Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site umcp-cs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!seismo!rlgvax!cvl!umcp-cs!fred From: fred@umcp-cs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.bicycle Subject: Why a front freewheel? Message-ID: <5882@umcp-cs.UUCP> Date: Tue, 13-Mar-84 17:08:53 EST Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.5882 Posted: Tue Mar 13 17:08:53 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 14-Mar-84 19:51:04 EST Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept. Lines: 21 This weekend I was looking at a Lotus ``America'' at a local bike shop. This model has the ratchet mechanism located between the crankarms and the front sprocket, rather than the more traditional location on the rear axle. This, of course, means that the entire chain & sprocket assembly is in motion whenever the bike is. The salesman insisted that this is a wonderful advantage, but I don't see it that way. If you assume (probably incorrectly) that you spend roughly half the time coasting, this would double the wear on the entire chain assembly. Even worse, if a stray limb or pants leg were to get caught in the chain, (yes, I use those little metal clips, but accidents can still happen.) it would be pulled into the front sprocket by the momentum of the bike & rider, possibly jamming and locking the rear wheel throwing you into a skid. With the ratchet in the rear axle, if something got caught in the chain, only the pedals lock, and you can backpedal to release whatever is stuck. Am I just being paranoid, or is there really an advantage to having the freewheel mechanism on the front sprocket rather than the rear? - Fred Blonder harpo!seismo!umcp-cs!fred