Why Fixed/SS hub instead of Fixed / Fixed?

SImple question (I have UTFS , but got no specific results)

Just asking for anyones preference or reason why they'd get a Fixed / SS flip flop hub rather than a Fixed / Fixed.

If you can put a freewheel on one side of a Fixed / FIxed hub then what are the reasons for needing a Fixed / SS hub ?

I'm looking to build a Fixed / SS wheel for now, but thinking having the option to fit two Fixed sprockets at a later date would be preferable.

I bought a fixed/free hub first time round for the simple reason that a) I wanted the option to use a freewheel and b) I had no idea you could screw a freewheel onto a fixed hub.

I suspect that most people do not realise that you can run a freewheel on a fixed/fixed.

I bought a fixed/free hub first time round for the simple reason that a) I wanted the option to use a freewheel and b) I had no idea you could screw a freewheel onto a fixed hub.

I suspect that most people do not realise that you can run a freewheel on a fixed/fixed.

I didn't know that, for example. But when you think about it, it makes sense.

I ordered the hub, shop called me to tell me it had arrived.

Went to pick it up, chap asked me why I had bothered waiting for fixed/free when I could have had fixed/fixed more quickly.

Explanation of freewheel on fixed/fixed hub followed.

If you were going to hammer the freewheel a lot, presumably having more thread in contact would be longer lasting (say for MTB or BMX) than having a bit of the freewheel's thread unused, overhanging where the fixed lockring thread is.

That makes sense also.

I would think that with the freewheel spun down tight (as it would be after the first few rides) that it would sit pretty snugly so I'm not sure how much of an issue it would be.

That said I am not that Danny MacAskill chap, so have no idea about the loads that trials etc would put through a freewheel.

much more sensible to buy fixed fixed really, they you've got your options open.

Skully, Thats unrealistic... People like Chris Hoy are unable to strip a fixed gear thread... So is anyone else.. :)

But on a fixed cog, the cog covers all of the thread and is not partially unsupported. You *can *put a freewheel on a fixed thread, but if you are serious about the amount of use you are going to put a freewheel to, then yuo are better off with the proper tool for the job.

Interesting, I was wondering this only a couple of days ago after seeing a fixed/fixed hub quite cheap and no fix/free hubs to be seen. Cheers

To be honest, around London, it won't make any difference so if you can get a fixed/fixed hub cheap, buy it and ride your bike.

from the surly site:

First, fixed gear hubs have less thread length than freewheels. This means that while fixie cogs center than chain over the threads, freewheels put the chain slightly outboard of thread center, putting more stress on the threads than a cog does, so you can potentially strip the threads from your Fix/Fix using a freewheel.