Chicago-based nonprofit World Bicycle Relief (WBR) doesn't distribute just any type of bicycle – it distributes bicycles meant to navigate the unimproved roads and rough terrain of developing nations, empowering populations to access healthcare, education and economic opportunities that would…

World Bicycle Relief explains that its Buffalo bicycles are designed to be “extremely durable to serve the needs of people who travel long distances over rugged terrain with heavy cargo in some of the world’s harshest environments.” With that in mind, simplicity and ruggedness are absolutely critical, and the redundant chain system is designed to provide a high/low gear solution that involves as few breakable, externally mounted parts as possible. These bikes are being delivered to places that don’t have access to bicycle shops or spare part overnighting, so making something that’s as tough and easy to repair as possible is an essential part of WBR’s job.

  • walter_wiggles@lemmy.nzEnglish
    40·
    2 days ago

    I don’t mean to brag, but I read the article. All the comments talking about chain breaking are missing the actual point. The original bike was a fixed gear. Having two chains allows this model to have 2 gears to aid with hills or carrying cargo.

    Why 2 chains you ask? Imagine you wanted to have a two gear bike with as few moving parts as possible. Chain repair is also relatively easy with a simple tool.

    • kubica@fedia.io
      11·
      2 days ago

      Apparently they avoid even the cables.

      the rider simply backpedals half a revolution to activate the switchable freewheel from high to low and vice versa

      I have doubts about how that behaves going down a slope, I would like to see it in action.

      (Edit: Reword)

      • leds@feddit.dkEnglish
        3·
        16 hours ago

        And redundancy, if one chain breaks you can still get home (or to someone with tools) and repair

      • Piece_Maker@feddit.ukEnglish
        3·
        23 hours ago

        Kickback-shifted hubs and coaster brakes have been a thing absolutely forever and they all perform perfectly fine downhill, not sure why this would be any different!

      • sping@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
        5·
        1 day ago

        Presumable complexity and therefore cost and reliability, but given the simplicity and mature robustness of 2 and 3 speed hubs I’m a little surprised this is truly superior and worthwhile.

      • Riskable@programming.devEnglish
        3·
        1 day ago

        The problem is controlling the gearbox. In order to do that you need lots of parts from steel cables to crimps (that go on the ends of said cables) to derailleurs to levers and shifters and lots of other things to route the cables.

        By only having two gears–and a simple mechanism to switch between them–this bike is able to avoid all that complexity. Not to mention the tools needed to repair said complexity.

        A chain link remover is a tiny little thing that can be strapped (or taped) in a pouch and kept on the bike along with extra (tiny) chain links.

        The thing they really need to work on next is the tubes. When I was really big into mountain biking I never had to repair my chain but I always carried two extra tubes (and a pump!) when riding because I had two flats on long rides more than once.