Yesterday I picked up a Ross Eurotour at a garage sale with the intention of stripping it down to the frame for single speed conversion as it has steel wheels and the rear was in pretty bad shape. When I got it home and was about to start in on it, I realized it had a cupped BB and not quite as ideal for the conversion as I had first thought. So I decided to salvaged it as a geared beater. I changed out the rear wheel and got everthing working mechanically and then I noticed something else I had'nt caught initially. The front chairings freewheel on the cranks. I thought this to be pretty odd and can't really see any purpose it serves. Anyone familiar with this?

It sounds like a Shimano FFS (front freewheel system). I've only seen these on some Schwinn models, but it is possible that Ross used it also. If you have the original rear wheel, you will probably see that the cluster is fixed (not a freewheel). The idea is that when coasting, the chain would continue to move, allowing you to shift whether you were pedaling or not.

Only partly 'fixed'. The freewheel for these was designed to have enough friction so that the chain and chainrings would normally continue turning while coasting. But if something jammed the chain the freewheel would still have the normal ratchet action.

I have a Ross mixte that also has the FFS
It is not equipped with the positron derailleur as some were. Still works like a charm...though it takes getting used to!

Panasonic also had them in either 1976 or 1977 on the Tourist 10.

Panasonic also had them

Didn't know that!!! interesting!

I had a Schwinn with the Positron/FFS system. It worked ok and was fun in a quirky way.

See, I learned something new today also! Thanks!

I picked up a Varsity with the Positron/FFS in early spring, but haven't touched it yet so I didn't know that was how they were supposed to work. Rust has turned it into a fixed cluster.

you can shift whilst not pedaling.

... but only if you have enough speed to permit you to coast until the shift is complete. The big fallacy of the front freewheel system is that it offers no benefit whatsoever if you panic stop or wait too late to downshift on a climb, which are the two most common "gotchas" with derailleur transmissions. It died a well-deserved early death as an evolutionary dead end.

I have a FF on my Ross Eurotour too, and I love it. While it isn't a necessity, it is nice to not have to pedal while shifting when you're going downhill. I just hope it doesn't wear out antime soon, though-no company that I know of still makes the FF System! I'd be limited to bike shops with NOS.

I would seriously love to see Shimano re-introduce the idea with upgraded parts, though. I think it could become pretty popular if the upgraded version was put on MTBs-it would be a great feature not to have to pedal while shifting when I'd be going up or down a steep, rocky hill. And weight wouldn't be too much of an issue.

Save the FF System, though-even if you don't ride the bike, you can always keep it as an oddity or as a great example of how cycling technology changes.