Originally Posted by
Canaboo
I was just going to ask why they don't just run the chain directly to the front wheel like the last pic shows.. Any reason for all the methods of running chains to every point of the bicycle before finally linking the pedals to the wheel?
In the yellow bike, the entire front end moves. It's a "moving bottom bracket front wheel drive recumbent." If I'm not mistaken, Tom Traylor patented that about 25 years ago, but Cruzbike has been the ones selling them lately.
The other designs have a fixed boom - so you have to add an idler near the headtube. At that pivot point, the chain twists as you turn.
The fastest bike in the world* is the latter design, but it doesn't have to turn very much
