Patent ID: 7001294

Claim:
A method for shifting a bicycle transmission including an electronically controlled derailleur for shifting a chain among a plurality of sprockets including at least a first sprocket and a second sprocket, wherein at least one of the first sprocket and the second sprocket includes a shift facilitating structure to facilitate shifting the chain between the first sprocket and the second sprocket, wherein the method comprises the steps of: rotating a first sensor element together with the plurality of sprockets, wherein the first sensor element comprises one of a signal generating element and a signal receiving element; disposing a second sensor element on the bicycle so that the first sensor element passes in close proximity to the second sensor element when the plurality of sprockets rotate, wherein the second sensor element comprises the other one of the sianal generating element and the signal receiving element; wherein the signal receiving element generates a signal when the first sensor element passes in close proximity to the second sensor element; and commanding the derailleur to shift the chain between the first sprocket and the second sprocket in response to the signal so that the derailleur begins moving to shift the chain when the shift facilitating structure is located at an optimum rotational position relative to the derailleur.