A fixie bike is very different in lots of ways to a geared cycle. One among the major differences is the fitting of a flip flop hub to the back tyre. Of course on your normal bike the back tire cog has several cogs, generally with a derailleur type gearing mechanism as well as the ability to freewheel the way you want. A fixed gear hub has one single cog. You go at a single gear and speed is determined by how quick you can turn those pedals. If you need to change the gearing you should replace the hub assembly completely.
Now here the beauty of the flip flop hub comes into its own. The flip flop rear tyre includes 2 cogs on it. Therefore you have 1 each side. This flip flop wheelset can do multiple things, as per the set up on your fixed gear bike.
First of all you could have 2 fixed gear cogs. Out comes the tire, flip it over and hey presto you've an unique gearing to fit with the terrain or situation. Saves changing whole cogs in their entirety I believe. Additionally saves carrying around all to tools and spare cogs to do with it also. Secondly you could have a flip flop hub tyre 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 regular.
If you're setting up a flip flop hub, then the best known way is with a fixed gear setting on 1 side of the hub and then a freewheel sitting on the other side. The freewheel gearing is normally bigger compared to the fixed gear. It is all personal preference obviously, however that difference is often only by 1 to 2 teeth setting. That is everything you require really in the majority of conditions.
So what are the benefits of a flip flop hub? Well it actually comes into its own as part of a flip flop rim set up when taking longer rides which include loads of slopes or steep climbs with 2 way down glides. This allows you to freewheel and turn those pedals the way you want on the down ride. Very helpful for purging the lactic acid build up. This actually saves on the energy if you have a very long way to go to home or your next stop point for the night time.
So if you purchase a flip flop hub you must take into consideration which set up you'll go for. Double fixed gear has its benefits to some, particularly over hilly terrain where a second larger gear makes those large climbs a lot easier. Or you can go for a freewheel/fixed gear flip flop wheelset. Which means it helps with climbs however also you don't have to pedal your life away downhill. You might have had that lovely 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.
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