Sprocket Science

Let me preface this entry by saying that I understand that, given that modern sprockets are so small, there are only so many ways to design them. Especially since they have to be a) light and b) have more than one bolt hole. That said, this is pretty funny. Parallel evolution or industrial espionage?


KINK.


UNITED.


ANIMAL.



FEDERAL.
I was hoping to find explanations on each company's website as to how they came up with their respective designs. However, only Federal made the effort:

"The 4 cross pattern is ideal for evenly spreading any loads evenly over the sprocket itself in the event of an impact."

Oh. I'm not quite sure what that means, other than that they need to hire a copy editor. Is four-cross really more ideal than five? Or six? (And if it is so ideal for "evenly spreading any loads evenly", why aren't we all running 20" versions of these?)

Of course all of these designs are just updates of the nearly 30-year-old Redline Flight gear (seen here in a rather blurry spy photo):


If Redline were smart, they would do a 22-30t version of this same exact sprocket with all the engraving and stuff. Step up, Gork!

(Incidentally, my favorite current sprocket design is the FBM Wurlitzer. Good stuff.)