Rear Wheel Question
 

I have an opportunity to buy a rear track wheel w/a fixed cog on one side and a freewheel on the other. I’m not interested in the freewheel. Will it be possible to swap that out for a fixed cog set up or would that require a new hub? Thanks.

You can take the freewheel off and install a fixed cog no problem. However, you will NOT be able to install a lock ring with it.

Thanks.

...which means you can't back pedal on it without risk of it spinning off.

Or if you fix it on there so tight that it won't spin off, guess what? It's now permanent. Not really worth the drama for a wheel you are considering spending good money on. If you want a flip/flop fixed/fixed wheel, then buy one and avoid this one.

which is completely irrelevant on a track bike. only applicable if we are talking fixie you are riding on the road.

i haven't got a single track wheel with a lockring on (on a screw on cog, i've got them on miche cogs that use the carrier system).

so if you are using the wheel solely on the track, then go for it if it's a decent wheel and otherwise meets all your needs/requirements.

What IS relevant is being able to change cogs easily.

Use the system as designed and there should be no issues, foreseen or unforeseen.

At our velodrome we have a fleet of 35+ rental bikes. 90% of them have flip flop hubs with a cog on each side. We have no problems. Real track riders don't back pedal hard. In fact some velodromes don't allow lock rings, back pedaling in a tight group of riders causes crashes.

Huh? What velodromes don't allow lockrings?

eh? I've ridden entire seasons with a 14 on the rear without changing it, done literally hundreds of sprints and starts during the season. end of the season, the cog comes off no problems using a half way decent shimano whip.

it's a myth that a lockring somehow magically stops the cog from further tightening via normal use.

one more time, it is simply not a requirement for a lockring on the track.

Whatever, money.

Thanks Sideshow. I went for it.