quiet freehubs

[David Haworth]

Hello all,

I've got a 2012 Whyte Montellier and it's a great bike but not perfect. There's a few things I'd kinda change at some point...

• The riding position is probably a little aggressive and low down for me. I might to raise the handlebars at some point.
• The big chainring could probably be a bit smaller, I tend to live in the middle/low end of the cassette and rarely find myself using 50x11 or 12. Probably cross-chain a little much.
• The tyres could probably be a little fatter to give me a bit more suspension. it can be quite a hard ride.

but you know what really annoys me? The freewheel at the back. it's a hope evo unit and I'm sure it's very good but it's soooo loud! If I'm on a bike ride with my wife I can't hear her or if I'm on a bike ride on my own (esp at night) then freewheeling really annoys. I guess it encourages me to pedal instead of freewheeling but still.

So, what would it cost me to change it then? is there a similarly good freehub out there that's near silent? what it's likely to cost me for it and to have it fitted by a local shop? would I need to replace the spokes?

or do I just get a new rear wheel or something?

Many thanks
David

 

[jazzkat]

My mate rides with a hope hub and an advantage of the noisy freehub is that people walking on the lanes hear him and move to the side whereas if I'm in front (shimano ultegra - silent) I have to slow down, call out or both.
Just keep pedalling

 

[David Haworth]

Well yes, there is that but I do have a bell too

 

[accountantpete]

There is a monster monster array of pawls in that thing!

Those pawls are the cause - the noise is them travelling over the teeth inside the hub. You could take the freehub off and lightly grease the teeth inside the hub but try not to get any on the pawls themselves as it can get sticky with muck and stop the springs working after a year or so.

 

[samsbike]

Change the rear wheel to something from shimano which is pretty quiet as a rebuild on that rim will cost more. Not sure what the cost of a wheel is but am guessing around the £120 mark. The LBS should change your cassette over. I just checked the spec and if you are running a 11-32 on the rear, I think that is OK. I run a 11-25 and only rear useable the 25-14 ish cogs with the 34 chainring on the front.

I am not sure if your rear width is road bike or mtb size 130 v 135mm, but here is an example of some road wheel

http://www.davehinde.com/hybrid-disc-wheels-deore-disc-hubs-handbuilt-on-mavic-a317-disc-rims.html

this thread may help

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/disc-brake-wheel-set-on-road-hybrid.67901/