Why are the crank, chain, and gears on the right?

[Shaun]

Is there a technical reason for the crank and running gear placement on the right side of the bike, or is it just historical?

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[gavintc]

I would hazard a guess that it would ensure that when pushing a bike, the dirty bits were toward the road and that when dismounting you were on the clean side. This presumes that we British who drive on the left were the superior driving force in the development of bikes.

 

[mickle]

Hilldodger will know the precise dates and all but in the olden days cycles could have their trannies on either side. Eventually everyone settled for RH but it could have gone either way.

 

[just jim]

Can't think why you can't have transmission on both sides - double the power!

 

[cchapman]

Would it have something to do with the handedness of the thread. RH threads being conventional a cog on the rhs would screw itself tighter, but on the left it would screw itself off! But then, on motorcycles, where cogs were keyed or splined, the drives were on the left.

 

[byegad]

They did use both times to begin with. Then they ettled on the right!

 

[yenrod]

Is there a technical reason for the crank and running gear placement on the right side of the bike, or is it just historical?

Cheers,
Shaun

I personally feel its to do with the fact of whomever generally designed the bike was right footed !

 

[fossyant]

One of those things that 'just happened'..............

 

[Young Un]

Dont know - but wouldn't it feel odd if you had one on the left after all this time with one on the right

 

[RedBike]

If I ever build up another fixie I will be putting it on the left just for the sake of change.

 

[spandex]

You will find it hard as the lock ring and the cog will undo

 

[Hilldodger]

Would it have something to do with the handedness of the thread. RH threads being conventional a cog on the rhs would screw itself tighter, but on the left it would screw itself off! But then, on motorcycles, where cogs were keyed or splined, the drives were on the left.

That has always been considered the main reason for righthand transmission.

Some very early Saftey bikes in the mid 1880's did have left side drives but as soon as mast production of components began the right side won due to ease and cost of manufacture.

 

[RedBike]

There are ways

 

[Hilldodger]

The pedal on the chainwheel will be reversed and will unscrew all the time.

You could use a tandem left side chainwheel but then you'll hit clearance problems with the chain stays.

 

[Moose]

Can't think why you can't have transmission on both sides - double the power!

Me too