What Is Meant By A Flip Flop Hub

By Daniel Turbin


A fixie bike is very different in many ways to a geared cycle. Among the major differences is the installing of a flip flop hubto the back wheel. Of course on your standard bike the rear tire cog has several cogs, typically with a derailleur type gearing mechanism and also the ability to freewheel the way you choose. A fixed gear hub includes one cog. You go at a single gear and speed is determined by how quick you can turn those pedals. If you want to change the gearing you must change the hub assembly fully.

Now this is where the attractiveness of the flip flop hubcomes into its own. The flip flop rear tyre includes two cogs on it. So you have 1 each side. This flip flop wheelset could do multiple things, depending on the set up on your fixed gear bike.

Firstly you could have two fixed gear cogs. Out comes the tire, flip it over and hey presto you've a different gearing to fit the terrain or situation. Saves changing whole cogs in their entirety I think. Additionally saves carrying around all to tools and spare cogs to do with it as well. Secondly you could have a flip flop hubtyre with a gearing cog on the drive side and also a freewheel on the opposite. Simply flip it around and you've the freewheel, that the hard core fixie is without as the regular.

If you're establishing a flip flop hub, then the most popular way is with a fixed gear setting on one side of the hub and then a freewheel sitting on the other side. The freewheel gearing is normally larger than the fixed gear. It is all personal preference obviously, but that difference is usually only by one to two teeth setting. That's everything you need really in most circumstances.

Therefore what are the advantages of a flip flop hub? Well it actually comes into its own as part of a flip flop rim set up while taking longer rides that include lots of slopes or steep climbs with reciprocal down glides. This allows you to freewheel and turn those pedals as you want on the down ride. Very beneficial for purging the lactic acid build up. This really saves on the energy if you've a long way to go to home or your next stop point for the nighttime.

So if you buy a flip flop hub you must take into consideration which set up you will opt for. Double fixed gear has its benefits to some, particularly over hilly terrain where a 2nd larger gear makes those large climbs a lot easier. Or you can go for a freewheel/fixed gear flip flop wheelset. That means it helps with climbs however also you don't have to pedal your life away downhill. You may have had that beautiful feeling of biking it so hard as you descend, that the coordination goes and your foot slips. Nothing focuses the mind like a steel pedal into the shins at speed.



Comments

0 Responses to "What Is Meant By A Flip Flop Hub"

Posting Komentar

Labels

PMII KOMFEIS