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• #2
Very interesting project and a very wierd drivetrain!
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• #3
Jup very interesting.
I've changed the handlebar today. The one I had on it, was to small to fit brakes properly, If I flipped the bar.
But I have a lot of bicycle crap laying around, so I put on an other one!
Also put on the old handlebar tape.Today I also figured out what freewheel to get.
I am going with a 16t cog and a 20t cog.
It fits a 1/8" chain, So I hope that will work out properly.
Spend 14 pounds on it.Another thing I did today Is putting on a rear carrier. It came of my old bike, wich was broken. I't was kind of heavy, so I've sawed some stuff of the carrier.
Thinking about putting a basket or crate on it
Should look awesome:Well, at least this is what I got at the end of the day:
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• #4
I've did got some time today to work on my little project.
I've buyed some wood and lacquer to make a crate for the rear carrier.
Couldn't find the right wood for making the fenders. Will look tomorrow for it.This is the crate I've made today:
And I've also already added the first layer of lacquer:
Sneak preview of the bike with the crate:
Looks funny. Can't wait to get the freewheels, and making it retro direct!
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• #5
This is great man!
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• #6
This is great man!
You will probably see me cruising around in Leeuwarden on this one:)
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• #7
I hope so! And I do wanna have a testride when it's finished :).
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• #8
Man, that is a lovely looking workshop. I would kill for some nice little space like that. I use the kitchen.
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• #9
Love that crate!
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• #10
Haha thanks.
Nutjesmaor, you can get a testdrive when it's done;)
And I certainly have plenty enough space. It isn't a bad thing, living with your parents!
And also do love the crate, it came out very well with the lacquer. Will do another layer, and then it should be done.Also hoping to get the freewheels this coming monday.
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• #11
Cool project, will you be doing the Elfstedentocht on this....
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• #12
Not hoping, I think I will do the 11 stedentocht on my gazelle exception!
Also the freewheels finally came in yesterday.
Also mounted the crate already on the bike.
Will take some pictures very soon. -
• #13
took me a while to decypher that, it's rad !
are you planning on making that modification to the driveside chainstay?
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• #14
I'm not planning to harm my chainstay.
I think there is a easier way to get it done. Like this bike:
I have already made something similiar to that, with the mech and the mechwheel. But I'm waiting on my wheel, wich I have left at the bikeshop.
Because I need to get my old 5 cog freewheel of.
So my bike is almost retro direct, if everything works. -
• #15
bonkers, but quite elegant. Nice work.
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• #16
I want one!!
So you can use a standard wheel? How do you put 2 freewheels on it? Confused :(
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• #17
You can put two freewheels on it by using an ald bottom bracket cup.
You screw on the first freewheel, screw the cup on the first freewheel, and then screw the second freewheel on the cup. -
• #18
Finally, I've made some new pictures.
I've already made a construction to make it retro direct. And it did work.
So I already rode it retro direct. It's much fun, riding backwards.
But the bad thing is, that i've unscrewed my bottom bracket, while I was riding.
Also my pedals screw out when I was riding backwards. That problem is solved now, I've put the stuff very tight. only my BB needs an extra turn, I don't have the tool at home for it.There is a picture of the construction i've made. As you can see I'm not riding it at the moment. Because the threads of the bolts didn't hold up. So I will have the change them for some better quality ones.
I've had the prototype constructions before I've made this one. Because I ran into some problems:
The main problem is, that I didn't have very much space to put the extra mech cog.
I have to put the freewheel far enough from the freewheels, and in the middle of them, so the angle the chain will come on the freewheel en mech wheel isn't to big.
Another thing I had to make sure that I didn't put the extra mech wheel to low, because otherwise the chain won't grab the freehweels right. And the chain will slip.
And the cranks also shouldn't hit the construction for the extra mech wheel.Oh, and this rust is because of the snow here in Holland. The salt they put on the roads *****s op my bike;)
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• #19
this is cool. Do you have the higher gear pedalling forwards or backwards?
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• #20
But the bad thing is, that i've unscrewed my bottom bracket, while I was riding.
Also my pedals screw out when I was riding backwards.!!!
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• #21
I have a higher gear riding forwards.
Also the gear ratio is just perfect. I have 40t front and in the back 16t and 20t. -
• #22
Hey @Fisk, I just found out about retro direct bikes today. Saw this video
and impulsively got myself an e-stay bike (tbh been eyeing it for a while now) with the idea of making a retro direct bike.Have you still got pictures of your bike, it's been so long now that the pictures on the post is dead.
Here's my aforementioned impulse buy.
1 Attachment
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• #23
Hi Genghis, I just recently removed the pictures from my flickr account, since their policy is updated :-(. Appereantly I also removed all the pictures from my laptop. Otherwise I would have shown my project to you.
I made the retro direct a long time a go, it was a fun project, but the end result was not that amazing. It was built on a old motobecane frame with a welded steel plate to the the chain stay, with a cog attached to that plat, that would 'flip' the chain over. Similiar technique like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk_ZU_i_9VY&t=356s
The problem was that the chain was nearly rubbing the chain stay and the place for the flipping cog had to be in the right place for not rubbing it. I used an cog from an old rear mech and the chain was constantly falling of that cog.
So I think you made A really great choice by using a frame with no horizontal chain stay. Much more stable and looks ten times better! I have also found this video, where this guy is not using a rear mech to put the chain on tension, looks even better: https://youtu.be/luQ3VRKZiN4
Good luck building up your frame. I think retro directs are great fun. Especially cruising downtown in a lower gear riding backwards. People think: wtf is going on there, haha.
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• #24
Thanks for the pointer! Much appreciated. This will be my work commuter and shopper once it's done.
Out of curiosity, what chainring did you run with the bike? I'm planning to go with a 14t and 20t sprockets since that's what I've got.
Hi all,
I am going to build a retro direct bike, At least I will try:)
Just building it for fun.
For the people who don't know what a retro direct bike is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retro-direct
It's going to be on a low budget. I've already got a bike: A motobecane.
A low quality road bike, that does the job. It is still in a very good shape.
I've spend a total 17 pounds on the bike :-)
There she is! What a beauty. I've done some modifications already:
Wouw, that's look groovy. Yes it does.
I don't have all the parts yet to make a retro direct, I first going to use the bike with the derailleurs.
Today I am going to flip the steering, because it's way to low for me. And going to tape the other side of handlebar
Also going to order the stuff to make a retro direct: Two freewheels. And I have to find an english threaded cup for between the two freewheels.
Still have to find a nice ratio for the cogs, and find some wood to make a front and rear fender.
Thinking about putting a rear carrier on it.
Oh and sorry for my very bad English.