I'm currently looking to buy a particular rear wheel. I want a flip flop hub but the seller tells me they only have the track hub available. I was told it can switch to single speed but no freewheel. this confused me. Can I or can't I use this track hub to ride with a freewheel. I want to be able to coast

You can thread a freewheel on the fixed side without issue.

Here's the hub specs Hub:
"Novatec: A166SBT Alloy Track hub

Rear:O.L.D: 120mm weight:235g

Black color"

so a bike mechanic would have no problem threading a freewheel? Would like to know before I purchase. Item is coming from china

Considering the only tool you need to install a freewheel is your hand, you wouldn't have any problems doing it yourself.

So you know, that model is threaded on both sides. Novatec doesn't even make a single-sided track hub.

It will work just fine. Grease the threads and just spin it on. It's a 2 sided hub, go crazy and do it twice.

Does this mean I can ride with free wheel or no? Seller is telling me I can ride single speed but no free wheel

He means a single-speed freewheel is OK, not a cluster.

You can do it, but the threads probably won't engage all the way - see how much wider the threads are on the freewheel side of a flip flop? Not ideal, not a huge deal.

Dude, how many times do we need to tell you? Yes, you can thread a freewheel onto fixed threads without any problems.

For the record, single speed typically means freewheel. Fixed gear means a fixed cog and lockring. Once again, you can thread a freewheel onto fixed threads without any problems.

In case you missed it, you can thread a freewheel onto fixed threads without any problems.

am I better off purchasing a flip flop hub then? Can I use the flip flop hub from my old wheel? The way you described it, it sounds like there CAN be an issue. I don't want any possible issue

The communication problem is "freewheel" doesn't typically mean "single speed".

Appreciate your response. You're one of the nicer members on here

That hub in your first post is a flip flop - I assumed it was fixed-fixed, but googling shows fixed-free - so it's just like the Surly in the photo. Enjoy your new wheel and single speed freewheel.

Actually, Novatec makes the A166SBT in both fixed/fixed and fixed/free.

Here's the track hub photo that was sent to me https://i.imgur.com/7Hjd2sE.jpg

Fixed/free. I maintain that you can still install a single speed freewheel on either side without any problems.

On the right side of the hub are the SS threads. They are visible in the photo. I understand that all this can be confusing due to the different vocabulary being used but just get the hub you have identified. This is a good example of why buying things over the web can be more difficult. In a shop they would just pull out the hub and show you and it would make sense.

Hilarity ensues.

And they use the same model number for both versions?

Exactly. You get it. I came here to clarify (expected the usual bike snob comments). The person I'm dealing with barely knows any English. I'd hate to purchase something I couldn't use to only send back because of a variable. Thanks for the answers.

Yes, Just as Shimano uses 7600 for all high flange Dura Ace track hubs, regardless of them being fixed/fixed or single sided.

Can I install wasabi mustard on my hot dog or do I need to use sriracha?

You should probably just eat falafel.

Damn, talk about things going in 1 ear and out the other.

The only issue with running a single freewheel on a hub designed to use a fixed cog and lockring is that fewer threads are engaged on the freewheel. It is unlikely to be a problem unless you have legs like this:



Even then I wouldn't anticipate problems since the freewheel would be engaging the same number of threads that a fixed cog would engage if it were mounted.