Originally Posted by
ColonelSanders
What do you mean by "ratchet a lot"?
I'm totally unfamiliar with that term and have been pondering the quality of various hubs.
I am referring to backpedaling a bit (not a full revolution) and pedaling. This can be done several times. There are several instances where this can be done, mainly to prevent pedal strike: rocky terrain, pedaling thru corners, walking speed hops, and also for technical riding
An instant engagement hub will start propelling you instantly whereas a standard hub might take a few degrees of rotation before engaging. Sometimes this small difference is enough for a dismount vs pedaling on.