However much I'd like to think that fixed gear bikes are so simplistic and barebones, in fact coaster-brake bikes are equally simplistic if not more because there are NEVER rim brakes on them while a lot of people ride fixed with brakes. Point being that our niche of simple, grassroots riding is conspiculously challenged by the popularity of lesiure coaster-brake bikes which look just as simplistic on the outside. Now I realize that a coaster brake hub has some internals that a normal flip-flop does not but it's a minimal difference from the outside. That's an observation, now a question: how in the world does a coaster brake work? Can anyone explain the internals?

Disclaimer: I got a lot of "big" words floating around in my head that I may not have used here correctly.

this is a jimv thread, he has some great pictures of a rebuild of a bendix.

but ill chime in a lil too... theres lots of different types of coaster brakes but they all basically do the same thing. there is some sort of clutch that is actuacted by back-pedaling, which engages a brake. there are mainly 2 kinds of clutch, a corkscrew style, and a roller-cam style. most of the brakes are a shoe style, but there are also plate style brakes. if you're really curious take one apart, they are pretty self explanatory.

Coaster brake hubs aren't a fixed gear. You can coast with one. The Shimano E-types, the common beach crusier rear hub, is very simple, with 15 parts in it. Those use a corkscrew to push a spring to push out a set of shoes like a drum brake. Shimano E-type is common and cheap, and I will probably get flamed for posting about it in this forum. A complete rebuild kit is around $8 wholesale, and the bearings are included and grease packed!

It's fixed/single speed. You're OK. I had to ask Trystero first time that I saw his bike if he'd gone fixed, but it was a coaster. There's probably a reason that they used them in a lot of movies where people were supposed to be riding track bikes - you really can't tell the difference until someone coasts...

What's the point in coasting anyways?

The point is two fold:

1. You can coast.
2. You can brake.

Thus the name.

Is Shecky still around?

Thanks for the kind words. I made some drawings a while ago that help to illustrate what you just wrote. These show
a cone-clutch brake, but like you said, all brakes work basically the same way.

Take care,

Jim

You are one talented individual.

Thanks for the illustrations. Now it's a lot clearer.

the coaster brake is minty fresh.