Noisy freehubs

Peter Cole said:

I was on a pace line ride this weekend riding behind a guy for most of
it who had about the noisiest freehub I have ever heard. I mean you
could ring in the New Year with this thing (if you had tolerant
neighbors). I've heard some loud wheels before, but these were amazing.
They were on a new looking Trek road bike. I imagine they were Bontrager
something or other since that was written on the top tube or fork. Why
do people buy stuff like this?

They don't care about the noise or are not aware of it before they
bought the bike or the wheels.

JT

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John Forrest Tomlinson said:

They don't care about the noise or are not aware of it before they
bought the bike or the wheels.

There's a triathlon shop near where I live and when we go to the
restaurant near that shop, I often see (or rather hear) folks test
riding Cervelos. The wheels on those things seem to have the loudest
freewheeling action--you can hear it from clear across the parking lot.
Sounds almost like one of those wheel of chance games at the amusement
park or maybe a "baseball card in the spokes" noisemaker.

--
I do not accept unsolicited commercial e-mail. Remove NO_UCE for
legitimate replies.

John Forrest Tomlinson said:

Peter Cole said:

I was on a pace line ride this weekend riding behind a guy for most of
it who had about the noisiest freehub I have ever heard. I mean you
could ring in the New Year with this thing (if you had tolerant
neighbors). I've heard some loud wheels before, but these were amazing.
They were on a new looking Trek road bike. I imagine they were Bontrager
something or other since that was written on the top tube or fork. Why
do people buy stuff like this?

They don't care about the noise or are not aware of it before they
bought the bike or the wheels.

How could they not care? Why didn't they return the bike/wheels the
first time they heard it? I find it incomprehensible that someone could
ride such a racket-mobile.

Peter Cole said:

I was on a pace line ride this weekend riding behind a guy for most of
it who had about the noisiest freehub I have ever heard. I mean you
could ring in the New Year with this thing (if you had tolerant
neighbors). I've heard some loud wheels before, but these were amazing.
They were on a new looking Trek road bike. I imagine they were Bontrager
something or other since that was written on the top tube or fork. Why
do people buy stuff like this? Why do people sell it?

Why does noise out of his bike bother you so much? Three pawls, a good
thing, and not a gumm-up of grease, also a good thing, makes for some
'noise' when freewheeling. Included is the rising disk type freehubs
that you may be hearing. Noise does not a poor hub make...

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Peter Cole said:

I was on a pace line ride this weekend riding behind a guy for most of
it who had about the noisiest freehub I have ever heard. I mean you
could ring in the New Year with this thing (if you had tolerant
neighbors). I've heard some loud wheels before, but these were amazing.
They were on a new looking Trek road bike. I imagine they were Bontrager
something or other since that was written on the top tube or fork. Why
do people buy stuff like this? Why do people sell it?

Why does noise out of his bike bother you so much? Three pawls, a good
thing, and not a gumm-up of grease, also a good thing, makes for some
'noise' when freewheeling. Included is the rising disk type freehubs
that you may be hearing. Noise does not a poor hub make...

Maybe not, but it sure is irritating. Since there are so many silent, or
nearly silent, hubs available, why use these party noise makers? It
seems so anti-bike to me.

Peter Cole said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Peter Cole said:

I was on a pace line ride this weekend riding behind a guy for most of
it who had about the noisiest freehub I have ever heard. I mean you
could ring in the New Year with this thing (if you had tolerant
neighbors). I've heard some loud wheels before, but these were amazing.
They were on a new looking Trek road bike. I imagine they were Bontrager
something or other since that was written on the top tube or fork. Why
do people buy stuff like this? Why do people sell it?

Why does noise out of his bike bother you so much? Three pawls, a good
thing, and not a gumm-up of grease, also a good thing, makes for some
'noise' when freewheeling. Included is the rising disk type freehubs
that you may be hearing. Noise does not a poor hub make...

Maybe not, but it sure is irritating. Since there are so many silent, or
nearly silent, hubs available, why use these party noise makers? It
seems so anti-bike to me.

These hubs are made for Real (TM) Cyclists, who never coast. 🙂

Mark (whose Chorus hubs are pretty loud, and frequently heard)

Peter Cole said:

Maybe not, but it sure is irritating. Since there are so many silent, or
nearly silent, hubs available, why use these party noise makers? It
seems so anti-bike to me.

I have a fairly loud hub. In my defense, I bought the hub and then
built up the wheel before I found out how loud the damn thing was. I'm
hoping it quiets down with some more miles on it, though I'm somehow
doubting that will happen. Also, it's not terribly easy to replace
since 48 spoke 135mm OLD 8/9 speed hubs are not terribly common.

--
Dane Buson - [email hidden]
In Marseilles they make half the toilet soap we consume in America, but the
Marseillaise only have a vague theoretical idea of its use, which they have
obtained from books of travel. -- Mark Twain

Dane Buson said:

Peter Cole said:

Maybe not, but it sure is irritating. Since there are so many silent, or
nearly silent, hubs available, why use these party noise makers? It
seems so anti-bike to me.

I have a fairly loud hub. In my defense, I bought the hub and then
built up the wheel before I found out how loud the damn thing was. I'm
hoping it quiets down with some more miles on it, though I'm somehow
doubting that will happen. Also, it's not terribly easy to replace
since 48 spoke 135mm OLD 8/9 speed hubs are not terribly common.

OK, you're excused. But I think we ought to boycott noisy hubs. One of
the things I really like about riding my fixed gear is that it's
absolutely silent.

Peter Cole said:

I was on a pace line ride this weekend riding behind a guy for most of
it who had about the noisiest freehub I have ever heard. I mean you
could ring in the New Year with this thing (if you had tolerant
neighbors). I've heard some loud wheels before, but these were amazing.
They were on a new looking Trek road bike. I imagine they were Bontrager
something or other since that was written on the top tube or fork. Why
do people buy stuff like this? Why do people sell it?

You're supposed to pedal!

I find the racket raised by deep section carbon rims like the Mavic
Cosmic Carbone to be whole orders of magnitude more irritating than
loud freehubs. The first time I heard someone stand up and accelerate
by me with some I thought a plane was going to crash on my head.

Joseph

Peter Cole says...

Quoted message said:

I was on a pace line ride this weekend riding behind a guy for most of
it who had about the noisiest freehub I have ever heard. I mean you
could ring in the New Year with this thing (if you had tolerant
neighbors). I've heard some loud wheels before, but these were amazing.
They were on a new looking Trek road bike. I imagine they were Bontrager
something or other since that was written on the top tube or fork. Why
do people buy stuff like this? Why do people sell it?

Just built up a wheelset with Hope Pro 2's. The Hope XC's I used for a
few years were loud, these are louder. I found they have a desirable
side effect: if I am approaching some pedestrian from behind, I just
have to coast a bit and it works like a warning signal. No need to say
anything.

In article
<[email hidden]>,

Peter Cole said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Peter Cole said:

I was on a pace line ride this weekend riding behind a guy for most of
it who had about the noisiest freehub I have ever heard. I mean you
could ring in the New Year with this thing (if you had tolerant
neighbors). I've heard some loud wheels before, but these were amazing.
They were on a new looking Trek road bike. I imagine they were Bontrager
something or other since that was written on the top tube or fork. Why
do people buy stuff like this? Why do people sell it?

Why does noise out of his bike bother you so much? Three pawls, a good
thing, and not a gumm-up of grease, also a good thing, makes for some
'noise' when freewheeling. Included is the rising disk type freehubs
that you may be hearing. Noise does not a poor hub make...

Maybe not, but it sure is irritating. Since there are so many silent, or
nearly silent, hubs available, why use these party noise makers? It
seems so anti-bike to me.

Guilty as charged. The Phil Wood free hub might as well be
pebbles in a tin can. Any ideas? Warm climate; can I use
grease? add oil? The old Shimano seven speed free hub is
the merest whisper.

--
Michael Press

Peter Cole said:

I find it incomprehensible that someone could
ride such a racket-mobile.

But from your story it seems like they do.

JT

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Barnard Frederick said:

Peter Cole says...

Quoted message said:

I was on a pace line ride this weekend riding behind a guy for most of
it who had about the noisiest freehub I have ever heard. I mean you
could ring in the New Year with this thing (if you had tolerant
neighbors). I've heard some loud wheels before, but these were amazing.
They were on a new looking Trek road bike. I imagine they were Bontrager
something or other since that was written on the top tube or fork. Why
do people buy stuff like this? Why do people sell it?

Just built up a wheelset with Hope Pro 2's. The Hope XC's I used for a
few years were loud, these are louder. I found they have a desirable
side effect: if I am approaching some pedestrian from behind, I just
have to coast a bit and it works like a warning signal. No need to say
anything.

I think clacking through the woods is even worse...

Quoted message said:

Peter Cole said:

I was on a pace line ride this weekend riding behind a guy for most of
it who had about the noisiest freehub I have ever heard.

You're supposed to pedal!

Yeah, but novice riders are often "intermittent" pedalers, which
compounds the problem.

Quoted message said:

I find the racket raised by deep section carbon rims like the Mavic
Cosmic Carbone to be whole orders of magnitude more irritating than
loud freehubs. The first time I heard someone stand up and accelerate
by me with some I thought a plane was going to crash on my head.

I haven't heard them, maybe no one has accelerated by me (heh).

John Forrest Tomlinson said:

Peter Cole said:

I find it incomprehensible that someone could
ride such a racket-mobile.

But from your story it seems like they do.

My apologies, I meant "would".

Peter Cole says...

Quoted message said:

I think clacking through the woods is even worse...

Actually the sound is almost exactly like those loud ratchet sounding
cicadas you can hear in the woods during the summer. I just hope none
of them start flying after me.

Dane Buson said:

Peter Cole said:

Maybe not, but it sure is irritating. Since there are so many
silent, or nearly silent, hubs available, why use these party noise
makers? It seems so anti-bike to me.

I have a fairly loud hub. In my defense, I bought the hub and then
built up the wheel before I found out how loud the damn thing was.
I'm hoping it quiets down with some more miles on it, though I'm
somehow doubting that will happen. Also, it's not terribly easy to
replace since 48 spoke 135mm OLD 8/9 speed hubs are not terribly
common.

Thick grease will do the trick. Lots of it.
--
Phil

Barnard Frederick said:

Peter Cole says...

Quoted message said:

I think clacking through the woods is even worse...

Actually the sound is almost exactly like those loud ratchet sounding
cicadas you can hear in the woods during the summer. I just hope none
of them start flying after me.

Just the horny ones.

Phil said:

Dane Buson said:

Peter Cole said:

Maybe not, but it sure is irritating. Since there are so many
silent, or nearly silent, hubs available, why use these party noise
makers? It seems so anti-bike to me.

I have a fairly loud hub. In my defense, I bought the hub and then
built up the wheel before I found out how loud the damn thing was.
I'm hoping it quiets down with some more miles on it, though I'm
somehow doubting that will happen. Also, it's not terribly easy to
replace since 48 spoke 135mm OLD 8/9 speed hubs are not terribly
common.

Thick grease will do the trick. Lots of it.

Just remember to keep pedaling when the weather gets cold!

Joseph