Card in the spokes or are you riding a modern freehub?
11-12-18, 08:20 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Card in the spokes or are you riding a modern freehub?
I have a roomate from college who is still an active racer. He is always trying to get me to go down the carbon fiber/ current component path.
I rarely see him on his bike, but its not that he doesn't ride. Far from it. It is just that we are one different schedules.
But today was a holiday, so he was coming out of his neighborhood as I was on my way home.
We tried to talk, but his freehub was so noisy that I had to shout. Don't know what kind it was. The hubs were red and as everone knows, the only color that hubs should be is silver.
So, here's the question: are all modern freehubs really loud or is it just a few models ? If so, how do people tolerate this?
That's all. Gonna go shellac some tubulars to my wooden rims.
I rarely see him on his bike, but its not that he doesn't ride. Far from it. It is just that we are one different schedules.
But today was a holiday, so he was coming out of his neighborhood as I was on my way home.
We tried to talk, but his freehub was so noisy that I had to shout. Don't know what kind it was. The hubs were red and as everone knows, the only color that hubs should be is silver.
So, here's the question: are all modern freehubs really loud or is it just a few models ? If so, how do people tolerate this?
That's all. Gonna go shellac some tubulars to my wooden rims.
11-12-18, 08:47 PM
#2
Senior Member
The standard advice, as always, is if the freewheeling noise bothers, don't stop pedaling
11-12-18, 08:50 PM
#3
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I've got some White Industries XMR hubs on my Troll, and it sounds like an angry hornet. Its not pleasant. I'm high-level autistic and sounds really disturb me. Even a dog barking a mile away gets to me. I've got to convince myself that its just the way it is and that its all good. It takes time but I do get used to it. I realize that this may be an extreme from most people, but I seriously relate to your contention with noisy freehubs.
11-12-18, 08:58 PM
#4
Non omnino gravis
The Bitex hubs might be perfect-- they're cheap, easy to service, and perhaps most importantly-- loud enough for walkers to hear you coming, but not loud enough so as to annoy you with the buzziness. After hearing a couple of bikes with WI and CK hubs up close, I'm kinda glad I can't afford 'em. Those things almost call for earplugs.
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11-12-18, 09:16 PM
#5
Senior Member
Stronger ratchets and thinner lubrication means more noise.
People don't "tolerate" it; a lot of high-end hubs are designed to be loud specifically because of people who want that. It's a feature, not a bug.
11-12-18, 09:20 PM
#6
Senior Member
Chris King hubs are the worst. They're so loud the first time I heard one I thought it was some sort of intentional joke. Actually they do sound a lot like cards in the spokes. White Industries T11 on my bike aren't nearly that bad. Ignoring the tech sheet and using Phil tenacious on the pawls quiets them to reasonable C&V type SPL's. Supposedly Dura Ace are still quiet, but they only come in black, which is the wrong color for hubs.
11-12-18, 09:26 PM
#7
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The carbon frame probably doubles the audible noise.
I hate noisy hubs. I see much more wildlife when my hubs are freshly greased (proven) I grease my flywheel hubs with Phil grease instead of oil which seems to keep them quiet yet smooth. On my cassette hubs, I use moly grease, which also works great. I am quite excited for the arrival of the new Shimano XTR Scylence hubs (MTB only for now) which are already two months late to arrive.
I hate noisy hubs. I see much more wildlife when my hubs are freshly greased (proven) I grease my flywheel hubs with Phil grease instead of oil which seems to keep them quiet yet smooth. On my cassette hubs, I use moly grease, which also works great. I am quite excited for the arrival of the new Shimano XTR Scylence hubs (MTB only for now) which are already two months late to arrive.
11-12-18, 09:30 PM
#8
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If you want silent, get some Onyx hubs.
I ride Hope hubs. They aren't really loud, but I do find the sound to be annoying. On a recent 600km ride, I started pedaling a couple of times because I was getting sick of hearing them.
I ride Hope hubs. They aren't really loud, but I do find the sound to be annoying. On a recent 600km ride, I started pedaling a couple of times because I was getting sick of hearing them.
11-12-18, 09:43 PM
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The Turbo Spoke is the only way to roll!
11-12-18, 10:01 PM
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11-12-18, 10:25 PM
#12
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Shimano hubs are still relatively quiet. Not silent, but quiet.
I have bitex hubs on a road bike and they are as loud as i want. Its an angry swarm of bees when I coast. Not bad, just noticable.
I have bitex hubs on a road bike and they are as loud as i want. Its an angry swarm of bees when I coast. Not bad, just noticable.
11-12-18, 10:39 PM
#13
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I've got some White Industries XMR hubs on my Troll, and it sounds like an angry hornet. Its not pleasant. I'm high-level autistic and sounds really disturb me. Even a dog barking a mile away gets to me. I've got to convince myself that its just the way it is and that its all good. It takes time but I do get used to it. I realize that this may be an extreme from most people, but I seriously relate to your contention with noisy freehubs.
11-13-18, 02:08 AM
#14
Junior Member
11-13-18, 02:47 AM
#15
Cyclist
A Suntour Perfect is louder than any freehub I've ever had.
11-13-18, 03:57 AM
#16
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Angry hornet in the rear.
The 6, 12, 18, 32! points of engagement (as opposed 2,3,4 freehub of the last 100 years) were designed for serious MTB and cyclo-cross racers who needed rapid and positive transmission from rest to drive as they negotiated rocks, logs, gopher holes, cougars, bears in the mud and at slow speed and in all sorts of non ideal body positions.
In other words coasting on paved road thru an enchanted wood as the lark greeted the soft rays of dawn upon a maiden's fair cheek they were designed not.
I get the impression the desire for the racket on a road bike is similar to desire the giant brand labels on two hundred dollar cycle shorts is meant to satisfy .
In other words coasting on paved road thru an enchanted wood as the lark greeted the soft rays of dawn upon a maiden's fair cheek they were designed not.
I get the impression the desire for the racket on a road bike is similar to desire the giant brand labels on two hundred dollar cycle shorts is meant to satisfy .
11-13-18, 04:18 AM
#17
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I imagine the plastic frame adding volume through resonance.
11-13-18, 05:11 AM
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You have to have the noisy freehub so that the creaky press fit bottom bracket doesn’t bother you so much when you start pedaling.
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11-13-18, 05:16 AM
#19
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Because they (and the ProCompe) have the best two pawls, best springs, and most pronounced ratchet teeth in the vintage Freewheel world. Cleaning and fresh grease can quiet them many decibels. Flushing with WD40 (etc.) and dribbling in oil will only quiet them for a short time until most of the oil drains or spins out.
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11-13-18, 05:26 AM
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I’m running Bitex hubs on two bikes that I ride a lot, and I don’t find them to be particularly loud. In fact, they’re quieter than most of the Campagnolo NR derailleur jockey wheels I’ve experienced.
11-13-18, 05:32 AM
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This was going to be my advice as well, but I'm to cheap for Phil's so I my tub of nice marine axle grease (also too cheap for the really nice loud hubs, but I've had it do a good job on cheaper hubs and it makes my 10s Campy hubs almost too quiet for walkers to hear).
11-13-18, 05:35 AM
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11-13-18, 06:50 AM
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Grim Creaker
There is no sound known to man that can mask the Creaker's Lament as it exalts the grinding of their needle bearings into the plastic innards of their bloated BBs.
Last edited by Johno59; 11-13-18 at 08:17 AM.
11-13-18, 07:13 AM
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Not if you never coast, they don't. 
For a while I was riding with a local group, I was the only C&V rider; being in the middle of a pack of freehubbers can be very loud.
For a while I was riding with a local group, I was the only C&V rider; being in the middle of a pack of freehubbers can be very loud.
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11-13-18, 12:45 PM
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The carbon frame probably doubles the audible noise.
I hate noisy hubs. I see much more wildlife when my hubs are freshly greased (proven) I grease my flywheel hubs with Phil grease instead of oil which seems to keep them quiet yet smooth. On my cassette hubs, I use moly grease, which also works great. I am quite excited for the arrival of the new Shimano XTR Scylence hubs (MTB only for now) which are already two months late to arrive.
I hate noisy hubs. I see much more wildlife when my hubs are freshly greased (proven) I grease my flywheel hubs with Phil grease instead of oil which seems to keep them quiet yet smooth. On my cassette hubs, I use moly grease, which also works great. I am quite excited for the arrival of the new Shimano XTR Scylence hubs (MTB only for now) which are already two months late to arrive.
I have surprised deer on my local bike trail because they didn't hear me coming. Once, I had to shout at one because it was standing in the middle of the trail and was distracted by a couple that had already passed. I have never taken a freewheel apart to grease the pawls. I flush the dirt out with WD-40 and re-lube with motor oil, dripped into the crack between the rotating and stationary parts.