6/23/15 8:17 PM

It's a retro-direct, a technology that was developed in France as an answer to the english bikes with multiple gears. It has two freewheels, so is in one gear if you pedal forwards and another gear if you pedal backwards.


http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/5089028650.html

6/24/15 5:33 AM

I guess there's an issue with that post.

6/24/15 11:31 AM

Resolves here every time.

6/25/15 8:24 AM

For a "single" speed bike (with emphasis), it looks unnecessarily complex. Nice to look at, but would rather not own such. Big Apple Circus uses a single chain stunt bike for pedaling & moving forwards/backwards.

6/25/15 9:07 AM

It's not a single-speed bike, Jesus, it's two speeds. And yes, it's a bizarre approach to multiple gears, a dead-end design (patented in 1903), but clever and amusing. Not really complex at all in operation, but backwards pedaling has got to feel weird.

The circus bikes are fixed-gear.

6/25/15 9:43 AM

Having two different gear ratios is good. Pedaling backward for propulsion would be easier to get used to than the reverse steer bike we spied recently. ;)

6/25/15 9:57 AM

Ok 2 sprockets = 2 gears, I get it. Although if you are going in reverse, like a car, they don't count that as a speed. ;-) Of course the circus bike is fixed gear. It would really take away from the entertainment if they had to get off the bike and reverse the wheel orientation to ride backwards. Even that would be a 2 sprocket, two speed bike - with the other likely on the other side of the hub, similar but not exactly to that commonly found on flop -free/fixed wheel "single speed" bikes. For me, the bike event is the highlight of the Big Apple Circus.

6/25/15 10:55 AM

Not sure you are getting that it still goes forward when you pedal backwards.

I still want to find a 2 speed kick bendix hub for a non derailleur build. :)
Be like being 12-13 again kicking it into over drive. ;) Probably still weigt more than a D/A hub rear only geared bike though... ;)

6/25/15 10:57 AM

Jesus, the bike goes forward in either gear. There is no reverse or fixed capability. If you pedal "normally" the bike goes forward in one gear ratio. If you pedal "backwards" the bike goes forward in a different gear ratio.

6/25/15 11:02 AM

Sparky beat me to it. I've seen it before, but not with the second pulley, it's more common (if it's possible to call this "common") with a single pulley.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xMaalRGsxk

Here's another one using two chainrings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfxncSJTraU

6/25/15 11:55 AM

I want to try one now. ;)

I wonder what, if any, muscle building advantage might be present from doing reverse pedal intervals. ;)

6/25/15 1:36 PM

Thanks, Craig for clearing that up. Pedal backwards to go forward...ok...imagine putting that gearing on the bike, discussed recently here, whereby one turns right by steering left and vice versa. I'd pay a Big Apple Circus admission price to watch a few newbies attempt to ride such a bike.

6/25/15 1:48 PM

So, should the gearing be arranged to climb pedaling forward or backward?

Is riding no-hands just as easy on the contra-steering bike as it is on a stock bike?

Inquiring minds want to know!

6/25/15 2:13 PM

"imagine putting that gearing on the bike, discussed recently here, whereby one turns right by steering left and vice versa."


The old who can "walk and chew gum" acid test. Sounds like a fun party. ;)

Not to mention I already mentioned both in thread. ;O

6/29/15 4:35 PM

Surprisingly, pedaling backwards gives the lower gear ratio.

I had guessed that the top-gear "overdrive" would involve pedaling backwards, but at least with this bike's setup one can spin out the top gear while pedaling in the familiar forward direction.