Patent ID: 8321097

Claim:
A method of automatically controlling a continuously variable transmission (CVT) of a bicycle, the CVT having first and second rotatable traction rings, a shift rod, an electric actuator coupled to the shift rod, an electronic controller in communication with the electric actuator, and an electronic controller, the electronic controller configured to receive a first input associated with a target user pedaling speed and a second input associated with a speed of the bicycle, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an input associated with a target user pedaling speed; determining a speed of the bicycle; determining a target CVT ratio based at least in part on the target user pedaling speed and the determined speed of the bicycle; and adjusting a speed ratio of the CVT to be substantially equal to the target CVT ratio, the speed ratio of the CVT based at least in part on a ratio of a speed of the first rotatable traction ring to a speed of the second rotatable traction ring, wherein adjusting the speed ratio of the CVT comprises adjusting the shift rod to thereby adjust the speed ratio of the CVT.