mechanism mounted inside the hub for communicating rotational force from a drive sprocket to the wheel hub shell through a plurality of transmission paths representing different gear ratios. It is also known to use electric motors to select the desired transmission paths. Such a system is shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-231006. 
   An apparatus for controlling the operation of a bicycle transmission having electrically operated derailleurs typically comprises one or more shift control devices mounted to one or more sides of the bicycle handlebar. For example, a shift control device for controlling the operation of the front derailleur may be mounted to the left side of the handlebar, and a shift control device for controlling the operation of the rear derailleur may be mounted to the right side of the handlebar. Each shift control device may comprise a switch for upshifting its corresponding derailleur and a switch for downshifting its corresponding derailleur, wherein the upshift and downshift switches are arranged vertically in a row. A shift control device for an internal hub transmission may comprise a switch for upshifting the internal hub transmission and a switch for downshifting the internal hub transmission, wherein both switches are mounted horizontally in a row on the right side of the handlebar. 
   Whether the switches are arranged vertically or horizontally, the upshift and downshift operations of the switches are fixed. However, some riders may prefer a reversal of the physical arrangement of the upshift and downshift switches. In other words, while one rider may prefer the upshift switch located above the downshift switch, other riders may prefer the downshift switch to be located above the upshift switch. With conventional shift control devices, this would require mounting the shift control device upside down or rewiring the device. Mounting the device upside down would result in any printing on the device also being upside down, and the switches may be oriented in a non-ergonomic manner. Rewiring the device would be very complex and troublesome. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a switch designation apparatus for adjusting a position of a bicycle control unit. In one embodiment, a switch designation apparatus for a bicycle control unit comprises a first switch structured to be mounted to a bicycle for providing signals to move a moving bicycle control device, a second switch structured to be mounted to the bicycle for providing signals to move the moving bicycle control device, and a switch designation unit that allows a user to selectively designate movements of the bicycle control device signaled by at least one of the first switch and the second switch. Additional inventive features will become apparent from the description below, and such features alone or in combination with the above features may form the basis of further inventions as recited in the claims and their equivalents. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a particular embodiment of a bicycle; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of particular embodiments of brake lever assemblies mounted to the bicycle handlebar; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the rear brake lever assembly; 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the rear brake lever assembly; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of the front and rear sprocket assemblies; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram of a particular embodiment of a derailleur control apparatus; 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view of a gear shift controller housing; 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart of a particular embodiment of a main process for the derailleur control apparatus; 
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart of a particular embodiment of a mode processing routine; 
       FIG. 10  is a flow chart of another embodiment of a switch designating process; and 
       FIG. 11  is a flow chart of another embodiment of a switch designating process. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  is a side view of a bicycle  101  that includes particular embodiments of electrically controlled bicycle control devices. Bicycle  101  is a road bicycle comprising a diamond-shaped frame  102 , a front fork  98  rotatably mounted to frame  102 , a handlebar assembly  104  mounted to the upper part of fork  98 , a front wheel  106   f  rotatably attached to the lower part of fork  98 , a rear wheel  106   r  rotatably attached to the rear of frame  102 , and a drive unit  105 . A front wheel brake  107   f  is provided for braking front wheel  106   f , and a rear wheel brake  107   r  is provided for braking rear wheel  106   r.    
   Drive unit  105  comprises a chain  95 , a front sprocket assembly  99   f  coaxially mounted with a crank  96  having pedals PD, an electrically controlled front derailleur  97   f  attached to a seat tube  102   a  of frame  102 , a rear sprocket assembly  99   r  coaxially mounted with rear wheel  106   r , and an electrically controlled rear derailleur  97   r . As shown in  FIG. 5 , front sprocket assembly  99   f  comprises two coaxially mounted sprockets F 1 -F 2 , and rear sprocket assembly  99   r  comprises ten sprockets R 1 -R 10  mounted coaxially with an axle of rear wheel  106   r . The number of teeth on front sprocket F 1  is less than the number of teeth on front sprocket F 2 . The numbers of teeth on rear sprockets R 1 -R 10  gradually decrease from rear sprocket R 1  to rear sprocket R 10 . As a result, rear sprocket R 1  has the greatest number of teeth, and rear sprocket R 10  has the least number of teeth. Front derailleur  97   f  moves to two operating positions to switch chain  95  between front sprockets F 1  and F 2 , and rear derailleur  97   r  moves to ten operating positions to switch chain  95  among selected ones of the rear sprockets R 1 -R 10 . A front gear position sensor  133   f  ( FIG. 6 ) senses the operating position of front derailleur  97   f , and a rear gear position sensor  133   r  senses the operating position of rear derailleur  97   r . Gear position sensors  133   f  and  133   r  may comprise rotary encoders such as potentiometers, or some other devices. A battery or some other power source (not shown) powers front and rear derailleurs  97   f  and  97   r  as well as other electrical components described herein in a known manner. 
   Handlebar assembly  104  comprises a handlebar stem  111  and a drop-style handlebar  112 , wherein handlebar stem  111  is mounted to the upper part of fork  98 , and handlebar  112  is mounted to the forward end portion of handlebar stem  111 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , brake lever assemblies  113   f  and  113   r  are mounted at opposite sides of handlebar  112 . Brake lever assembly  113   f  controls the operation of front wheel brake  107   f , and brake lever assembly  113   r  controls the operation of rear wheel brake  107   r . A derailleur control device  110  is mounted to a central portion of handlebar  112 . 
   Brake lever assemblies  113   f  and  113   r  comprise respective brake brackets  115   f  and  115   r  mounted to the forward curved portions of handlebar  112 , and brake levers  116   f  and  116   r  pivotably mounted to brake brackets  115   f  and  115   r . Rear shift control devices  120   r  and  121   r  with operating members such as switch levers  125  are mounted to the inner side of brake bracket  115   r  and to the rear side of brake lever  116   r , respectively, to control the operation of rear derailleur  97   r . In this embodiment, rear shift control devices  120   r  and  121   r  independently control the operation of rear derailleur  97   r  so that the rider may control the operation of rear derailleur  97   r  with the hand grasping brake bracket  115   r  or with the hand grasping brake lever  116   r . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the switch lever  125  mounted to brake lever bracket  115   r  rotates downward from a home position P 0  to a first position P 1  and rotates upward from home position P 0  to a second position P 2  to control the operation of rear derailleur  97   r . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the switch lever  125  mounted to the rear of brake lever  116   r  rotates laterally inward from a home position P 0  to a first position P 1  and rotates laterally outward from home position P 0  to a second position P 2  to control the operation of rear derailleur  97   r . Similarly, independent front shift control devices  120   f  and  121   f  with switch levers  125  are mounted to the inner side of brake bracket  115   f  and to the rear side of brake lever  116   f , respectively, to control the operation of front derailleur  97   f . The switch levers  125  mounted to brake lever bracket  115   f  and brake lever  116   f  operate in the same manner as switch levers  125  mounted to brake lever bracket  115   r  and brake lever  116   r . All of the switch levers  125  are biased toward the home position P 0 . 
   A front first switch  131   f  ( FIG. 6 ) and a front second switch  132   f  are mounted in each front shift control device  120   f  and  121   f . The front first switches  131   f  operate when switch levers  125  in front shift control devices  120   f  and  121   f  rotate from position P 0  to position P 1 , and the front second switches  132   f  operate when switch levers  125  in front shift control devices  120   f  and  121   f  rotate from position P 0  to position P 2 . Similarly, a rear first switch  131   r  and a rear second switch  132   r  are mounted in each rear shift control device  120   r  and  121   r . The rear first switches  131   r  operate when switch levers  125  in rear shift control devices  120   r  and  121   r  rotate from position P 0  to position P 1 , and the rear second switches  132   r  operate when switch levers  125  in rear shift control devices  120   r  and  121   r  rotate from position P 0  to position P 2 . Of course, many different switch combinations that operate in many different ways may be provided to suit different applications. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  6  and  7 , derailleur control device  110  comprises a case  126  mounted onto the central portion of handlebar  112 . Mounted within case  126  are a control unit  130 , a liquid crystal display (LCD)  135  for displaying riding parameters and other information, a mode switch  136  and a set switch  137 . Front derailleur  97   f , rear derailleur  97   r , front first switch  131   f , front second switch  132   f , rear first switch  131   r , rear second switch  132   r , front gear position sensor  133   f , rear gear position sensor  133   r  and other I/O units are connected to control unit  130  through appropriate methods such as wired or wireless devices. A storage unit such as a memory  138  stores various parameters used in the operation of control unit  130 . For example, the operating (sprocket) positions (FP, RP) based on the front sprockets FS (S=1, 2) and rear sprockets RS (S=1-10) for the front and rear derailleurs  97   f  and  97   r  are stored in accordance with values detected by gear position sensors  133   f  and  133   r . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 , a speed sensor  122  is mounted to fork  98  to sense the passage of a magnet  123  mounted to a spoke  106   s  of front wheel  106   s  and to provide speed indicating signals to control unit  130 . 
   In this embodiment, control unit  130  comprises a programmed microprocessor. Control unit  130  includes a gear shift controller  130   a  and a switch designation unit  130   b . Gear shift controller  130   a  controls the operation of front derailleur  97   f  and rear derailleur  97   r  in a normal mode of operation such as a gear shift mode (for example) to shift chain  95  the distance from an origin sprocket to a destination sprocket in accordance with signals received from front and rear first switches  131   f  and  131   r , front and rear second switches  132   f  and  132   r , and front and rear gear position sensors  133   f  and  133   r . Switch designation unit  130   b  designates the operation of front and rear first switches  131   f  and  131   r  and front and rear second switches  132   f  and  132   r . In this embodiment, switch designation unit  130   b  designates whether front and rear first switches  131   f  and  131   r  and front and rear second switches  132   f  and  132   r  signal upshifting or downshifting operations for front derailleur  97   f  and rear derailleur  97   r  when control unit  130 , and hence switch designation unit  130   b , are in a switch designation mode. Control unit  130  also displays speed, gear positions, and running distance on LCD  135  based on signals received from speed sensor  122  and gear position sensors  133   f  and  133   r.    
   Mode switch  136  is used to select the gear shift and switch designation modes of operation of control unit  130 . Mode switch  136  also is used to alternate among the various display modes available to LCD  135 . Set switch  137  is used to enter the mode selected by mode switch  136 . In general, when control unit  130  is in switch designation mode and front and rear, the first and second switches  131   f ,  131   r ,  132   f , and  132   r  which are turned on while in this mode are designated for upshift operation (SU), whereas switches  131   f ,  131   r ,  132   f , and  132   r  which are not turned on are designated for downshift operation (SD). The designations are stored in memory  138 , and gear shift controller  130   a  uses these designations to upshift and downshift front derailleur  97   f  and rear derailleur  97   r  when control unit  130  reverts to the gear shift mode. 
     FIG. 8  is a flow chart of a particular embodiment of a main process for control unit  130 . Initialization is carried out in a step S 1  when power is supplied to control unit  130 . In this step, various flags and variables are reset, the current switch designations for switches  131   f ,  131   r ,  132   f , and  132   r  are retrieved from memory  138  and stored in the microprocessor memory, and control unit  130  is set by default into gear shift mode. In step S 2 , display processing is performed. In this step, the speed and distance ridden are displayed on LCD  135  based on signals from speed sensor  133 , and the sprocket positions of front and rear derailleurs  97   f  and  97   r  are displayed based on the output from front and rear gear position sensors  133   f  and  133   r . It is then determined in a step S 3  whether or not mode switch  136  has been turned on. If so, then the mode processing routine shown in  FIG. 9  is performed in a step S 10 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , it is first determined in a step S 21  whether or not front first switch  131   f  is turned on (i.e., a switch lever  125  in front shift control device  120   f  or  121   f  rotated from position P 0  to position P 1 ). If so, then processing moves to step S 26  wherein front first switch  131   f  is designated for upshifting (SU) and front second switch  132   f  is designated for downshifting (SD). In other words, front derailleur  97   f  will be controlled to upshift when a front first switch  131   f  is turned on as a result of a switch lever  125  in front shift control device  120   f  or  121   f  rotating from position P 0  to position P 1 , and front derailleur  97   f  will be controlled to downshift when a front second switch  132   f  is turned on as a result of a switch lever  125  in front shift control device  120   f  or  121   f  rotating from position P 0  to position P 2 . In any event, it is then determined in a step S 22  whether or not front second switch  132   f  is turned on (i.e., a switch lever  125  in front shift control device  120   f  or  121   f  rotated from position P 0  to position P 2 ). If so, then processing moves to step S 27  wherein front second switch  132   f  is designated for upshifting (SU) and front first switch  131   f  is designated for downshifting (SD). In other words, front derailleur  97   f  will be controlled to upshift when a front second switch  132   f  is turned on as a result of a switch lever  125  in front shift control device  120   f  or  121   f  rotating from position P 0  to position P 2 , and front derailleur  97   f  will be controlled to downshift when a front first switch  132   f  is turned on as a result of a switch lever  125  in front shift control device  120   f  or  121   f  rotating from position P 0  to position P 1 . 
   In any event, it is then determined in a step S 23  whether or not rear first switch  131   r  is turned on (i.e., a switch lever  125  in rear shift control device  120   r  or  121   r  rotated from position P 0  to position P 1 ). If so, then processing moves to step S 28  wherein rear first switch  131   r  is designated for upshifting (SU) and rear second switch  132   r  is designated for downshifting (SD). In other words, rear derailleur  97   r  will be controlled to upshift when a rear first switch  131   r  is turned on as a result of a switch lever  125  in rear shift control device  120   r  or  121   r  rotating from position P 0  to position P 1 , and rear derailleur  97   r  is controlled to downshift when a rear second switch  132   r  is turned on as a result of a switch lever  125  in rear shift control device  120   r  or  121   r  rotating from position P 0  to position P 2 . In any event, it is then determined in a step S 24  whether or not rear second switch  132   r  is turned on (i.e., a switch lever  125  in rear shift control device  120   r  or  121   r  rotated from position P 0  to position P 2 ). If so, then processing moves to step S 29  wherein rear second switch  132   f  is designated for upshifting (SU), and rear first switch  131   r  is designated for downshifting (SD). In other words, rear derailleur  97   r  will be controlled to upshift when a rear second switch  132   r  is turned on as a result of a switch lever  125  in rear shift control device  120   r  or  121   r  rotating from position P 0  to position P 2 , and rear derailleur  97   r  will be controlled to downshift when a rear first switch  132   f  is turned on as a result of a switch lever  125  in rear shift control device  120   r  or  121   r  rotating from position P 0  to position P 1 . In any event, any other requested mode operations (including updating memory  138  with the new switch designations) are performed in a step S 25 , and then processing continues in step S 4  in  FIG. 8 . 
   It is then determined in step S 4  whether or not a designated front upshift switch has been turned on. If so, it is then determined in a step S 11  whether or not front derailleur  97   f  is at the operating position for front sprocket F 2 . If so, then no further upshifting is possible, the upshift request is ignored, and processing continues at step S 5 . Otherwise, front derailleur is upshifted to sprocket F 2  in a step S 12 . In any event, it is then determined in step S 5  whether or not a designated front downshift switch has been turned on. If so, it is then determined in a step S 13  whether or not front derailleur  97   f  is at the operating position for front sprocket F 1 . If so, then no further downshifting is possible, the downshift request is ignored, and processing continues at step S 6 . Otherwise, front derailleur  97   f  is downshifted to sprocket F 1  in a step S 14 . 
   It is then determined in step S 6  whether or not a designated rear upshift switch has been turned on. If so, it is then determined in a step S 15  whether or not rear derailleur  97   r  is at the operating position for rear sprocket R 10 . If so, then no further upshifting is possible, the upshift request is ignored, and processing continues at step S 7 . Otherwise, rear derailleur  97   r  is upshifted to the next higher rear sprocket in a step S 16 . In any event, it is then determined in step S 7  whether or not a designated rear downshift switch has been turned on. If so, it is then determined in a step S 17  whether or not rear derailleur  97   r  is at the operating position for rear sprocket R 1 . If so, then no further downshifting is possible, the downshift request is ignored, and processing continues at step S 8 . Otherwise, rear derailleur  97   r  is downshifted to the next lower rear sprocket in a step S 18 . 
   In any event, it is then determined in a step S 8  whether or not other operations have been requested (e.g., wheel diameter settings, gear position setting, etc.). If so, then such other operations are performed in a step  19 . Processing then returns to step S 2 . 
     FIG. 10  is a flow chart of another embodiment of a switch designating process. Rather than make switch designations when operating in a switch designation mode in response to the operation of mode switch  136 , switch designation unit  130   b  makes the designations during normal gear shift operations. In this embodiment, it is possible to change the switch designations for rear shift control devices  120   r  and  121   r  during the operation interval initiated by one of the front shift control devices  120   f  and  121   f , and vice versa. 
   As shown in  FIG. 10 , initialization is carried out in step S 1  when power is supplied to control unit  130 , and display processing is performed in step S 2  in the same manner as in  FIG. 8 . It is then determined in step S 4  whether or not a currently designated front upshift switch has been turned on, thereby initiating an upshift operation for front derailleur  97   f . If so, it is then determined in a step S 31 , while the upshift operation for front derailleur  97   f  is in progress, whether or not a rear first switch  131   r  has been turned on. If so, then processing moves to step S 33  wherein rear first switch  131   r  is designated for upshifting (SU) and rear second switch  132   r  is designated for downshifting (SD). In any event, it is then determined in a step S 32  whether or not a rear second switch  132   r  has been turned on. If so, then processing moves to step S 34  wherein rear second switch  132   r  is designated for upshifting (SU) and rear first switch  131   r  is designated for downshifting (SD). If neither rear first switch  131   r  nor rear second switch  132   r  is turned on during the front upshift operation, it is then determined in step S 11  whether or not front derailleur  97   f  is at the operating position for front sprocket F 2 . If so, then no further upshifting is possible, the upshift request is ignored, and processing continues at step S 5 . Otherwise, front derailleur is upshifted to sprocket F 2  in step S 12 . 
   In any event, it is then determined in step S 5  whether or not a designated front downshift switch has been turned on, thereby initiating a downshift operation for front derailleur  97   f . If so, it is then determined in a step S 36 , while the downshift operation for front derailleur  97   f  is in progress, whether or not a rear first switch  131   r  has been turned on. If so, then processing moves to step S 38  wherein rear first switch  131   r  is designated for upshifting (SU) and rear second switch  132   r  is designated for downshifting (SD). In any event, it is then determined in a step S 37  whether or not a rear second switch  132   r  has been turned on. If so, then processing moves to step S 39  wherein rear second switch  132   r  is designated for upshifting (SU) and rear first switch  131   r  is designated for downshifting (SD). If neither rear first switch  131   r  nor rear second switch  132   r  is turned on during the front downshift operation, it is then determined in step S 13  whether or not front derailleur  97   f  is at the operating position for front sprocket F 1 . If so, then no further downshifting is possible, the downshift request is ignored, and processing continues at step S 6 . Otherwise, front derailleur  97   f  is downshifted to sprocket F 1  in step S 14 . 
   In any event, it is then determined in step S 6  whether or not a designated rear upshift switch has been turned on, thereby initiating an upshift operation for rear derailleur  97   r . If so, it is then determined in a step S 41 , while the upshift operation for rear derailleur  97   r  is in progress, whether or not a front first switch  131   f  has been turned on. If so, then processing moves to step S 43  wherein front first switch  131   f  is designated for upshifting (SU) and front second switch  132   f  is designated for downshifting (SD). In any event, it is then determined in a step S 42  whether or not a front second switch  132   f  has been turned on. If so, then processing moves to step S 44  wherein front second switch  132   f  is designated for upshifting (SU) and front first switch  131   f  is designated for downshifting (SD). If neither front first switch  131   f  nor front second switch  132   f  is turned on during the rear upshift operation, it is then determined in step S 15  whether or not rear derailleur  97   r  is at the operating position for rear sprocket R 10 . If so, then no further upshifting is possible, the upshift request is ignored, and processing continues at step S 7 . Otherwise, rear derailleur  97   r  is upshifted to the next higher rear sprocket in step S 16 . 
   In any event, it is then determined in step S 7  whether or not a designated rear downshift switch has been turned on, thereby initiating a downshift operation for rear derailleur  97   r . If so, it is then determined in a step S 45 , while the downshift operation for rear derailleur  97   r  is in progress, whether or not a front first switch  131   f  has been turned on. If so, then processing moves to step S 47  wherein front first switch  131   f  is designated for upshifting (SU) and front second switch  132   f  is designated for downshifting (SD). In any event, it is then determined in a step S 46  whether or not a front second switch  132   f  has been turned on. If so, then processing moves to step S 48  wherein front second switch  132   f  is designated for upshifting (SU) and front first switch  131   f  is designated for downshifting (SD). If neither front first switch  131   f  nor front second switch  132   f  is turned on during the rear downshift operation, it is then determined in step S 17  whether or not rear derailleur  97   r  is at the operating position for rear sprocket R 1 . If so, then no further downshifting is possible, the downshift request is ignored, and processing continues at step S 8 . Otherwise, rear derailleur  97   r  is downshifted to the next lower rear sprocket in step S 18 . 
   In any event, it is then determined in step S 8  whether or not other operations have been requested in the same manner as in  FIG. 8 . If so, then such other operations are performed in step  19 , and processing returns to step S 2 . 
     FIG. 11  is a flow chart of another embodiment of a switch designating process. In this embodiment, it is possible to change the switch designations for front shift control devices  120   f  and  121   f  during the operation interval initiated by one of the front shift control devices  120   f  and  121   f  by pressing one of the front first or second switches  131   f  or  132   f  for an extended period of time (e.g., two or more seconds). The same is true for rear shift control devices  120   r  and  121   r.    
   As shown in  FIG. 11 , initialization is carried out in step S 1  when power is supplied to control unit  130 , and display processing is performed in step S 2  in the same manner as in the previous embodiments. It is then determined in step S 4  whether or not a currently designated front upshift switch has been turned on, thereby initiating an upshift operation for front derailleur  97   f . If so, it is then determined in a step S 51 , while the upshift operation for front derailleur  97   f  is in progress, whether or not a front first switch  131   f  has been turned on for an extended period of time. If so, then processing moves to step S 53  wherein front first switch  131   f  is designated for upshifting (SU) and front second switch  132   f  is designated for downshifting (SD). In any event, it is then determined in a step S 52  whether or not a front second switch  132   f  has been turned on for an extended period of time. If so, then processing moves to step S 54  wherein front second switch  132   f  is designated for upshifting (SU) and front first switch  131   f  is designated for downshifting (SD). If neither front first switch  131   f  nor front second switch  132   f  is turned on for an extended period of time during the front upshift operation, it is then determined in step S 11  whether or not front derailleur  97   f  is at the operating position for front sprocket F 2 . If so, then no further upshifting is possible, the upshift request is ignored, and processing continues at step S 5 . Otherwise, front derailleur is upshifted to sprocket F 2  in a step S 12 . 
   In any event, it is then determined in step S 5  whether or not a designated front downshift switch has been turned on, thereby initiating a downshift operation for front derailleur  97   f . If so, it is then determined in a step S 56 , while the downshift operation for front derailleur  97   f  is in progress, whether or not a front first switch  131   f  has been turned on for an extended period of time. If so, then processing moves to step S 58  wherein front first switch  131   f  is designated for upshifting (SU) and front second switch  132   f  is designated for downshifting (SD). In any event, it is then determined in a step S 57  whether or not a front second switch  132   f  has been turned on for an extended period of time. If so, then processing moves to step S 59  wherein front second switch  132   f  is designated for upshifting (SU) and front first switch  131   f  is designated for downshifting (SD). If neither front first switch  131   f  nor front second switch  132   f  is turned on for an extended period of time during the front downshift operation, it is then determined in step S 13  whether or not front derailleur  97   f  is at the operating position for front sprocket F 1 . If so, then no further downshifting is possible, the downshift request is ignored, and processing continues at step S 6 . Otherwise, front derailleur  97   f  is downshifted to sprocket F 1  in step S 14 . 
   In any event, it is then determined in step S 6  whether or not a designated rear upshift switch has been turned on, thereby initiating an upshift operation for rear derailleur  97   r . If so, it is then determined in a step S 61 , while the upshift operation for rear derailleur  97   r  is in progress, whether or not a rear first switch  131   r  has been turned on for an extended period of time. If so, then processing moves to step S 63  wherein rear first switch  131   r  is designated for upshifting (SU) and rear second switch  132   r  is designated for downshifting (SD). In any event, it is then determined in a step S 62  whether or not a rear second switch  132   r  has been turned on for an extended period of time. If so, then processing moves to step S 64  wherein rear second switch  132   r  is designated for upshifting (SU) and rear first switch  131   r  is designated for downshifting (SD). If neither rear first switch  131   r  nor rear second switch  132   r  is turned on for an extended period of time during the rear upshift operation, it is then determined in step S 15  whether or not rear derailleur  97   r  is at the operating position for rear sprocket R 10 . If so, then no further upshifting is possible, the upshift request is ignored, and processing continues at step S 7 . Otherwise, rear derailleur  97   r  is upshifted to the next higher rear sprocket in step S 16 . 
   In any event, it is then determined in step S 7  whether or not a designated rear downshift switch has been turned on, thereby initiating a downshift operation for rear derailleur  97   r . If so, it is then determined in a step S 65 , while the downshift operation for rear derailleur  97   r  is in progress, whether or not a rear first switch  131   r  has been turned on for an extended period of time. If so, then processing moves to step S 67  wherein rear first switch  131   r  is designated for upshifting (SU) and rear second switch  132   r  is designated for downshifting (SD). In any event, it is then determined in a step S 66  whether or not a rear second switch  132   f  has been turned on for an extended period of time. If so, then processing moves to step S 68  wherein rear second switch  132   r  is designated for upshifting (SU) and rear first switch  131   r  is designated for downshifting (SD). If neither rear first switch  131   r  nor rear second switch  13   rf  is turned on for an extended period of time during the rear downshift operation, it is then determined in step S 17  whether or not rear derailleur  97   r  is at the operating position for rear sprocket R 1 . If so, then no further downshifting is possible, the downshift request is ignored, and processing continues at step S 8 . Otherwise, rear derailleur  97   r  is downshifted to the next lower rear sprocket in step S 18 . 
   In any event, it is then determined in step S 8  whether or not other operations have been requested. If so, then such other operations are performed in step  19  in the same manner as the previous embodiments, and processing returns to step S 2 . 
   While the above is a description of various embodiments of inventive features, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, in the third embodiments the switch designation was requested by operating one of the front and rear first and second switches  131   f ,  132   f ,  131   r  and  132   r  for an extended period of time, but a switch designation request could be made by some other distinctive operation of a switch, such as by double-clicking. While the described embodiments were applied to a road bicycle, the bicycle may have any configuration. While both derailleurs were electrically controlled, one of the derailleurs may be manually controlled. Also, the teachings herein could be applied to an internal hub transmission or to a combination of a derailleur and hub transmission. 
   The size, shape, location or orientation of the various components may be changed as desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other may have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element may be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment may be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the specific structures disclosed or the apparent initial focus or emphasis on a particular structure or feature.