Bicycle Mechanics - More solid rear hub.

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Shiyuchi
07-08-10, 08:00 AM
Bike noob here. I pedal, and then I coast, and when I start pedaling again, I have to move the pedals a bit before the chain actually engages the cog//hub/wheel. Would buying a higher quality rear hub fix this? Like when I go from coasting to pedaling the wheel is IMMEDIATELY engaged? Or is this something that freewheelers just have to live with?

2007 Trek 1500, stock everything.

Torchy McFlux
07-08-10, 08:42 AM
The fact that you even notice some hesitation makes me wonder if there's something wrong with the freehub mechanism. That bike came with Bontrager wheels, right? Have you had an experienced mechanic look at them?
Shimano used to make Silent Clutch rear hubs that used a clutch mechanism that engaged almost instantly, but they were infamous for their lack of reliability in the long term or under high stress.
dabac
07-08-10, 08:53 AM
High-end MTB hubs can occasionally brag about the the number of engagement points that they have, that's about the only clue I can offer.

MichaelW
07-08-10, 11:34 AM
Most freehub mechanisms have 3 pawls so the max rotation before engagment is 1/3.
DT-Swiss hubs use the Hugi star-ratchet with 18 engagement points and they have a 36 tooth upgrade.

Rather than pedal and stop you should train yourself to spin continuously.
cny-bikeman
07-08-10, 12:06 PM
The amount your feet move before engagement has to do with two factors. The is how the ratchet mechanisim is set up in the freewheel/freehub. The second is how fast you are going. There will be slightly more hesitation if you are traveling fast before the pawls engage. Probably nothing unusual and it is true that you will be much more efficient on the level if you pedal consistently.