Originally Posted by
Sculptor7
So the "freehub", is that also called a cassette? Not sure I understand the terminology. I have two older road bikes from the '70s and they have freewheels that can be unscrewed but which are a single integral unit. I know the newer bikes have gears that fit on a splined shaft. The point is are the gears actually steel?
The freehub is the splined shaft you referred to. The cassette is the cogset that fits over the freehub. This system ended the old problem of breaking axles by placing an outboard bearing further out on the axle. Freewheels have both the freewheeling mechanisms and cogset in one unit that is screwed onto the hub.