So, you make the thread a little deeper and you have like, a ratcheting type deal thread on, then you attach multiple cogs to the ratcheting mechanism. You would need some sort of device to make the chain move from cog to cog, but it would be cool, man! It would be just like a fixed gear, but not! So long as we don't call it a "freewheel" or "coasting" or "gears" or "derailer" no one will think we're losers!

You can give me all of your money now.

Maybe something like this:


(More info at: https://www.campyonly.com/history/paris-roubaix.html)

Yeah! You could even have like 8,9, or 10 cogs. And then you could get a little mechanical device to switch between them. Then, to make it even easier, you could replace those weird clunky looking levers with a smaller lever. And you could put that smaller lever on the handlebars, to make it super easy to change between the cogs...


I think you're really on to something here.

those are some freakin sweet dropouts

That's a great Idea, but not a new one.

According to the timeline at the above mentioned site, (https://www.campyonly.com/history/timeline.html) Tulio Campagnolo first had that idea in 1924, and patented the mechanism above in 1940. That there my friend is the great grandaddy of derailleurs, and if you want one, you don't gotta invent nothin'. Just go down to the bike shop, and axe 'em for one o' them newfangled gear changy thingies.

Every time i see this picture, i imagine myself trying to shift with that thing-

let see.. coming up to a big hill.
reach around behind me, fumbling for the quick release lever
loosen it, try to shift the wheel forward to get into a bigger gear, and..
bam!
i'm on the ground bleeding from the head while my rear wheel rolls backwards down the hill.

even if you could shift it, i can't figure how you'd keep the wheel centered.

that can't be intended for use on the fly

can it?

oh ****!!!! this sounds ****ing AWESOME!!!!! i wish you had thought of this before...my legs are so tired from pedaling. i can't wait til i buy one of your amazing machines!!!!what will you call it? like, ORBEA or something! **** yeah! and it can be ugly as sin, and like $5000, but really light, which is good cause evrytime i squeeze into my bibs for my monthly sunshine ride i'll be heavier and heavier!!!! weeeooohoooo!!!!

I think you guys are secretly mocking my genius idea.

Fsck you guys.

that *can't* be intended for use on the fly. you would have to be pedaling backwards to use the chain jumper thingy.

hmmm...yeah, this just sounds like a geared bike, only really primitive. ummm...good job being creative, though. i'd never thought about what a geared bike without derailers would be like, and you definitely have.

Who the **** let you start threads? Whoever that is needs to be kicked in the balls.

who's being secretive?

so I was trying to figure out how to pronouce your name and I have to ask you, is it suppoed to be "vomi-tron", like a machine, or are you "vomit ron" as in your throw up alot?

Yes it was meant to be used on the fly. I would love the chance to ride such a bike.

I tend to say, "vomi-tron" like a machine that is designed for throwing up. Also, some of you might think my invention is primitive, but you probably live near a power plant. I am a genius the likes of which is unbeknownst to peons like you.

As gorn said, that gorgeous derailer-thingy was indeed used on the fly, even in the TDF for a couple of years. I dunno if it involved pedaling backwards, but it seems plausible. They weren't FG, were they?

Edit: read it up on campyonly: this particular one was indeed a backpedaly shifter, but the later (4-speed!) version pushed the lower run of the chain, so you pedaled forwards. That was a coastie, too, though. I guess it could be made to work fixed fairly easily. It would take some seriously skilled rider to operate it.