Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - coaster brakes

Don't laugh. Does anyone know where to find a DECENT 26" rear wheel with a single speed coaster brake? By that I mean reliable and with an OK alloy rim. Failing that, how about just a good coaster hub? I'm working on this commuter thing, and I like the idea of having a coaster brake, but it seems like they're generally used on really low-quality bikes. I went to my LBS and all they had was a steel rim with some no-name hub. I also don't want to have multiple speeds. Basically I'm looking for something as low-maintenance as possible that won't foul up in the rain and other stuff I might have to ride through.

I was looking at this set of wheels and tires. Two wheels, two tires, tubes. Eh, not bad, sorta hideous looking being red rims.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3686106633&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Don't laugh. Does anyone know where to find a DECENT 26" rear wheel with a single speed coaster brake? By that I mean reliable and with an OK alloy rim. Failing that, how about just a good coaster hub? I'm working on this commuter thing, and I like the idea of having a coaster brake, but it seems like they're generally used on really low-quality bikes. I went to my LBS and all they had was a steel rim with some no-name hub. I also don't want to have multiple speeds. Basically I'm looking for something as low-maintenance as possible that won't foul up in the rain and other stuff I might have to ride through.

Momovelo lists them on their website. Maybe give them a call...

http://store.yahoo.com/momovelo/coaster.html

baker

..sorry..made a mistake. didnt want to post here.

Hey, the adbot's selling me rims for my car.

I think it's a sign I should throw out my bikes and pour a bunch of money into my '93 VW.

BTW thanks for the help.

Momovelo lists them on their website. Maybe give them a call...

http://store.yahoo.com/momovelo/coaster.html

baker
Oooooo.... now I know where to get 700c coaster brake wheel... so tempting.... so tempting.......

Don't laugh. Does anyone know where to find a DECENT 26" rear wheel with a single speed coaster brake? By that I mean reliable and with an OK alloy rim. Failing that, how about just a good coaster hub? I'm working on this commuter thing, and I like the idea of having a coaster brake, but it seems like they're generally used on really low-quality bikes. I went to my LBS and all they had was a steel rim with some no-name hub. I also don't want to have multiple speeds. Basically I'm looking for something as low-maintenance as possible that won't foul up in the rain and other stuff I might have to ride through.

Nobody had better be laughing ... coaster brakes are the future of cycling. (Now if only I could get others to realize that.)

If you have any LBSs nearby that have old parts bins then you could try to find an older Bendix red line and lace it up. The newer Shimano type aren't very good in my opinion but will probably do the job. If you live in a hilly area you might want to consider a front brake as well. The coaster brake hub will heat up ... alot ... on longer descents. I would go back to your LBS and look at that "no name" hub again; it mat be a gem. If it has a one-piece shell (ie flanges aren't pressed on) then it's probably a nice hub (assuming it's not rusted to death).

BTW what is the rear spacing of the frame you intend to use? Wider spacings may require some creative dishing (like Schwinnbikelove's) to achieve a useable chainline.

Regardless, I think you'll have a lot of fun with this bike if you build it.

Jim

mmm...burning coaster brakes...

at st.chinos run in minneapolis this year, someboday rode a singlespeed chopper down a hill with a huge trailer, and he had a coaster brake on a plastic wheel...he melted though the wheel so that the hub detached itsself from the wheel...heehee

What's really bad is that I have three bikes but for some reason i keep thinking about buying one of these:

http://www.electrabike.com/04/bikes/essential/ess_12.html

I may be wrong but I just don't think anyone really makes a good coaster hub. I always wanted a sealed one but never could find one. But I did ride one laced up to a 700 that was pretty bad ass. The bike was like a weird union of a fast Boston like messenger bike and a standard NY city beater. Fun as hell with a great big newspaper boy basket.

Nobody had better be laughing ... coaster brakes are the future of cycling. (Now if only I could get others to realize that.)

<snip>
Hmmmm Coaster Brake + Carbon Fiber bike = http://img39.exs.cx/img39/8690/eek7.gif

Hmmmm Coaster Brake + Carbon Fiber bike = http://img39.exs.cx/img39/8690/eek7.gif

well i ride a coater brake 3 ton huffy cruiser everyday.
maybe i should use the huffy 10 speed frame i set aside
sometime back. its not superlite, but its gotta be a heck
of lot lighter than the tanker. maybe i'd ride more than the 25-30 mls.
a day ,i do now.

I may be wrong but I just don't think anyone really makes a good coaster hub. I always wanted a sealed one but never could find one. But I did ride one laced up to a 700 that was pretty bad ass. The bike was like a weird union of a fast Boston like messenger bike and a standard NY city beater. Fun as hell with a great big newspaper boy basket.

You are correct. Noone makes a sealed coaster brake but if you use good hi-temp grease and pack it well it'll do fine. I built up my Surly Steamroller about 9 months ago and recently took the hub apart just to check on things and it was fine. I rode it through the winter rains with no problems. What coaster brake do you have?

It's sick but I'm addicted to the thing. I ride my Surly 10 times more than my Rodriguez just because of that hub....I need intervention ;-)

Jim

Can't somebody out there make a modern coaster brake with 21st century technology? I would suggest a larger, perhaps twice as large, hub shell with cooling fins and a friction material that more resembles sintered metal like a racing car brake pad and high-temp disc brake wheel bearing grease.

How about it, Paul Components?

You are correct. Noone makes a sealed coaster brake but if you use good hi-temp grease and pack it well it'll do fine. I built up my Surly Steamroller about 9 months ago and recently took the hub apart just to check on things and it was fine. I rode it through the winter rains with no problems. What coaster brake do you have?

It's sick but I'm addicted to the thing. I ride my Surly 10 times more than my Rodriguez just because of that hub....I need intervention ;-)

Jim
I have some cheap thing. I think it was 20 bucks or something. For the type of messenger work I was doing at the time, it was perfect.

Assuming there'd be demand for a high end coaster brake, I wonder how much better they can really get? I've ridden really cheap coaster brake hubs that work about as well as any rear brake can work, with good modulation and enough power to lock up the wheel. (I've also ridden some really poorly adjusted dog coaster brakes.)

A hub shell with cooling fins seems interesting, but I wonder if would have a real effect? A larger shell would carry a weight penalty (a concern for any "serious" rider also wanting a coaster). And my observation is that coaster brakes rarely need any servicing, once set up well. I don't know if there's any viable grease available (other than what's already used) that will be suitable for the extreme temps generated on a long downhill (there's a interesting paper somewhere online indicating just how hot a coaster brake can get). I'm not sure "sealed" bearings would be much of an improvement over the very common design found on just about all cruisers and kiddie bike.

IMO, the biggest improvement such a hypothetical product would have would be in the area of aesthetics.

well i ride a coater brake 3 ton huffy cruiser everyday.
maybe i should use the huffy 10 speed frame i set aside
sometime back. its not superlite, but its gotta be a heck
of lot lighter than the tanker. maybe i'd ride more than the 25-30 mls.
a day ,i do now.
You so completely missed the point.http://img6.exs.cx/img6/8897/doh.gif


I'll give you a hint: Chainstay

<<A hub shell with cooling fins seems interesting, but I wonder if would have a real effect? A larger shell would carry a weight penalty >>

Elgin hubs were made with fins in the 40s. Dont know if it helps. More style than anything. The quality of these hubs rivals anything today . Made like a watch. The Bendix that everyone seems to think is decent is crap . Morrow, Old New Departure, Perry are all great hubs. ( many however have skip tooth cog and may be difficult to adapt)

You so completely missed the point.http://img6.exs.cx/img6/8897/doh.gif


I'll give you a hint: Chainstay

explain your point then. ......
chainstay ?

my observation is that coaster brakes rarely need any servicing, once set up well. I don't know if there's any viable grease available (other than what's already used) that will be suitable for the extreme temps generated on a long downhill (there's a interesting paper somewhere online indicating just how hot a coaster brake can get). I'm not sure "sealed" bearings would be much of an improvement over the very common design found on just about all cruisers and kiddie bike.


i use; coastal, uniplex ,automotive disc brake, high temp
wheel bearing grease. in all my coaster brake hubs. we run,
up/down hills every day. never had a problem with any,
i put alot of miles on that coaster.

......The Bendix that everyone seems to think is decent is crap.

If you are referring to the red lines, I agree they do not compare to the other hubs you mentioned but I've recommended them to folks who want to 'try' a coaster brake. They're cheap as dirt, easily obtained, reasonably well built (even with the press-on flanges) and have larger brake pads than their Pacific rim contemporaries.

For most people, finding a sweet old Morrow, Perry, etc is more effort than their level of interest warrants.

Jim

Jim, did you ever get ahold of one of those Czech hubs?

Jim, did you ever get ahold of one of those Czech hubs?

Yes I have 2 in front of me as I write. I had been talking to them (via email) about distributing them here when all emails from them stopped. I sent several emails asking for a reply. Well wouldn't you know it, My ISP 'upgraded' their filter software which decided that their emails were viruses ... and deleted them ... Doh! That's straightened out now and i have emailed them again to explain the situation. I'm waiting for their response.

But let me tell you, these are the real deal. Nicely machined with roller clutches, low-drag and damned pretty. I'll be lacing one up this week. At present there is no way to buy them here, they only ship large quantities. They were nice enough to send two samples for testing and I'm confident that this deal will work out and the question of 'which contemporary coaster brake sucks less' will finally be put to rest.

I'll keep you posted...

Jim

Hey Meatwad, I can tell you that there was a time when the Bendix coaster brake was really something......way back in the early 50 and 60s, when I had my nice red and cream cruiser, with the big wide tires and all the fancy trim, the Bendix brake on that bike was all I had, and I rode that bike for over 17 years and I never had to do anything to it.....so don't say that all Bendix stuff was crap....you don't know as much as you think you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How about posting a pic?

How about posting a pic?

Here it is:

Jim

That is a pretty one. Sounds promising.

explain your point then. ......
chainstay ?
Coaster brakes have have an arm that is attached to a band that wraps around the chainstay. A Carbon Fiber bike isn't designed to have anything exerting a load on the chainstay other than those found in normal riding. The band would cause a crack possibly resulting in a catastrophic frame failure. It's the same reason why you wouldn't install a kickstand on a CF bike. http://img6.exs.cx/img6/8897/doh.gif

Here it is:

Jim
Very cool, very cool indeed. As soon as things get rolling let me know if you want any pre-orders or anything to help defray the initial cost. I also think that coaster brakes are the wave of the future.

This thread has inspired me quite a bit. I'm going to get a road bike frame and build new 700c's for it with a drum brake front, and coaster rear, single speed, no derailer or tensioner if I can help it.

No shifters, only one brake handle, maybe none if i can try it w/o the front brake, just to see. Ultimate in simplicity and should be lighter too :D

Very cool, very cool indeed. As soon as things get rolling let me know if you want any pre-orders or anything to help defray the initial cost. I also think that coaster brakes are the wave of the future.

Thanks for the offer. I will take you up on the pre-order thing ... that'll help me alot. Every little bit helps.

Jim

This thread has inspired me quite a bit. I'm going to get a road bike frame and build new 700c's for it with a drum brake front, and coaster rear, single speed, no derailer or tensioner if I can help it.

No shifters, only one brake handle, maybe none if i can try it w/o the front brake, just to see. Ultimate in simplicity and should be lighter too :D

It does make for a very simple bike (though not as simple as a fixie) but certainly as quiet - no ticky ticky ticky when you coast ;-) As to the weight? Well coaster brakes are pretty heavy. This one weighs about a kilo. Having said that, my Steamroller still weighs only 20.5 lbs with one. I think that's pretty good.

Jim

[color=blue]Coaster brakes have have an arm that is attached to a band that wraps around the chainstay. A Carbon Fiber bike isn't designed to have anything exerting a load on the chainstay other than those found in normal riding. The band would cause a crack possibly resulting in a catastrophic frame failure. It's the same reason why you wouldn't install a kickstand on a CF bike.

Everything you say is true .... I guess it's time for those CF manufacturers to rethink their designs .... Yike!

Jim

Coaster brakes have have an arm that is attached to a band that wraps around the chainstay. A Carbon Fiber bike isn't designed to have anything exerting a load on the chainstay other than those found in normal riding. The band would cause a crack possibly resulting in a catastrophic frame failure. It's the same reason why you wouldn't install a kickstand on a CF bike. http://img6.exs.cx/img6/8897/doh.gif

o.k. now i see what you were say'n.

Shimano's E-type coaster brake can take one hell of a beating. The failures I have with my rental fleet have more to do with exposure to salt water or a lack of grease at manufactuer.

I may be willing to pre-order one, too. What kind of price are you thinking of?

I may be willing to pre-order one, too. What kind of price are you thinking of?

That's one of the things we haven't worked out yet. That is, one of their 'lost' emails may have had that information but as it stands ... I don't know. I'll let everyone know as soon as I do. I'm glad to hear the interest though ;-)

Jim