NuVinci® Harmony™ — First Automatic CVP Shifting System for Bicycles - Wins EUROBIKE 2011 Award

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany, Sept. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- EUROBIKE 2011 -- Fallbrook Technologies Inc. (Fallbrook) today announced that its NuVinci Harmony intelligent drivetrain, the first continuously variable shifting system offering the option of automatic seamless or manual shifting, has won an iF Design/EUROBIKE 2011 Award in the Electronic Components/Components category at the EUROBIKE Show in Friedrichshafen, Germany. NuVinci technology previously won an iF Design/EUROBIKE Gold award in 2008 and an iF Design/EUROBIKE Award in 2010.  In addition to the NuVinci Harmony award in the Components category, three bicycles featuring NuVinci technology won iF/EUROBIKE awards including two Gold Awards:

• TDR's 2012 FluxX featuring NuVinci Harmony received an iF Design/EUROBIKE Gold Award, with Harmony identified as a key element of this overall e-Bike.
• FLYER Bikes, equipped with the NuVinci N360™ drivetrain, also won a Gold Award for best overall Cargo Bicycle.
• globaX, equipped with the NuVinci N360 drivetrain, won an iF Design/ EUROBIKE award in the Family Transportation/Kid's Bike category.

As evidenced by the iF Design/EUROBIKE 2011 Awards, the NuVinci Harmony intelligent drivetrain is an innovative shifting system leveraging the unique benefits of the NuVinci N360 drivetrain, which can shift through an infinite number of effective drive ratios within its wide 360 percent range creating a riding experience second to none. The NuVinci CVP is now offered on more than 40 international bicycle brands. The intuitive new Harmony system is designed specifically for the fast growing and advancing e-Bike market worldwide.

"The bicycle community's ongoing and multiple awards to bicycles incorporating our NuVinci technology represent a major and gratifying appreciation and acceptance of the changes we have brought to cycling," stated William G. Klehm III, Chairman and CEO of Fallbrook.

"We are honored to be selected for our third IF Design/EUROBIKE award by the bicycle industry experts," said Alan M. Nordin, President of Fallbrook's Bicycle Division. "NuVinci Harmony introduces a new era of performance in bicycle shifting and e-Bike performance. Working in conjunction with the NuVinci N360 drivetrain, NuVinci Harmony delivers automatic operation for seamless shifting that improves e-Bike range, motor life and overall ride quality."

"This marks a major milestone in the launch of our new brand of TDR Bikes at EUROBIKE 2011. We are excited to receive an iF Design/EUROBIKE Gold Award for our first e-Bike model, the FluxX, featuring the smooth and seamlessly shifting NuVinci Harmony intelligent drivetrain," said Theo de Rooij, founder of Theo de Rooij Bikes BV. "NuVinci Harmony provides the rider with cruise control for their legs for the most comfortable ride ever."

The NuVinci Harmony system offers a choice of two controller versions — Base and Advanced — to customize the ride for increased comfort, safety and fun.

The Harmony Base Controller offers a simple push-button controller with three pre-set cadence settings (typically slow – medium – fast) for automatic-only shifting. The system intelligently manages the ride by shifting automatically to maintain the pedal cadence that the rider selects.

The Harmony Advanced Controller offers both fully automatic and manual shifting options. A button switches between modes.

• In "Automatic" mode, the Harmony system controller automatically and continuously adjusts the drive ratio to maintain the rider's preferred cadence. The rider is able to select and seamlessly maintain a cadence set-point by twisting the shifter.
• In "Manual" operation, the rider controls the NuVinci CVP ratio directly and immediately.
• The Harmony Advanced Controller provides an attractive visual display, similar to that of the NuVinci N360 controller, displaying both mode and setting.

TDR, Panther, Union and Simpel are among a growing number of brands that have Harmony-equipped e-Bike models under development for the 2012 model year.

The EUROBIKE Awards, conceived and organized by iF International Forum Design, honor the best in bicycle design, and are considered one of the industry's most prestigious design competitions.  The 10 most innovative product entries are recognized with a EUROBIKE GOLD award for outstanding achievement in design and innovation.  This year, over 430 entries from 27 countries competed in the iF Design/EUROBIKE awards.

Overall, NuVinci technology has won 12 major awards since its introduction in 2007 including the selection of the NuVinci-equipped Breezer Uptown infinity by Bicycling Magazine as its 2011 Commuter Bike of the Year.

For more information and complete specifications on the Harmony intelligent drivetrain, visit http://www.fallbrooktech.com/harmony.

About Fallbrook Technologies Inc.

Fallbrook's NuVinci® continuously variable planetary (CVP) technology improves the performance and efficiency of machines that use a transmission, including bicycles, electric vehicles, automobiles, agricultural equipment, wind turbines and others. The NuVinci technology offers companies the flexibility to design and produce next-generation products that are better tailored to their unique business, market and competitive requirements. An example of a next generation product is a NuVinci CVP that controls the speed of automotive accessory drives (including air conditioning compressors, alternators, and superchargers) independently of engine speed, thereby improving fuel economy or increasing performance or both.

Fallbrook has built an extensive portfolio of over 400 patents and patent applications worldwide. The company intends to continue its research and development activities to enhance the performance and capabilities of NuVinci technology.

For more information, visit: www.fallbrooktech.com

SOURCE Fallbrook Technologies Inc.