aoto

Hi, I happen to have a flip/flop hub and not a fixed/fixed hub and was wondering if it is safe to ride on the velodrome without a lockring. I am only 130lbs so is this ok/safe to do, or should I take the time to change gears in between workouts? Also will changing cogs to much wear down the threads of my hubs and cogs? What would you do? Thanks in advance.

Impreza_aL

I ride without a lockring. Just be careful when you thread on your cogs and you'll be fine. I see you're in Nor Cal. See you at the track =)

aoto

Were you at hellyer this weekend? If so we probably did see each other

Baby Puke

Clean well and re-grease the threads each time you change gear and the hub should outlast you.

sideshow_bob

Lockrings are redundant riding on a track. The only caveat to that is if you are using the Miche system which makes changing cogs so much easier, but necessitates a ring.

Should you spend time changing gears? Depends. You tend to change if you want to train in some specific way or gearing up/down for particular races. I tend to not change to 'warm up', but some riders are pretty religious about that.

bitingduck

I've never used a lockring, and there have been some hubs (specialized tri-spokes) that don't even accept them. I've known more people who've spun cogs off forward on standing starts (only a couple) than I've known people who have spun them off backwards.

BrainInAJar

How do you spin a cog off forwards? that's the "tighter" direction

taras0000

you strip the hub

carleton

+1

chas58

Theoretically it can be done, but that doesn't mean you are not risking some serious (or embarassing) problems. In my experience, if you crank down hard and ride hard without a lock ring, you likely will not have any problem.

If you change gears on the “non locked” side often, you likely will have problems. Sooner or later you won’t spin it on tight enough and will be shocked to find you don’t have brakes when you really need them (i.e. coming off the track into the pits).

If you are not using a lock ring, don’t grease the bloody thing! You need the friction to keep the gear on there.

So, yeah it can be done if you put the gear on there tight and don’t change it. If you change the gear on that side often – use a lockring. Sooner or later you’ll have problems if you don’t.

aoto

Problem solved. Just went to the LBS and they just showed me miche cogs.

sideshow_bob

All those years I skinned my knuckles pulling off cogs .... the guy who invented the Miche system, I owe you a beer good sir.

aoto

+1 seriously I was surprised nobody told me about this. Then I went to a primarily fixed gear bike shop and they showed me them. They just saved me lots of skin on my fingers.

yongxingfreesty

id get one. $15 at most after tax