photo by Eelke Dekker

The transmission runs through the frame to keep it maintenance free and to keep the rider dirt free. The Dutchess has a 3 speed gear hub, but a 7 or 8 speed could also be a possibility. The cranks rotate on two SKF bearings.
The hole in the bottom bracket is visually striking, but it also had another purpose in the design. It is the legacy of the idea to give the customer the option to fit the bike after market with an electric pedal assist.
Nowadays you either buy an electric bike, or you don’t. Transforming one into the other is not simple. But here you can slide an after market motor in the crank, slide the battery pack in the oversized seat tube, and you have pedal assist for at least a range of 10 miles (for most commuters far enough). You can slide out the battery pack and fast charge it in half an hour. And you can take out the motor and battery pack and have the advantages back of a lightweight bike.

Sketches of the pedal assist