Re: [CR]Setting up a single-spd FW on a fixed hub!?

>From Sheldon Brown's website: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

You can also use two different sized fixed sprockets on a flip-flop hub. Generally I would recommend only one tooth difference in this case. I run 14 & 15 with a 42 front myself on a couple of my own bikes. Most flip-flop hubs are only threaded for a lockring on one side, but the sprocket/freewheel thread is the same, so you can screw a fixed sprocket onto the freewheel side. I'd put the smaller sprocket on the side without the lock ring, because it's less likely to come unscrewed. There are double-fixed flip-flop hubs, and, to me, this is the most desirable configuration. This arrangement is the most versatile, because you can set it up either with 1 or 2 fixed sprockets, or 1 or 2 freewheels.

Any standard track hub can also be used with a single-speed freewheel just by leaving the lockring off. The thread is the same. Sometimes people worry because the hub thread isn't as deep as a freewheel specific hub, but this is never a problem with a single-speed freewheel. Now me: I've used a single speed freewheel on my double fixed Dura Ace hub with a fairly low 42 x 18 or 63" gear and grunted up some pretty stiff climbs. However, I found that it really wasn't as much fun as riding fixed. Coasting downhill is of course, great! But I like that a fixed gear carries your foot over the dead spot when climbing and I've found I just wasn't using the freewheel. I've since replaced it with two fixed cogs, 17 and 18. So in retrospect, I have not really had a long history with a freewheel on the shorter bit of fixed threads, but did not have a problem with doing it at all. I would expect that if the threads weren't a tight fit, There would be more of a chance of stripping threads. I believe there is a difference in threading between standard Campy and EAI? threading, but I'm not familiar with it's finer points. Happy trails, Dan Artley in Parkton, Maryland USA where I've been breaking in a new B-17 narrow on the unpaved rail trail next to my home with my fixed gear. Ouch!

Archive-URL: http://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.asp?Filename=classicrendez vous.10803.0942.eml From: "Paul Williams" <castell5(AT)sympatico.ca> Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:52:11 -0400 Subject: [CR]Setting up a single-spd FW on a fixed hub!? ( http://search.bi kelist.org/query.asp?SearchString=%22Setting+up+a+single%2Dspd+FW+on+a+fi xed+hub%21%3F%22&amp;SearchPrefix=%40msgsubject&amp;SortBy=MsgDate%5Ba% 5D )

Hi all,

Some experienced advice needed here - can a single-speed freewheel be set up on one side of a fixed-fixed hub? If so, are there any issues which should be considered? Any problems?

TIA.

Paul Williams,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada