SRAM Torpedo Hub

Wouldnt that lumpy screw assembly on the ye old hub mess up the wheel balance somewhat? Especially as itd probably be made of steel.

To be fair its not far from the center of rotation of the wheel. Not ideal though.

I do a 13 mile ride both ways to work and about 99% of the ride is dead flat with the other 1% being a stupid great dent in the surface of the planet. I don't even mind the climb back up half as much as the decent. I'd easily live with the extra 200g to be able to freewheel down that hill every day but getting off the bike and twiddling it with a screwdriver every time? Seriously?! This thing would be great with a bar mounted shifter but as it is it's pointless. Flip flop.

Dug this thread up because I finally thought of a good reason to get one! Sprockets are £3.95, meaning with a chain it's still less than a tenner, ideal for a high milage low maintenance bike (If you can put up with the sprocket having "play"!).

Dug this thread up because I finally thought of a good reason to get one! Sprockets are £3.95, meaning with a chain it's still less than a tenner, ideal for a high milage low maintenance bike (If you can put up with the sprocket having "play"!).

Still not convinced
You could set-up an on-one with freewheel and sprocket, in different ratios should you wish, for around the same amount. Except alot lighter. Difficult to translate weight to money, as it depends on the owner, but I am usually willing the pay a fair bit more for less weight.

more thoughts....

....I'm currently getting into my trail riding, and notice sections that would be fun fixed, and sections that would be too technical for me fixed. I really like the idea of a disc* braked bike which can run both fixed and freewheel. Sounds like fun.

....Also, the 29er I'm currently finishing off is belt driven, which may experiance more advantage from having a torpedo hub. It would be great to be able to switch from freeewheel to fixed, without removing the wheel, as setting up the correct belt tension looks to be a bit of a PITA. Most people i've corresponded with, with belt drives SS MTNs, are weight weenies like myself though, so I cant see it taking off there either.

(* sorry to bang on about disc brakes, but why free up one side of the hub and not use it. Grrrr!)

Points heard, but on a daily cut through the winter shit bike, i wouldn't really give a fuck about weight (too much), if my running gear could be replaced for under a tenner, obviously there is an initial greater outlay, but it's a similar difference as buying LED lights over halogen.

if it was controlled by a bar end shifter id be very interested. i do all my riding in cornwall and kent/surrey, and i enjoy riding fixed up the hills and on the flats, but it can just get annoying on the downhills. i cant take the lines i would prefer at the speeds i could if i had a freewheel.

obviously riding a fixed wheel has its limitations and isnt really meant for this kind of riding, but i still enjoy in none the less. but part of me would love to see an 8speed sturmey archer hub where you could switch fixed/free on the fly.