Possible pedaling methods without the use of a chain?

This is a curious question.

If you are making it for display only, I really like wle's idea of making shaft drive. If it isn't bearing a load at least you could turn the cranks and make the wheel spin.

Another idea is making the gears into pulleys and use a belt drive. Does it have to be 100% wood? If you are making it to be ride-able, making pulleys for belt drive would be easier to build to be effective than making gears that would hold up to your weight pedaling.

Have you considered using bamboo for the frame? There are actual bike frames made from bamboo. It is light an strong. http://www.calfeedesign.com/products/bamboo/

When you are done post another question with a picture of your end result. Very clever project.

Long ago, gears were made out of wood. You could cut them out with a band saw. You can use an even number of intermediate gears at any convenient size between the pedals and the rear wheel to transfer driving force as far as you need to.

HTH

Built one like the early bikes where they just walk. If you attach the pedals to the wheel build a Penny Farthing.

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pulleys from wood

belt from 'wood fibers'

hemp rope or sisal or something

if that is 'wood'

or shaft drive

wood gears and shaft

beveled 45 degrees

wooden 'bearings'

it 'woodent' long but it is not on the front wheel, not a chain, and it;s wood

prob pretty hard to cut those gears

prob end up pretty primitive unless you have pretty good 3D cad software and a laser cutter

wle

I agree with John, build it penny farthing style, as a bonus for that style the frame is simpler.

I think that would look pretty cool and definitely retro!

You can fall in love but later you with definitely want to nail that *** know what I'm saying

you dont have to use a chain, you can use a belt, but if everythin has to be made out of wood, you could make it shaft driven

Apparently you didn't read my response to your other question about wood bicycles:

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/04/bike-built-of...