scoober

Hi

I have recently been given my dads old Holdsworth racing bike (unsure which model, but it is painted in the original gold, if anyone knows). I want to convert it to fixed gear and thus need to get the cassette off the hub. Any idea how this would be achieved. It is a Pelissier hub (again unsure which model) and I have not been able to find any information about it online. Any help appreciated.

Scoober

dafydd

Fix thing to do to get the freewheel off it is to buy a proper track wheel...

eddy m

That hub has a freewheel, not a casstte. You need the right tool to fit the splines or notches on the inner part of it. Depending on what kind of freewheel it is, it may be hard to find the tool, but a bike shop should be able to get it off. the last resort is to disassemble the freewheel on th ehub, then use a pipewrench to remove the inner part of the body.
Once you get the freewheel off, put a track cog on it with an old style bottom bracket lock ring, respace the wheel for the correct chainline, and you're good to go. Keep the brakes.

em

scoober

Thanks eddy. I mixed up the difference between a cassette and freewheel. Looking online I have found what looks like a suitable tool. My next question is, will the thread of the track cog and lockring match the thread on the hub, or are there different standards I should be aware of?

HillRider

A true track hub has two sets of threads on the cog side. The cog threads on with regular right-hand threads and the lockring goes outside of it using left-hand threads. This is to prevent the cog from unscrewing when you apply back-pressure to slow or stop the bike.

A regular freewheel hub has only right-hand threads and a track cog can unscrew if you back pedal. A bottom bracket lockring (right-hand threads) will help retain the cog is very tight but isn't as effective as a true track hub with a left-hand threaded lockring.

That's one reason to have brakes on a fixed gear, particularly one with a regular road hub.

eddy m

There were several different standards, and it's possible that you have a French threaded hub, but very unlikely. Almost all bikes sold in the US had ISO standard hubs. If it is a French threaded hub, save the freewheel because replacements are unavailable.

em

eddy m

If you are going to ride in traffic safely, a fixed gear bike needs at least a front brake regardless of the type of hub. If you ride hills, a rear brake is useful as well.

em

HillRider

Agree completely with the safety point but the use of a road hub makes a brake manditory for another reason as I mentioned.

DMF 

+1