Is there any changes I could do to my cycle so that I can make it move backwards?Just a question out of eagerness.
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3If you have a "fixie" you can pedal it backwards. But your standard derailleur-style bike cannot be pedaled backwards, nor can the old-style "coaster brake" bike.– Daniel R HicksCommented Dec 30, 2013 at 16:14
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You could also do something like youtube.com/watch?v=70O8XZyycWk– BatmanCommented Dec 30, 2013 at 16:33
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2Before the ubiquity of derailleurs there were bikes that ran one gear forwards and a climbing gear backwards. (Called a Retro-Direct en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retro-direct) I'd recommend befriending/becoming a machinist.– WTHarperCommented Dec 30, 2013 at 16:54
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1I suppose with an idler pulley mounted in a strategic place (and maybe a 9 speed chain) you might be able to run the chain in a figure-8 allowing you to move forward by pedaling backwards. Stranger things have happened.– WTHarperCommented Dec 30, 2013 at 16:57
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1Like frankb.us/gears ?– BatmanCommented Dec 30, 2013 at 17:04
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5 Answers
To sum up all the comment answers, which provide you with a wealth of options:
Some parts of these look rather easy to fabricate such as the idler arms or connecting two forks together. The rear hub is going to be the most difficult part since you have to build two sets of engagement together and fit it in the space of a regular hub.
A British gentleman by the name of Drew Buck actually rode the 2007 Paris-Brest-Paris (a mere 770 miles (approx.) in 90 hours) on a 2-speed 1913 Hirondelle, with a low gear engaged by pedalling backwards in the Retro-Direct style.
Links to articles on the ride are here, which has a diagram explaining how the gearing works, and here, which is a link to a BBC article on the ride.
You can watch it here on 0:35 and on 1:05
Just to actually answer the question, even though it's not as interesting as some of the comments: yes, you can probably convert your bike to a fixed gear, and then if you can learn to steer backwards and not fall over, you will be able to pedal it backwards.
There are several questions about fixed gear conversions, here's a starting point: Planning on building a fixed-gear/single-speed from an old Schwinn World. What new parts will I need?
