what is this???

[beatcad]

yesterday i went to the local junk bike guy for a parts bike for the bike i'm puttin' together rite now.
his good stuff is out front for sale, but he lets me go out back for the parts junk.

i brought home a complete(junky) bike for 5 bucks just for the fork. i'll post pix tomarrow on the new build page.

anyhow. i was messin' with the bike today and it was something weird.
the bike was a 12 speed. the front had 2 sprockets. the rear hub has 6 sprockets.
heres the odd part... at first i thought the rear hub was rusted solid. than i realized it wasnt. it's like a fixed gear w/ 6 sprockets.
even weirder(not realy concidering the rear) the crank doesnt turn like regular ckanks. it's a 3 peice, but instead of turning both ways like a normanl crank it turns in a forward direction and ratchets in a backwards direction.

what the heck can i do w/ this???

 

[Markm]

sounds like the Forward Freewheel/Shimano deal....Does the front sprocket have extra bearings and spin independatly??

 

[SSG]

Sounds like one of those shimano freewheeling chainwheels. Some 70's schwinns had this setup. Kinda wild because while your coasting, the crank arms are stationary but the chain and sprockets are still spinning.

 

[Markm]

...I think it was supposed to let you shift gears while coasting...

 

[Schwinnspastic]

nothing wierd about it and they are correct...Shimano FF system made for touring in hilly terain
and it will shift without pedaling , mine works great and I had no trouble with it through at
least a couple thousand miles and 3 sets of tires I still have never taken it apart and just drop
oil in it when I ride that bike....its a Panasonic , a great bike from the very early eighties !

 

[Bendix]

nothing wierd about it.....

well, it's kinda weird............

 

[LIVE TO RIDE]

Ha just dont get your pant leg caught in your sprocket cause it will eat your arse!!Those setups are cool.I was thinkin of using one of those old Schwinn setups for a big tricycle.

 

[beatcad]

yeah i figured it would work, but i thought it would look strange to be coasting and the chain to be moving around still.
here's the bike in question. it a ross.