I’ve been looking at this photo for a while trying to figure out all that this drivetrain does. With its pulleys and loop de loop chain line, I think you kick the the wingnut level on the rear axle to change cogs. The caption text translated to
This is to such, that as much if can pedalar onward as it stops backwards. Brilliant!
and that’s even more confusing. Maybe it’s a pedal forward and backward drivetrain? Readers?
Spotted on the Btt Do Minho Ao Vouga blog.
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It’s a “retro-direct” drivetrain. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retro-Direct
Awesome. Do you know more about it?
The translations is “this one you can pedal forward or backward…” but you keep going forward, I think it’s the correct translation
This is an old drivetrain solution from the 1920’s. Pedal forward and you engage one freewheel, pedal backwards and you engage another. If you have a front derailer you end up with a 4 speed. If you google retro direct drive you’ll find a cool blog post by a guy named Pierre who built a new retro direct drive on his current bike. There is a youtube video of the drive in action. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTWs6b-_kZU
http://myspace.voo.be/pcoupard/retrodirect_drive/
Kent Peterson had some posts about these a few months back: http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/2008/11/building-retro-direct-drive-bicycle.html
Kent Peterson (Seattle biking legend) recently built one as well.
I’ve yet to see it in person, but he describes pretty clearly how to build it up and the quirkiness of it appeals to me.
I am Portuguese, and yes, this kind of drive train lets you pedal both ways and still drive the bike forward… nothing new, but still a bit bizarre nowadays..
Just when I think I’ve seen it all…
Very steampunk-ish.
Ingenious! Forward on high-gear and backwark on low-gear!? But it doesn’t seem very efficient on hills though.
Its an Hirondelle Saint Etiene.