Shaft-driven bicycle - video and photo

[Jon]

Shaft-driven bicycle. Here with a bevel gear:



30-second video of one in action:

More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaft-driven_bicycle

Previously:

Unusual custom bicycle GIF
Railroad track bicycle - photo

[Frank S]

The first pic looks to have been a bike made in the late 1800's I remember seeing one in a Transportation museum somewhere I think it had a clickity-clackity sprag clutch for a coaster doubt if they were immensely popular probably too expensive to manufacture given the technology of the time.

[bruce.desertrat]

Neat, I agree with Frank S, the first one looks like one of the bicycle mechanisms in my Hiscox "Mechanical Devices and Movements" books.

[neilabourjaily]

No sprocket to catch my pant leg in. And a few less moving parts than a chain, I think. Looks like a right design to me.

[WyoGreen]

I have a friend who has one of these, only his has wood rims, and I seem to remember the gears were more enclosed.

Steve

[Jon]

Tank tread bike.

[Jon]

[Frank S]

Well he can go from a high boy to a chopper on the roll but can he return to hi boy without stopping. Maybe all he would have to do would be to grab the front brake and lean forward.
This to me looks like one of those things that while cool to watch and probably to ride I can actually see one other aspect that would be useful.
Riding a bicycle with a fixed seat position gets tiresome at times so you stand up to relieve certain muscles.
This bike you could almost stand while sitting
One thing I did note though is the seat is still adjusted wrong for his legs

[Jon]

Well he can go from a high boy to a chopper on the roll but can he return to hi boy without stopping.

I wondered about this too. Found a different one doing this!

[Frank S]

they could also add another smaller gear to the pedal assembly to have a wider range of gearing but this would require a 2nd shifter just like the current 18 speed 2 derailer systems