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5 and 5 System
Original article: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/5and5.html on sheldonbrown.com
- Reproduced with the permission of John Allen and Harriet Fell — all rights reserved. The version on sheldonbrown.com is authoritative.
- Mirrored: 2026-10-06 · Last update of the original: see original
| Founder Sheldon Brown with the Prototype Left-Side Drive  |
Do you remember when a “10-speed” bicycle actually had 10 speeds? Are You Dish-Gusted with potato-chipped rear wheels? Now we're up to 10 sprockets at the rear wheel alone, and counting... Of course, that's great – more is better! But having all the sprockets on the same side of the wheel is silly in the extreme! If present trends continue, before long the right-side spokes will have to lean to the left, or else cyclists will lose their balance reaching for the right pedal! Either of these developments would put an end to cycling as we know it! To the rescue: the ShelBroCo 5 and 5 system. | |
Our revered founder, Sheldon Brown, (photo at left) proved the feasibility of a chain on the left side with his prototype system (see detail at right). Now we take his innovation to the ultimate level. With five sprockets on each side, the ShelBroCo 5-and-5 System gives you all the advantages of the classic ten-speed that you know and love, and of a modern ten-sprocket system, and much, much more. |
 A close-up view of the Prototype System
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This is it!
a world of innovation!
Mouse over the image to locate these -- and more!
It's not (only) about the Dish! Enjoy a nice, tight Q-factor for carefree cornering! No more clumsy, time-wasting double shifts! Chain angle is never a problem especially when used with S-Broco Hi-Gain Cranckx™. Drive efficiency increases by more than 15%!**
ShelBroCo DoubleCross™ spoking stabilizes your wheel against rotational and lateral torque! The 5 and 5 system is a perfect complement to ShelBroCo Symmetrispokes, because, at last, the rear wheel is truly symmetrical!
The ShelBroCo 5 and 5 system is available in configurations to match the needs of any cyclist!
- The ShelBroCo 5 and 5 Dual Corncob: Now, you can have the narrow steps between gears that every racer wants -- but wide enough at the low end that you can still tell the speeds apart!
- The ShelBroCo 5 and 5 Crossover (as shown in the illustration above) -- a classic "corncob" cluster on the left side to hammer with the peloton; larger sprockets on the right side to conquer the Col d'Aune. And -- no cross chaining, frame stress or premature bearing wear!
- The ShelBroCo 5 and 5 Half-Step System:. With exactly the same sprockets and a slightly different chainwheel on each side, the speeds interleave. Voilá -- finally -- perfect half step gearing, without the nasty double shifts!
- The ShelBroCo 5 and 5 Half Step System with Four Grannies. With today's relaxed attitudes about marriage, wedding rings are here today and gone tomorrow. With a small added chainring on each side, the ShelBroCo 5 and 5 System can have four Grannies, just like you! Overcome the nasty insecurity that results from unstable family life. Climb any hill, no matter how steep!
- NEW: The ShelBroCo 5 and 5 Quarter-Step System -- If you are exacting about cadence, why be content with only 10, 20, 27 or 30 speeds?. ShelBroCo offers 10 sprockets, 4 chainwheels, 40 speeds! Also available with four Grannies -- 44 speeds!
| The experts speak: This does it! Out of retirement! L. Armstrong, Austin, Texas Two dancing chains --quarter-step -- I've been outdone! Gears4U! -- F. Berto, San Anselmo, California Ce système à deux chaines est totalement formidable! (Translation: "it's awesome!") P. de Vivie, St. Etienne, France Jetzt Fünf und Fünf. Weg mit Sechs! ("5 and 5 now. Away with Six!")*** Wolfgang (“Zwölfgang”) Gronen, Germany I must have this! W. Weenie, Boise, Idaho |
| Building on the Work of The Inventor of the 5-and-5 System, Product W, Carrababy, Tork-Grip Universal Torque Wrench, Real MAN Saddles, Symmetrispokes, the Geomagnetic Booster, and POWerwheels, Sheldon "Genius, But Modest" Brown |
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| George Brown photo |
Order Yours Today!!!
*Guaranteed for the life of the chain, or two weeks, whichever comes first. This guarantee does not apply to any 5 and 5 system that have been used in competition, touring, commuting or off-road, nor to any that have been used on bicycles not specifically designed for the 5 and 5 system, nor for any 5 and 5 system that has been backpedaled or dropped the chain(s). Void where prohibited, prohibited where void, keep away from children and animals, use only with adequate ventilation. Note: Misuse of this product may lead to death or even serious injury!
- testing performed by Rusty Chain Laboiatories, a division of ShelBroCo
- Many bnext year,even more ultimate.
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