Flip-Fop Hub - worth it?

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  • Getting a new rear hub built and playing with the idea of getting a flip-flop hub. Do those who have one use it much as its designed or is it just an extra bit of kit to lug around?

  • fixed/fixed or fixed/free wheel?

  • Better to have and not need.
    Good for trying out ratios, having a fast/trick gear.
    Good for going down Herne Hill and I can swap to a 13 sprocket for the track.

  • fixed/fixed or fixed/free wheel? - either or

    just don't want to end up spending more money for more stuff that i don't really need hence interest in others experiences

  • Depends what sort or hub you want anyway.

    I wanted a cheap one, so I got a double-fixed cheapo zenith hub. I wasnt too fussed about having a flipflop. It's my understanding that you can screw a freewheel on a fixed thread (although some say its not the best idea) but obviously the reverse isnt really possible. In reality though, I've not found I've wanted a freewheel, and if you're cycling round one place/town you'll find a ratio you like and stick with it. The only time you'll really need to switch is if you're going round somewhere with radically different landscape / going to a track as jos said.

    Having a flip-flop hub seems elegant, but flipping it is still a faff and you won't bother most of the time.

  • You can screw a fixed cog(sans lockring) onto the freewheel side which will be fine if you are running it at the track or if you run it on the streets with a brake.
    Brakeless is a no-no but.

  • Flip-fop? Sounds like something rumoured to happen at all boys boarding schools 30 years ago...

  • I'd always go fixed/fixed because:

    1) Can screw a freewheel onto the fixed side.
    2) If you head down to Herne Hill you can have your race/training gear on one side, you're getting to HH gear on the other.
    3) Got a spare set of lockring threads if you strip a side
    4) Got a symmetric hub so will build a stronger wheel easier.

  • pip I'd always go fixed/fixed because:

    1) Can screw a freewheel onto the fixed side.
    2) If you head down to Herne Hill you can have your race/training gear on one side, you're getting to HH gear on the other.
    3) Got a spare set of lockring threads if you strip a side
    4) Got a symmetric hub so will build a stronger wheel easier.

    +1

    Bought a flip-flop when I first went fixed, now have a useless freewheel that was last used two years ago. Rims are good though so can't be bothered to rebuild.

  • You can get fixed fixed hubs for 15 quid. How much can you get a hub for with threading only on one side, like the phill wood track hub.

  • +1. it's not about price, nor an extra bit of kit to lug around (it's at most a sprocket and a lockring!)

    fixed fixed perfect for polo too.

    it's just an option, if you don't think you need it then choose the hub on it's other merits.

  • pip 4) Got a symmetric hub so will build a stronger wheel easier.

    i often wondered if that was the case. thereotically stronger than a track hub?? as it's more in line??

  • flip flops are track hubs too, just that they are symmetrical and symmetry means even spoke tension on each side thus stronger wheel, got nothing to do with hub strength.

  • yeah, i worded my post badly. i meant in the build, not the hub itself.

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Flip-Fop Hub - worth it?

Posted by Avatar for Gustav @Gustav

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