Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - flip flop usage

I'm a little curious about the actual usage of flip-flop hubs (particularly the fixed/ss ones).

Most bikes are sold with the standard fixed/ss hub as a selling point to unsure consumers/fixed noobs. Thats fine, I guess, but as a service to future noobs, I'd like to try to gauge whether the fixed/ss flip flop hub should be viewed as an actual selling point or not (and besides, we all know that fixed/fixed hubs are superior, because they allow the use of fixed or SS cogs/freewheels on either side)

it really depends, if you're going brake less then its not really useful, but for people that run brakes and ride through a lot of terrain, people switch to ss on downhills or anything that will give them a ridiculous cadence on fixed

I have a flip flop but I never use it. I only have one brake which would make me uncomfortable on a freewheel. Looking back I wish I had gotten a fixed/fixed flip-flop instead, that would've been cool.

I used my SS for most of the summer, mainly because I use it to go the my lady's house and we go down to the beach together, 10 blocks of steep hills, too lazy to spin down the hills...so I just coast down with her. I'm used to the hills...I live on one but I like to coast down with her because we can chit chat along the way and not just drop her and leave her hanging.

I think SS/fixed is useless for the experienced fixed riders, seeing that they will probably never use the singlespeed side again. I kind of wish I have a double fixed though.

fixed/fixed, 14/15 tooth on concept

fixed/free, 16fixed/17free rush for sf rides

I've got an '09 Specialized Tricross SS that I've got setup primarily as fixed gear with road tires. Usually once a week or so when weather and school permit I try to flip it to singlespeed and mount the knobby tires for a romp around the local singletrack. It's almost always switched right back to fixed during the post-ride clean simply because fixed gear is more fun for cruising around town.

When it snows though in a few months it will be fixed full time with knobbies. I can't wait!

Lol I thought you were talking about the footwear.... :rolleyes:

Anyways, I have freewheels on all my mid range fixed bikes, they came stock that way or from their old owners ; but I never use them... I just keep them on there in case of a emergency (hey who knows) because I have brakes on all my mid range bikes for my commutes...

But for my nicer bikes, I have B43's laced to high flange phil fixed/ fixed; 17T and 19T/21T....

Never flipped to ss, never will. I have a geared road bike if I want to coast..