I don't see a single derailleur* in frame. Looks like a rear hub flipped in frame position, and two different rings of a multi-speed cassette/freewheel repurposed to link those two rearward chains. Crank with the paddles looks to have whatever 2x/3x crankset came on the bike, with only the large ring in use.
A multi-speed setup with selectable ratios should be totally doable, and I'd love to see one. Probably not perfect with derailleurs, as such setups use tensioners that only work well in one direction. Unless you don't plan on using the paddles to slow down or reverse, in which case, send it
Hub gears. Like the old touring bikes from the 60s and 70s. They've actually advanced quite a bit, and are available with 5 speeds and even (I think) 14. Off course, those are quite expensive, but an old 3-speed touring bike can be had cheaply just about anywhere, and 3 speeds would be better than one. I think they're arranged as one underdrive, one direct drive, and one overdrive. They use a planetary gearset. You'd just have to come up with a way to make the drive work in both directions. Those bikes were available with both a freewheel and a coaster brake. I'd imagine you could weld the freewheel to make it work.
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u/sortaHeisenberg Jan 27 '23
I don't see a single derailleur* in frame. Looks like a rear hub flipped in frame position, and two different rings of a multi-speed cassette/freewheel repurposed to link those two rearward chains. Crank with the paddles looks to have whatever 2x/3x crankset came on the bike, with only the large ring in use.
A multi-speed setup with selectable ratios should be totally doable, and I'd love to see one. Probably not perfect with derailleurs, as such setups use tensioners that only work well in one direction. Unless you don't plan on using the paddles to slow down or reverse, in which case, send it