Hello I'm a long time roadie and I want a bike that I can tow the Burley with. So I was thinking I'd go with a fixed gear bike but would still like the action of a freewheel. Does such a thing exist? Thanks in advance for the help!

https://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?p...ajor=8&minor=3

Boom. A pretty common item, actually. You just need a rear wheel built up with a hub threaded to take a freewheel.

Excellent! I'm buying another bike....the wife is gonna kill me!

Its called a flip-flop hub. On one side you have fixed and on the other you have a free.
To switch you simple undo the wheel flip it around and reapply the chain

I just bought a Bianchi Pista 04 on-line (again the wife is going to kill me). This is pretty nice bike for the money $547.00 delivered to my door! I'm going to set the bike up with the flip-flop hub and front brake so I can use it to haul the kids around in the Burley. I like the idea of having it fixed also for training solo.

Thanks for the quick responses!

I *think* that the pista comes with a flip/flop. Not sure though, but you'll find out soon I guess.

I am looking at a 03 pista I am about to ship right now and it has a flip/flop hub so you might not have to buy a new wheel.

Phil

2Rodies --

If you're gonna run a freewheel on the back of that pista, use front AND back brakes. You won't be able to resist and slow the rear wheel with a freewheel on. If you're gonna be towing a burley, i'd use front and back brakes even with a fixed gear on the back.

Suprised no one had said this already. Ride safe.

Thanks you are probably right. I'd only seen front brakes on the track/fixies around here so I assumed that would be enough. But then again they weren't towing a hundred extra pounds!

and they most likely weren't running a freewheel, either. Goodluck.

ee, the 04' pista doesn't come with a drilled rear brake hole...not sure what you would do about that

Please tell me that the fork is! Geez this seemed like such a simple idea at first!

It is definitely drilled for a front brake.

Good call...

The few pistas I've seen looked like you could drill the rear for a brake. I would have it professionally done, it would suck to ruin a brand new frame. you could also build a coaster wheel for it, that would be cooool! Doesn't the fuji come rear brake handy?

When i was shopping around, I looked at an '04 Pista, and was told it could easily be drilled for a rear brake by the guys at the LBS. Find an older shop where the guy's got a drill press in the work area, let him do it. Don't try doing it yourself.

How do you drill a frame for brakes? Are the bosses just screw-in or something? sorry for the tangent but I'm very curious. Sounds like a VERY nice bike... I wish I had one!

The boss is there just not drilled for a brake. I've always assumed that the boss is there for structural support for the frame and as a brake mount.

If you are going for a freewheel, note... not all freewheels will mount on fixed gear hubs! I would advise getting a hub set up for a freewheel to begin with. I would also advise going with a Simano freewheel they are excellent quality and work great. Check BMX sites for parts.