The bicycle freehub is the mechanism that allows the rear wheel to turn freely when the pedals are not being engaged.
Located in the hub of the rear wheel, the freehub is what allows you to “coast” on a bike, meaning the wheels can keep turning while the pedals remain still.
Approaching a steep incline, you instinctively reach for the bike’s gears, knowing what to shift to to accommodate climbing a hill. But if you’re a beginner, you might be wondering how to shift gears on a bike.
Not just in terms of the physical act of gear shifting on a bicycle, but why you should do it, when you should do it, and how to fully understand the mechanics of gear shifting on a bike.
Freewheel? Cassette? Freehub? Ever heard of them?
They’re vital components on a bike. So if you don’t know (or want to learn more) you’re in the right place!
On any bike, there is a set of multiple sprockets that attaches to the hub on the rear wheel. The rear cogs consist of one of two different systems: freewheel vs cassette.
Bike gear ratio = front chainring teeth ÷ rear cog teeth. A 50/14 gear (50t chainring, 14t cog) gives a ratio of 3.57, meaning the rear wheel spins 3.57 times for each pedal revolution. Multiplying ratio by wheel circumference (≈2.1m for 700×25c) tells you how far you travel per pedal stroke. Below is our gear … Read more
To remove a bike cassette: you need two tools — a chain whip (holds the cassette steady) and a cassette lockring tool (loosens the lockring). Slot the lockring tool into the cassette’s lockring, wrap the chain whip around one of the larger cogs in the direction that resists rotation, then turn the lockring tool counter-clockwise … Read more
If you’re new to cycling, you might’ve overheard more experienced cyclists chatting about replacing or upgrading parts of their bike’s “drivetrain”. But what is a bike drivetrain, and what different bike parts does it include? To help you get to grips with your bicycle drivetrain, we’ll be covering: Ready for the lowdown on drivetrain bike … Read more