A fixie bike is so different in loads of ways to a geared cycle. One amongst the primary differences is the installing of a flip flop hubto the rear wheel. Of course on your normal bike the rear wheel cog has multiple cogs, usually with a derailleur type gearing mechanism as well as the ability to freewheel the way you want. A fixed gear hub includes one cog. You go at a single gear and speed is determined by how quickly you can turn those pedals. If you wish to alter the gearing you should change the hub assembly entirely.
Now here the attractiveness of the flip flop hubcomes into its own. The flip flop rear tyre has two cogs on it. Therefore you've one each side. This flip flop wheelset can do a number of things, depending on the set up on your fixed gear bike.
Firstly you can have two fixed gear cogs. Out comes the tire, flip it over and hey presto you have a different gearing to fit with the terrain or situation. Saves changing whole cogs in their entirety I believe. Additionally saves carrying around all to equipments and spare cogs to do with it as well. Secondly you can have a flip flop hubwheel with a gearing cog on the drive side and also a freewheel on the opposite. Just flip it around and you've the freewheel, that the hard core fixie is without as the standard.
If you're setting up a flip flop hub, then the most typical way is with a fixed gear setting on 1 side of the hub and then a freewheel sitting on the other. The freewheel gearing is normally larger that the fixed gear. It is all personal choice of course, but that difference is often only by 1 to 2 teeth setting. That is all you require really in most situations.
Therefore what are the advantages of a flip flop hub? Well it really comes into its own as part of a flip flop rim set up when taking longer rides that involve lots of slopes or steep climbs with two-sided down glides. This allows you to freewheel and turn those pedals the way you want on the down ride. Very useful for purging the lactic acid build up. This really saves on the energy if you have a long way to go to home or your next stop point for the night time.
So if you buy a flip flop hub you must take into account which set up you'll select. Double fixed gear has its benefits to some, particularly over hilly terrain where a second larger gear makes those large climbs less difficult. Or you can go for a freewheel/fixed gear flip flop wheelset. That means it helps with climbs but also you don't have to pedal your life away downhill. You might have had that beautiful feeling of biking it so hard as you descend, that the co-ordination goes and your foot slips. Nothing concentrates the mind like a steel pedal into the shins at speed.
Now here the attractiveness of the flip flop hubcomes into its own. The flip flop rear tyre has two cogs on it. Therefore you've one each side. This flip flop wheelset can do a number of things, depending on the set up on your fixed gear bike.
Firstly you can have two fixed gear cogs. Out comes the tire, flip it over and hey presto you have a different gearing to fit with the terrain or situation. Saves changing whole cogs in their entirety I believe. Additionally saves carrying around all to equipments and spare cogs to do with it as well. Secondly you can have a flip flop hubwheel with a gearing cog on the drive side and also a freewheel on the opposite. Just flip it around and you've the freewheel, that the hard core fixie is without as the standard.
If you're setting up a flip flop hub, then the most typical way is with a fixed gear setting on 1 side of the hub and then a freewheel sitting on the other. The freewheel gearing is normally larger that the fixed gear. It is all personal choice of course, but that difference is often only by 1 to 2 teeth setting. That is all you require really in most situations.
Therefore what are the advantages of a flip flop hub? Well it really comes into its own as part of a flip flop rim set up when taking longer rides that involve lots of slopes or steep climbs with two-sided down glides. This allows you to freewheel and turn those pedals the way you want on the down ride. Very useful for purging the lactic acid build up. This really saves on the energy if you have a long way to go to home or your next stop point for the night time.
So if you buy a flip flop hub you must take into account which set up you'll select. Double fixed gear has its benefits to some, particularly over hilly terrain where a second larger gear makes those large climbs less difficult. Or you can go for a freewheel/fixed gear flip flop wheelset. That means it helps with climbs but also you don't have to pedal your life away downhill. You might have had that beautiful feeling of biking it so hard as you descend, that the co-ordination goes and your foot slips. Nothing concentrates the mind like a steel pedal into the shins at speed.
