Racycle Pacemaker road bicycle (c.1900 USA)
A coaster-brake bike made by Miami Cycle Company of Middletown, Ohio,
with special crank hanger and 40-tooth inch-pitch front sprocket.
The big chainwheel makes it look like a bike for paced racing,
but it's designed to be a more efficient roadster originally with fenders.
That efficiency comes from the bottom bracket's outboard bearings,
and large sprockets front and rear to reduce chain friction.
The original chain is beautiful and unique: 1/8" width, not typical 3/16".
With 26-inch wheels and available inch-pitch cogs of 11 --14 tooth,
the gear ratios are 3.6 to 2.8, suitable for a flat wind-swept landscape.
A form of restoration has begun... gonna need help
Original Racycle chain compared to typical block chain.
Photos from racycle.blogspot.com.
This bike was made between 1898 and 1900, it doesn't have original wood wheels, fenders, nor chain.
It came with a Diamond 1" x 3/16" roller chain and a 10-tooth 3/16" inch-pitch cog.
Cleaning components, preparing for next step.
