New White Industries two-speed singlespeed freewheels

[Sheldon Brown]

We just got in a shipment from White Industries, including super cool
double singlespeed freewheels (yes, I know it's an oxymoron.)

These are the same thickness as their single freewheels, but with two
sets of teeth. The teeth are staggered so that the chainline is not too
far off if your chainring is set for a single freewheel.

This gives you the functionality of a flip-flop hub without the need to
remove the wheel to change gear.

There are two versions, 16-18 and 17-19. We just received the 17-19
version, 16-18 is not yet in full production, but expected soon. Not
cheap at $119.95, but even a regular White Industries freewheel is
$90...they're the very best, with sealed cartridge bearings and an
unusually fine ratchet mechanism.

One of these is DEFINITELY going on my Rambouillet, it's PERFECT for
that application.

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/white-freewheels.html

Sheldon "TickTickTickTick" Brown
Newtonville, Massachusetts
+-----------------------------------------------------+
| Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions |
| from insufficient premises. --Samuel Butler |
+-----------------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

 

[MattB]

Sheldon Brown wrote:
> We just got in a shipment from White Industries, including super cool
> double singlespeed freewheels (yes, I know it's an oxymoron.)
>

So if I get one of these, is my bike still a single speed?

Reminds me of the sound of one hand clapping.

Matt

 

[Slacker]

On Thu, 9 Sep 2004 14:53:55 -0600, MattB <[email protected]> wrote:

> Sheldon Brown wrote:
>> We just got in a shipment from White Industries, including super cool
>> double singlespeed freewheels (yes, I know it's an oxymoron.)
>>
>
> So if I get one of these, is my bike still a single speed?
>
> Matt
>
>
Yes, but you're a Girlie SS Man!

--
Slacker

 

[Gman]

On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 16:36:52 -0400, Sheldon Brown <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> We just got in a shipment from White Industries, including super cool
> double singlespeed freewheels (yes, I know it's an oxymoron.)
>
> These are the same thickness as their single freewheels, but with two
> sets of teeth. The teeth are staggered so that the chainline is not too
> far off if your chainring is set for a single freewheel.
>
> This gives you the functionality of a flip-flop hub without the need to
> remove the wheel to change gear.

So you don't have to remove the wheel, but have to slide it
back a bit, right?

Seems to be splitting hairs if I've still got to adjust the
brake pads and such.

G

 

[JD]

Sheldon Brown <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/white-freewheels.html
I have but one question, since you obviously now have them in your
shop. Are those cogs spaced far enough apart to use a beefy Wipperman
BMX chain?

JD

 

[Sheldon Brown]

I wrote:

> > We just got in a shipment from White Industries, including super cool
> > double singlespeed freewheels (yes, I know it's an oxymoron.)
> >
> > These are the same thickness as their single freewheels, but with two
> > sets of teeth. The teeth are staggered so that the chainline is not too
> > far off if your chainring is set for a single freewheel.
> >
> > This gives you the functionality of a flip-flop hub without the need to
> > remove the wheel to change gear.

A shy person asked:

> So you don't have to remove the wheel, but have to slide it
> back a bit, right?

Right.

> Seems to be splitting hairs if I've still got to adjust the
> brake pads and such.

A 2 tooth difference only means moving the axle 1/4" (6 mm) which
shouldn't require any fiddling with brake pads.

It certainly won't be an issue on my Quickbeam, the bike I'll be
putting mine on, 'cause the Quickbeam has sloping axle slots, instead
of the silly straight horizontal slots on so many singlespeed frames.

(Sloping the axle slot roughly perpendicular to the seat stays allows
you to adjust the axle back and forth without changing the brake
reach. This is the only sensible design for a freewheeling
singlespeed that uses rim brakes. Unfortunately, most current
sinlglespeed frames place fashion over function, and use atavistic
rear-opening fork ends with level slots, greatly reducing the
usefulness of the bikes.)

Sheldon "Campagnolo 1010 Was The Best" Brown
+------------------------------------------+
| The lower your gear, the more of your |
| riding time will be spent going uphill. |
+------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

 

[Sheldon Brown]

I"m not sure who asked:

> > http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/white-freewheels.html
> I have but one question, since you obviously now have them in your
> shop. Are those cogs spaced far enough apart to use a beefy Wipperman
> BMX chain?

I am not familiar with that chain, so I don't know. I normally use
Sram PC58, never had any trouble with it.

I haven't tried out these new freewheels, because my application calls
for the 16-18 model, which hasn't come in yet. I'll put one on my
Quickbeam as soon as they arrive.

Sheldon "Dunno" Brown
Newtonville, Massachusetts
+---------------------------------------------------+
| I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, |
| and I did. I said I didn't know. -- Mark Twain |
+---------------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

 

[Gman]

On 11 Sep 2004 10:17:01 -0700, Sheldon Brown <[email protected]> wrote:
> I wrote:
>
>> > We just got in a shipment from White Industries, including super cool
>> > double singlespeed freewheels (yes, I know it's an oxymoron.)
>> >
>> > These are the same thickness as their single freewheels, but with two
>> > sets of teeth. The teeth are staggered so that the chainline is not too
>> > far off if your chainring is set for a single freewheel.
>> >
>> > This gives you the functionality of a flip-flop hub without the need to
>> > remove the wheel to change gear.
>
> A shy person asked:
>
>> So you don't have to remove the wheel, but have to slide it
>> back a bit, right?
>
> Right.
>
>> Seems to be splitting hairs if I've still got to adjust the
>> brake pads and such.
>
> A 2 tooth difference only means moving the axle 1/4" (6 mm) which
> shouldn't require any fiddling with brake pads.

I run a Surly flip-flop w/ 17 and 20. I do have to adjust
the brakes on a flip.

With a 2-tooth diff...hmmm...I wonder. If they were
adjusted perfectly I might be able to get away without doing
that.

That scenario is quite rare anyway, so probably not worth
$120 to try.

G

 

[Gman]

On 11 Sep 2004 10:17:01 -0700, Sheldon Brown <[email protected]> wrote:
> I wrote:
>
>> > We just got in a shipment from White Industries, including super cool
>> > double singlespeed freewheels (yes, I know it's an oxymoron.)
>> >
>> > These are the same thickness as their single freewheels, but with two
>> > sets of teeth. The teeth are staggered so that the chainline is not too
>> > far off if your chainring is set for a single freewheel.
>> >
>> > This gives you the functionality of a flip-flop hub without the need to
>> > remove the wheel to change gear.
>
> A shy person asked:
>
>> So you don't have to remove the wheel, but have to slide it
>> back a bit, right?
>
> Right.
>
>> Seems to be splitting hairs if I've still got to adjust the
>> brake pads and such.
>
> A 2 tooth difference only means moving the axle 1/4" (6 mm) which
> shouldn't require any fiddling with brake pads.

I run a Surly flip-flop w/ 17 and 20. I do have to adjust
the brakes on a flip.

With a 2-tooth diff...hmmm...I wonder. If they were
adjusted perfectly I might be able to get away without doing
that.

That scenario is quite rare anyway, so probably not worth
$120 to try.

G

 

[JD]

[email protected] (Sheldon Brown) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> JD asked:
>
> > > http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/white-freewheels.html
> > I have but one question, since you obviously now have them in your
> > shop. Are those cogs spaced far enough apart to use a beefy Wipperman
> > BMX chain?
>
> I am not familiar with that chain, so I don't know. I normally use
> Sram PC58, never had any trouble with it.

Try this then, http://www.connexchain.com model: 1G8 BMX chain. It's
quite wide and I can't help wondering if it'll work with that dual-cog
freewheel.

JD is sure who asked