Tour de France tech question

[Dogtrousers]

I remember my dad talking about riding a bike that you had to back pedal to change gear. At the time I thought he was referring to hub gears, where you ease off or stop (but don't actually back pedal) when changing gear. Now I think it was probably one of the 1930s derailleurs. It was one of his long convoluted stories possibly involving newts. Sadly he's no longer around to ask for clarification.

 

[Smokin Joe]

The last rider to win the Tour using toe clips and straps was Stephen Roche in 1987.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I remember my dad talking about riding a bike that you had to back pedal to change gear. At the time I thought he was referring to hub gears, where you ease off or stop (but don't actually back pedal) when changing gear. Now I think it was probably one of the 1930s derailleurs. It was one of his long convoluted stories possibly involving newts. Sadly he's no longer around to ask for clarification.

Kickback gear hubs were used quite well into the 50's or later in the States. I seem to remember a Sting Ray in the 60's having such gearing.

 

[Gravity Aided]

In the 1960's , I also owned a newt. I fear a Siamese cat may have eaten him.

 

[Stompier]

The last rider to win the Tour using toe clips and straps was Stephen Roche in 1987.

Sean Kelly stayed with toe clips right up until 1993.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Kickback gear hubs were used quite well into the 50's or later in the States. I seem to remember a Sting Ray in the 60's having such gearing.

I didn't know about those. The events he described would have been pre war UK. Some sort of misfortune befell him because he did or did not back pedal when changing gear.

I seem to remember the newts story involved transporting one or more newts inside a headlamp (that may possibly have been a carbide lamp so would have had a water reservoir of some sort).

 

[Smokin Joe]

Sean Kelly stayed with toe clips right up until 1993.

And was almost certainly the last rider to win a classic using them.

Considering he was the last of the top riders to make the switch to clipless he later said that once you'd used them you would never go back.

 

[Lozz360]

I remember my dad talking about riding a bike that you had to back pedal to change gear. At the time I thought he was referring to hub gears, where you ease off or stop (but don't actually back pedal) when changing gear. Now I think it was probably one of the 1930s derailleurs. It was one of his long convoluted stories possibly involving newts. Sadly he's no longer around to ask for clarification.

I reckon your dad was talking about retro-direct gearing https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retro-direct
You would pedal backwards and keep pedaling backwards to use a different gear.

 

[cyberknight]

they did have gear changer on the seat stays at one point
https://www.bikeraceinfo.com/photo-galleries/derailleurs-1.html

 

[Andy in Germany]

Elder Son is making the presentation about now. We'll see what he says when he gets back...

 

[Andy in Germany]

He just got back. German grades go from 1 ("Very good") through 2 ("Good") 3,4,5, to 6 ("Meh...")

He's got a 1.3.

For reasons unknown they then round grades up to the nearest 0.5 so it will be recorded as a 1.

Many thanks to posters above for the help. I think it made a big difference to have the links to find information as he as getting a bit flummoxed...

 

[Dogtrousers]

I reckon your dad was talking about retro-direct gearing https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retro-direct
You would pedal backwards and keep pedaling backwards to use a different gear.

Could be, but from what I've read these were probably a bit before his era - the stories in question were 1930s, and retro direct was more turn-of-the-century.

they did have gear changer on the seat stays at one point
https://www.bikeraceinfo.com/photo-galleries/derailleurs-1.html

Campagnolo Corsa. Moved the whole wheel back and forwards to maintain chain tension. A beautifully bonkers design. I've read that they weren't all that popular with riders, but I love the fact that he's done away with the need for a chain tension pulley.

He's got a 1.3.

Good stuff! (edit: or should I say Herzliche Glückwünsche! )
Courtesy of google translate

 

[randynewmanscat]

The last rider to win the Tour using toe clips and straps was Stephen Roche in 1987.

"Alfredo Binda Extra" toe straps.

 

[Will Spin]

Elder son should get points deducted for the parental assistance!

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Elder son should get points deducted for the parental assistance!

For using available resources?