Why are higher-end freewheels (cassettes) so much louder when coasting?
07-31-20, 12:00 AM
#51
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,881
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4783 Post(s)
Liked 3,903 Times
in
2,539 Posts
not necessarily - an old friend who used to race told me that he would listen for gear changes when the terrain or pace didn’t warrant one, since it usually signaled that the guy behind was either tiring (maybe time to attack) or preparing to make a move (time to watch for an attack). Any time you can avoid giving your opponents free information is good
This modern stuff. Tell the whole world! I don't get it.
Ben
Last edited by 79pmooney; 07-31-20 at 10:56 AM. Reason: typo
07-31-20, 08:21 AM
#53
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,993
Bikes: Argon 18 Gallium, BH G7, Rocky Mountain Instinct C70
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 512 Times
in
306 Posts
On one of my first brevets, which would have been ten years ago, a guy in the group had a loud hub combined with a tendency to pedal/coast, pedal/coast. Either of those alone is no biggie, but combined... I didn't know what the story was, didn't care, just had no interest in hearing that for the next 20 hours..
07-31-20, 08:43 AM
#54
Senior Member
On one of my first brevets, which would have been ten years ago, a guy in the group had a loud hub combined with a tendency to pedal/coast, pedal/coast. Either of those alone is no biggie, but combined... I didn't know what the story was, didn't care, just had no interest in hearing that for the next 20 hours.
That would be the bicycling equivalent of the neighbor who mows his grass by shutting off the lawnmower and then re-starting it every 45 seconds. By the time he eventually finishes, I'm exhausted by the tedious noise!
07-31-20, 09:52 AM
#55
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: San Clemente
Posts: 664
Bikes: 87 Bianchi X4, 95 Bianchi Ti Mega Tube, 06 Alan Carbon Cross X33, Gold plated Columbus AIR Guerciotti, 74 Galmozzi Super Competizione, 52 Bianchi Paris Roubaix.
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 259 Post(s)
Liked 539 Times
in
166 Posts
I guess it boils down to what's your definition of "high end". I'm surprised how quiet the Campy rear hub laced to the Hyperons compared to the 8 sp hubs that were laced to Shimals 15 years or so, ago.
07-31-20, 10:49 AM
#56
Asleep at the bars
Join Date: May 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA and Treasure Island, FL
Posts: 1,743
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 234 Post(s)
Liked 203 Times
in
135 Posts
Lots of hubs used to be quiet, especially Shimano. That's a thing of the past though. I still have a set of Open Pros laced to Dura-Ace 7800 era hubs with a 10 sp freehub, and I'd have to put my ear to it to hear a thing. A bit of a clunker by today's standards though.
__________________
"This 7:48 cycling session burned 5933 calories. Speed up recovery by replacing them with a healthy snack." - Whoop
"This 7:48 cycling session burned 5933 calories. Speed up recovery by replacing them with a healthy snack." - Whoop
08-01-20, 11:10 AM
#57
Senior Member
I just did a super non-scientific test using a dB meter on my phone. Spun up the pedals and let it spin and saw the max dB on the app. This was inside my garage so louder than outside.
Chris King R45CLD -$$$
78 dB (around the same volume as an alarm clock) It only got this loud for a very brief moment while it was spinning. Kind of like a reverberating frequency.
Hope Pro4 disc- $$
88 dB (about the same as a power tool)
Stock Giant el cheapo hubs- $:
76 dB
I don’t think it’s a price thing, it’s an engineering/design thing.
Chris King R45CLD -$$$
78 dB (around the same volume as an alarm clock) It only got this loud for a very brief moment while it was spinning. Kind of like a reverberating frequency.
Hope Pro4 disc- $$
88 dB (about the same as a power tool)
Stock Giant el cheapo hubs- $:
76 dB
I don’t think it’s a price thing, it’s an engineering/design thing.
08-03-20, 12:34 PM
#58
Member
Onyx hubs plus an a bell by Osaka for the win.
Bikes should be quiet. No electric car can sneak up on you with this combo.
Here’s a decent video demonstrating the silence, low rolling resistance and instant engagement of Onyx’s sprag clutch design:
Bikes should be quiet. No electric car can sneak up on you with this combo.
Here’s a decent video demonstrating the silence, low rolling resistance and instant engagement of Onyx’s sprag clutch design:
08-03-20, 01:13 PM
#60
padawan
Some high end hubs like White Industries and Chris King are loud and some aren't.It's personal preference. I like the loud because it lets people know I'm behind them and I just like the sound of it.
Likes For snookanglr:
08-03-20, 02:31 PM
#62
Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 29
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
This is the more modern equivalent of what we used to do to our old Regina Oro freewheels in the 70's, we used Sturmey Archer 3 spd. oil and just dripped it in around the edges. Quieted right up.
08-03-20, 03:28 PM
#63
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 727
Bikes: Current: 2016 Bianchi Volpe; 1973 Peugeot UO-8. Past: 1974 Fuji S-10-S with custom black Imron paint by Stinsman Racing of PA.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 215 Post(s)
Liked 204 Times
in
142 Posts
I am not seeing it.
Back in the FW days, my Suntour Winners were pretty quiet. Much more so than the Maeda 888 versions or the golden colored ones. My Malliard FW were pretty quiet and also had dust seals, so maybe that helped.
All of my Shimano cassette hubs are quiet. My Tiagra is relative quiet, and the 105 and Ultegra are each incrementally quieter.
Back in the FW days, my Suntour Winners were pretty quiet. Much more so than the Maeda 888 versions or the golden colored ones. My Malliard FW were pretty quiet and also had dust seals, so maybe that helped.
All of my Shimano cassette hubs are quiet. My Tiagra is relative quiet, and the 105 and Ultegra are each incrementally quieter.
08-03-20, 04:19 PM
#64
Newbie
Really, people want a noisy freewheel to warn pedestrians? Why not just stick a playing card on the frame to ping against the spokes full time!
freewheel on my ride, helicomatic, when I flushed it through with kerosene for a clean could hear it, but after soaking in 5w/30 motor oil it’s absolutely silent from the riding position.
for the wanna be racers aren’t you concerned that the noise doesn’t come for free and you have a power leak in your freewheel?. How much, I’m guessing not much, what are the lab test numbers on drag for different free wheels in coast mode?
freewheel on my ride, helicomatic, when I flushed it through with kerosene for a clean could hear it, but after soaking in 5w/30 motor oil it’s absolutely silent from the riding position.
for the wanna be racers aren’t you concerned that the noise doesn’t come for free and you have a power leak in your freewheel?. How much, I’m guessing not much, what are the lab test numbers on drag for different free wheels in coast mode?
08-03-20, 04:56 PM
#65
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 8,922
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,882 Times
in
998 Posts
The difference in freehub drag is noticeable, but only at lower speeds(coasting before a stoplight or stop sign). When descending at 40mph+ the difference in drag is unnoticeable.
08-03-20, 05:00 PM
#66
Full Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Ellay
Posts: 340
Bikes: 2002 Eddy Merckx Team SC Resto-Mod; 2019 Ibis Hakka MX; 2017 Spot Brand Ajax Belt Drive
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 169 Post(s)
Liked 192 Times
in
121 Posts
Noticeable in what way? I don't notice any drag when I'm coasting, and my hubs are kinda loud (White Industries). I tried to google any data on this, but I couldn't find any.
08-03-20, 05:08 PM
#67
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 8,922
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,882 Times
in
998 Posts
On a White Industries hub you can't change the POE total, so you can't actually test it
08-03-20, 05:12 PM
#68
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 8,922
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,882 Times
in
998 Posts
I just did a super non-scientific test using a dB meter on my phone. Spun up the pedals and let it spin and saw the max dB on the app. This was inside my garage so louder than outside.
Chris King R45CLD -$$$
78 dB (around the same volume as an alarm clock) It only got this loud for a very brief moment while it was spinning. Kind of like a reverberating frequency.
Hope Pro4 disc- $$
88 dB (about the same as a power tool)
Stock Giant el cheapo hubs- $:
76 dB
I don’t think it’s a price thing, it’s an engineering/design thing.
Chris King R45CLD -$$$
78 dB (around the same volume as an alarm clock) It only got this loud for a very brief moment while it was spinning. Kind of like a reverberating frequency.
Hope Pro4 disc- $$
88 dB (about the same as a power tool)
Stock Giant el cheapo hubs- $:
76 dB
I don’t think it’s a price thing, it’s an engineering/design thing.
08-03-20, 05:34 PM
#69
Newbie
08-04-20, 02:10 AM
#71
Member
I didn't ask for it but my freehub also makes a beautiful noise. Its not angry Bee, its more like Crickets or Japanese Cicadas chorusing (but not so high pitched shrill) and I love it. I also like the freehub sound from fellow cyclists.
On the road, there are lot more worrisome and noisy adversaries like trucks, cars, dangerous suvs, tractors constantly buzzing past (in both directions!) than a fellow cyclist coasting and creating music via freehub. Can't believe people get annoyed by such silly things.
C'mon guys, road cycling is not an exclusive activity for only watt worshipers.
On the road, there are lot more worrisome and noisy adversaries like trucks, cars, dangerous suvs, tractors constantly buzzing past (in both directions!) than a fellow cyclist coasting and creating music via freehub. Can't believe people get annoyed by such silly things.
C'mon guys, road cycling is not an exclusive activity for only watt worshipers.
Likes For kar:
