tcs

The site designer probably thought this PITA web page was actually cool:

https://www.fixedandfreegear.com/singlespeed_d.html

Anyway, SRAM is introducing a new fixed/free hub @ Eurobike. No flipflopping; you apparently reach through a hole in the end of the RH acorn nut and tighten down a screw to lock out the freewheel. They say 130mm OLD out of the box but it looks like there are spacers on both sides that can be removed.

No word on price or time frame. Nicht geeignet fur Tandems, but then you knew that.

tcs

jhota

you're right: horrible website. but the hub looks interesting.

serac

Hideous website. Here is the english version: https://www.fixedandfreegear.com/singlespeed_e.html

Interesting, although I've weened myself off of coasting. I suppose 7 turns of a screwdriver is slightly easier than turning your wheel around. Hmmmm...I'm still looking for somebody to pick up the 3 speed fixed gear hub.

Edit to add: Woohoo! I just saw this thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=461558

seaneee

huh, "torpedo" was the name of a line of of two speed coaster hubs that sachs (purchased by sram) used to make in the 70's

tcs

Sachs (now a part of SRAM) has called various hub models "Torpedo" for over 100 years.

tcs

mconlonx

The novelty of it would be pretty cool--people would see you coasting by, running a cog and lockring, and think "WTF???" But having to use a tool to make the switch? Would rather it had either something that didn't require a tool to make the switch, like a lever at the hub, or even a shifter for it so you could do it on the fly.

malpag3

That's nifty. I'd be curious.

tcs

Maybe Shimano will make a version switched by an electric motor inside the hub.

Anybody turning their flip-flop hubs toolless?

tcs

tcs

I've seen some coments around concerning the "porky" 480gm manufacturer's provided weight for these hubs. In a quick check, I went to Harris Cyclery's web site and saw a 330gm weight for their flip-flop hub, and a 177gm weight for a White Industries' single speed freewheel - and that adds up to 507gm.

tcs

carbonjockey

i saw that at interbike, and had someone explain it. seems like a cool idea, and its neat to see sram crankin out such innovative road components with such a short history in the market

LWaB

SRAM bought Sachs, formerly Fichtel and Sachs who started almost the same year as Sturmey Archer.

mconlonx

All I'm sayin' is that getting off the bike and using a specialty tool to make the adjustment... how much longer would it take to flip or flop a flip-flop wheel? I guess you can avoid getting your hands greasy dealing with an icky chain, and not have to worry about chain tension...

Don't get me wrong, I love the idea. Just don't see it as being a revolutionary step above a regular flip-flop setup. Any word on how much one of these will set you back?

veganeric

I love this idea! Some days you hit the wall and it would be great to be able to jump off the bike, turn a screw and coast home.

gutbucket

Amen to that. Although having the ratio on my freewheel be a wee bit gentler on the knees (maybe only 1 to 2 teeth more) than my fixed cog gives an edge to the flip-flop setup. Mind you, in practice I've never bothered to go through the flipping & flopping process even when I had the freewheel on the hub. Partly 'cuz it seemed like a hassle, and partly 'cuz if I stopped pedalling and got off the bike, I'd drop dead where I stood.

(and why 7 turns? What happens at 6.5 or at 7.5?)

Dave

carbonjockey

i am not positive, but i think its just a flat head screw driver. if it takes you the same amount of time to do a turn of a screw driver as it does to pop off the wheel, flip it, and retension it, then this isnt for you...

mihlbach

Part of the appeal of fixed gear is the elegance of its simplicity. This just muddles it up with unnecessary complexity. You may be able to go from fixed to free without flipping the wheel, but unlike a flip flop hub, you are stuck in the same gear ratio for the ride. So you are getting less options with a more complex design. Flip-flopping a wheel doesn't take a lot of time, and besides, if I needed to flip my wheel so often that it was a big PITA, I'd just ride a bike with gears.

tcs

From the picture SRAM has circulated it looks like this hub uses standard "three speed" style cogs. If SRAM has allowed room for chainline alignment spacers then you could run two dished cogs back to back, giving two fixed and two free ratios.

tcs

droobieinop

I know this is a two year old thread but, I just had my hands on one of these wonders for the first time today.

I can definitly agree that this does have a bit of a limited aplication. Since you can't change the ratio with the fixed/free switch it's probably best for low geared local usage. I could build a nice little neo-retro, full racked, roadster commuter around this hub. It could also work great to introduce someone (like the wife) to riding fixed.

It only takes a few seconds to turn the screwdriver that you're already carrying, and if not you should. The cog is of the coaster brake/three speed variety which may limit you small tooth count options, although I've not researched that yet. I also what to check out the spacing options. I was thinking about a dingle cog set up while I was building a new Bianchi today, now I'm thinking about 2 offsets instead. Curious about that possibility.

For those of you that are so hardcore that you won't use such a hub, which may have been around before, keep it real. For everyone else that would just like the options without the work, this is your hub. If you don't want the free or tools, you could always get the new Stermey Archer S3X with thumb or barend shifter.

TejanoTrackie 

The new 2011 Bianchi Pista Dalmine uses this ss/fg hub >>> https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ianchi+dalmine

Kayce

Last years Pista Via Barrera came with it too.

mconlonx

Maybe I'm just real quick with a wheel change.

Seriously, I'm all aboard with this thing. There's another one out there that has some kind of wheel you turn out back, instead of needing an extra tool--even better.

Just that... well, I'm carrying a 15mm wrench with me anyway, if I'm riding something with bolt-on wheels, like the Torpedo, so with this hub you carry an extra tool if you want to switch out the fly. No big deal. Or just decide at home that morning which way you want to run for the day, fixed or free.

Anyone actually own one of these? Do you find yourself switching from fix to free on a regular basis / irregular basis / got used to it one way and have pretty much left it there?

tcs

And only three times the cost of the SRAM!

Kayce

I had one set up on a spare bike for a while. The bike was set up to be my loan bike for friends that were bikeless for a while, or had come to visit. I set it up with a bunch of easy to adjust parts, and the Torpedo. It worked really well in that set up. It also worked well for friends to borrow when the wanted to learn how to ride fixed, so that after they were done figuring it out, or wanted a change is was quite simple.

droobieinop

Thanks, it was the Bianchi Pista Via Barrera that I built that introduced me to this hub. However, I prefer not to post too much about my shop and products since I would rather share thoughts than sell product on BF.

As posted above, this is just what I'm thinking.