eldouma

I've searched the forum and not found much. Lots of questions...

Is anyone using the WI Dos Enos freewheel and loving it? Is it worth the price? As this will be my first SS/fixie I don't know how much I'll use the extra cog. How often and when do people flip/flop between different cogs or fixed and unfixed?

Are WI freewheels worth the extra money for a project conversion bike?
What alternatives are recommended?

I'm planning on using a WI eccentirc hub to convert my old (old to me 2001 Trek 1200 stipped and repainted) road bike, does anyone else make an eccentic hub? For those people who have this hub, how is it?

Also, I'm planning on using a LX bb and cranks (old 1997 shimano triple from mtb) on this bike. I've got a Truativ 44t ramped ring I plan on using. With spacers, mounting the ring inside the cranks etc will I be able to get a straight chainline?

Is it a major problem to use a lightly worn chainring, well used chain and new freewheels and cogs? Should I budget for a new chain? And ring?

Sheldon Brown's site says mtb chain lines are 47.5-50mm The bb length is 113mm, is it likely that I could make this work on a Trek roadbike with a WI eno eccentric hub?

Thanks!

Fugazi Dave

The hub is definitely worth what it costs (fantastic quality), but if you're going to go singlespeed, I'd say save some cash on your freewheel and get a Shimano or ACS.

eldouma

Thanks Fugazi Dave... around $150 an okay price for the hub you think from an Ebay store?

Fugazi Dave

I believe I got mine for $120, but that was the first run of hubs from a couple years back, and I honestly haven't looked into what they're going for currently. That said, I would be comfortable paying that for a new one, as the engineering and quality are excellent.

Rigard

I have two eccentric hubs (not planned just happend), I love 'm to death. Really nice machined, holds up great in mud and general bad condition and still spin like it was new out of the box. Completly user servicable, uses off the shell bearing and mounting stuff (metric bolts).

I haven't tried out the freewheel but I have one coming, expensive yes. I bought this one second hand (almost new) so i can see if it really is what they promis it to be. The big plus of the Eno fw is the range of sizes they offer.

Oh order the matching fw tool with your hub, especially if you get an eccentric hub removing a freewheel can be a bit of a problem with a regular tool. NOt impossible but you would have to disassamble the hub every time you change freewheels.

Although not needed for anything regarding the hub the customer service from with is good, fast replies to email.

They chainline for white hub is on the middle ring of a mtb crankset if i remember correct. Ideal would be if you had access to a couple of smaller and wider BB sizes. So you could put the 44t ring on the outside just for looks.

If you have any more q's feel free to ask me I'll try to answer them the best I can.

eldouma

This will also be the first wheel I've built. I'm planning to switch hubs with one in a pair of Vuelta Typhoon rims and use them for this bike. I don't know what the hub is, but it has a cassette so the spokes are spaced out accordingly. Do you think I'll be able to reuse the existing spokes?

Thanks for the chain line info. If its ugly I know I won't tolerate it for more than a couple months. I'll keep my eyes open for BBs / cranks if necessary.

Rigard

i don't think you can reuse your old spokes, for a typical cassette wheel spoke lenghts differ between left , non-drive, and right, drive, side.

White Ind. hubs, and all other ss/fixed hubs for that matter, are spaced out evenly and use the same length left and right. This makes the hub wider and creates the dishless wheel making it stronger.

Get the hub and the rim to your LBS and have them calculate the right spoke lenght for you.

As for the BB lenght, i think you have more "play" on a road bike using a mtb crank, so you can get smaller width BB lenghts working.
I use a Cook Bros RSR mtb crank on my bareknuckle, which should use a BB lenght of 122mm but i'm running a 107mm at the moment with room to spare. I'm on the middle ring position which is frustrating aesthetic wise, but gives me a perfect chainline.

Pfutz

I bought a ride with a flip hub one fixed one free, the day I put on my fixed I never took it off.

wearyourtruth

nothing new here... have an eccentric hub, love it, worth the price, no one else makes one.

don't think the freewheels are worth the price, get a shimano

Aeroplane

If you are SERIOUS about singlespeeding (not fixed), and plan on riding it in extreme conditions, it is worth the price. The WI freewheels are rebuildable, serviceable, and will last forever. Way longer than any ACS or shimano freewheels. They also hold up to weather and cold a lot better than the others. Offroad SS'ers settle for nothing less.

But, if you're thinking of trying fixed too, don't even bother. Once you go fixed, you won't go back to free, and then you will have a $90 weight on one side of your hub.

maxknee

have it, love it ride the crap out of it and it always comes back for more.

cleans up really nicely after a dirty philly rain and still rolls like the first day i got it