The Truvativ HammerSchmidt AM crankset could very well revolutionize bicycle drivetrains from this point forward by eliminating that last bastion of low-tech: the front derailleur. Gone are the days of jammed or dropped chains, missed shifts and bent cages in favour of a seamless and bulletproof system that magically ekes two gears out of a single chainring in any condition, under any load (or even no load), any time you wish.

A system of planetary gears contained within HammerSchmidt's surprisingly compact and thoroughly sealed housing yields an 'Overdrive' 1:1.6 gear ratio. Thus, a 24T ring provides the same range as a 24/38T. All along, the chain is held on tight by the included chain guide and you even gain more ground clearance, too. If you're envisioning downhill security with all-mountain versatility, you're on the right track.

Even better, this wizardry comes with only a modest weight penalty and virtually no increase in Q-factor. At 1623g, a complete HammerSchmidt AM system adds less than 180g to a comparable setup using a Truvativ Stylo two-ring crank and chain guide and is more reliable, tough as nails and way, way cooler.