Interesting low-cost measure to not use a front-derailleur
The S2 model aimed to give riders an uphill climbing gear but without introducing the complexities of a gear-shifting derailleur, tensioned cables, and handlebar shifters. Engineers at SRAM came up with a solution that’s hard to imagine for other bikes but not too hard to grasp. A freewheel in the back has two cogs, with a high gear for cruising and a low gear for climbing. If you pedal backward a half-rotation, the outer, higher gear engages or disengages, taking over the work from the lower gear. The cogs, chains, and chainrings on this bike are always moving, but only one gear is ever doing the work.
Probably not of much use but I thought it was cool
I mentioned it in the previous* thread in this community, but a similar thing to this that someone could DIY is retro-direct, which uses 2 freewheels and a longer chain (jockey wheel OR double chainring). This has no switching though, instead pedalling backwards is the other gear.
measure to not use a front-derailleur
Not really specific to front, especially when that’s more of a thing for additional gear range.
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I saw Berm Peak made a fundraiser again with WBR, so I can’t help but repost this article
Interesting low-cost measure to not use a front-derailleur
Probably not of much use but I thought it was cool
Sounds like it’s essentially a Sturmey-Archer kick-shift 2-speed hub, but each gear outputs to a separate cog.
I mentioned it in the previous* thread in this community, but a similar thing to this that someone could DIY is retro-direct, which uses 2 freewheels and a longer chain (jockey wheel OR double chainring). This has no switching though, instead pedalling backwards is the other gear.
Not really specific to front, especially when that’s more of a thing for additional gear range.
* Title: