Retrorockit
Dirt Disciple
These are both obsolete Shimano technologies. I've used them both (separately and together). There are some similarities, and a couple differences. I'm still using them on current bikes. A 2004 MTB Ebike conversion, and a 2004 XC softtail converted to 1x11.
WTH is it?
Front Freewheel System (FFS) was offered by Shimano/Schwinn and a few others in the 70's. Metal wires for push pull shifting and gear indexing at the derailleur. Shifting without pedaling was the main benefit. The 5 speed freewheel had a slip clutch for each cog in case the chain got jammed for safety. Weight, complexity, and a certain entrenched snobbery about "proper cycling" meant it didn't last long. MTBs and ebikes didn't exist yet. "A solution looking for a problem" was Sheldon Browns opinion.
Rapid Rise is Shimano's name for a low normal rear derailleur. Front derailleurs are all low normal AFAIK. Low normal means cable is release for down shifts. The opposite of typical rear derailleurs. This doesn't actually allows shifting w/o pedaling. But it does allow the riders to preselect a down shift w/o pedaling, or even when stopped. The shift actually happens the next time the rider pedals. The shifter typically works backwards. Both the spring load and the numbering of the gears. This was common in many Shimano pruduct lines up to about the 9 speed era. IMO it favors twist shifters to acommodate multiple downshifts at once. Shimano RR Revoshifters ended at 8 speed.
Is it still relevant?
Rapid Rise- still has a following on some 1x bikes. Commuters for shift when stopped, and DH bikes to down shift w/o pedaling. Proper 8s revoshifters are getting scarce. I nver stopped using it. 1x8 works just fine onmy Ebike, and it was already there.
FFS from Shimano has been long dead and forgotten. But Shcwinn's volume of production means bikes and parts are not too hard to find in the US. But the technology is still making an appearance in MTB, and Trials bikes.
Intend Magic Cranks offers a freewheeling crankset (with a magical price tag to match). But their solution for the rear freewheel is to lash the cassette to the spokes with a small zip tie for a breakaway safety solution. I can confirm that this is all that's needed. They strongly recommend a chain guide at the top. I do too. if you can keep the chain on this offers real time up and downshifts any time the bike is moving. No reverse pattern shifters, or derailleurs required. Basically any 1x bike can use this. Again twist shifters provide more benefit with this.
BMX/Trials, and even Tandems get into the act becuase they offer cranks that accept the rear freewheel flipped around to run on the front. Typcally single speed or IGH bikes. There are "toothless" freewheels with a flange to bolt chain rings on. The trials freewheels typically have many more points of engagemant (clicks) than BMX freewheels. On tandems the stoker with this can take a break every now and then. The real time shifting means that if you level the cranks for clearance then shift into the lowest gear the derailleur cage will be pulled up out of harms way also. The clicks at crank speed also allow finding the right gear by sound when ready to resume pedaling. On my Ebike ot put an end to tossing the chain on upshifts when leaned over in turns. It loos like I'm the problem FFS was looking for.
WTH is it?
Front Freewheel System (FFS) was offered by Shimano/Schwinn and a few others in the 70's. Metal wires for push pull shifting and gear indexing at the derailleur. Shifting without pedaling was the main benefit. The 5 speed freewheel had a slip clutch for each cog in case the chain got jammed for safety. Weight, complexity, and a certain entrenched snobbery about "proper cycling" meant it didn't last long. MTBs and ebikes didn't exist yet. "A solution looking for a problem" was Sheldon Browns opinion.
Rapid Rise is Shimano's name for a low normal rear derailleur. Front derailleurs are all low normal AFAIK. Low normal means cable is release for down shifts. The opposite of typical rear derailleurs. This doesn't actually allows shifting w/o pedaling. But it does allow the riders to preselect a down shift w/o pedaling, or even when stopped. The shift actually happens the next time the rider pedals. The shifter typically works backwards. Both the spring load and the numbering of the gears. This was common in many Shimano pruduct lines up to about the 9 speed era. IMO it favors twist shifters to acommodate multiple downshifts at once. Shimano RR Revoshifters ended at 8 speed.
Is it still relevant?
Rapid Rise- still has a following on some 1x bikes. Commuters for shift when stopped, and DH bikes to down shift w/o pedaling. Proper 8s revoshifters are getting scarce. I nver stopped using it. 1x8 works just fine onmy Ebike, and it was already there.
FFS from Shimano has been long dead and forgotten. But Shcwinn's volume of production means bikes and parts are not too hard to find in the US. But the technology is still making an appearance in MTB, and Trials bikes.
Intend Magic Cranks offers a freewheeling crankset (with a magical price tag to match). But their solution for the rear freewheel is to lash the cassette to the spokes with a small zip tie for a breakaway safety solution. I can confirm that this is all that's needed. They strongly recommend a chain guide at the top. I do too. if you can keep the chain on this offers real time up and downshifts any time the bike is moving. No reverse pattern shifters, or derailleurs required. Basically any 1x bike can use this. Again twist shifters provide more benefit with this.
BMX/Trials, and even Tandems get into the act becuase they offer cranks that accept the rear freewheel flipped around to run on the front. Typcally single speed or IGH bikes. There are "toothless" freewheels with a flange to bolt chain rings on. The trials freewheels typically have many more points of engagemant (clicks) than BMX freewheels. On tandems the stoker with this can take a break every now and then. The real time shifting means that if you level the cranks for clearance then shift into the lowest gear the derailleur cage will be pulled up out of harms way also. The clicks at crank speed also allow finding the right gear by sound when ready to resume pedaling. On my Ebike ot put an end to tossing the chain on upshifts when leaned over in turns. It loos like I'm the problem FFS was looking for.
Last edited:
