Originally Posted by mezza
If you use an kind of backpedal pressure and the cog fails you're going to have a surge forward before you can clamp on the anchors. Even if this is 12 inches (or 30 cms) it may be the difference between getting hit by a car and not.
.
What exactly do you mean by a "surge forward?"
Originally Posted by sivat
Should the cog come off entirely while skidding/backpedaling, it is possible for the chain and cog to catch against the dropout/chainstay and lock your back wheel. Probably, in the process, really screwing up your frame. I'm not saying this is likely, just throwing the possibility out there.
Has this actually happened to anyone? Any actual bad experiences with a suicide hub coming loose on a bike with good working brakes?