Retro Direct Beast

[blown240]

My buddy wanted to set up his beast with a retro direct drive. We also gave his bike an overall facelift.


Here are some pics and a video:

VIDEO:

 

[yoothgeye]

I want this setup just to make people watching me ride scratch their heads...

 

[raggedjim]

Yeap, that's cool.

 

[rickpaulos]

I saw an original Hirondelle on Ragbrai a couple years ago. I followed the guy up hill. It's very bizarre to watch. I've been accumulating the parts to make one myself. I just haven't decided on the base bike yet.

FYI, there were 4 speed versions. That's where they used 2 chainrings so you got 2 'forward' gears and 2 'reverse' gears. All 4 of which make you go forward, just at different speeds.

If you wanted to get carried away, try to install 2 freewheels on a SA 3 speed hub or use a Schlumf 2 speed crank.

 

[rickpaulos]

ps, I see the nut welded to the rt droput. Was that for a der?

 

[blown240]

I do want to get carried away! Ill watch for one of those hubs!

And ya, there was a 6 speed freewheel on this bike for a while. This is the same bike I build up several months ago for a buddy.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Great work, looks like a good fit to the bike too!

Luke.

 

[mikeeebikey]

Ok, maybe I missed it, how did you attach the outside freewheel?
Looks killer, hope it works that good.

 

[blown240]

The outside freewheel is attached using a bottom bracket cup that is threaded between the 2 free wheels.

I never realized that a bottom bracket and a freewheel used the same thread size before this build.