I wasn't sure where to post this, but I figured that if it makes for a light bike, I'd post it here.

Years and years ago I ran into a bunch or "10-speed" roadies whose freewheels were absolutely silent while coasting (ie. no clik-clik-clik-clik....just the sound of 'On your left!")...how'd they do that?...and is it a good thing?

And I was wondering if a 'silent freewheeling fixie' is possible with front and rear brakes for..ahem..scaredy-cats like me? But it HAS to be as quiet as a true launch-you-over-the-bar fixie, otherwise the experience would be like another multi-greared bike stuck in one gear. I'd like to experience the 'zen' of the fixie, but I'm afraid that I don't have the proper gene to do it safely without launching myself :o

Any thoughts?

...hmmm...after posting this, maybe what I'm looking at is a 'coaster-brake' style single speed...but in a roadracing frame-set?

...hmmm...after posting this, maybe what I'm looking at is a 'coaster-brake' style single speed...but in a roadracing frame-set?


I have a single speed BMX freewheel threaded on a track'fixed wheel. It is silent...

FYI, I'm also using Dura Ace 7701 wheels on my geared bike and it has whisper quite freehub.

the American classic ultra light is pratically silent, you cant hear it above the wind noise. It was amazing comming from the fsa rd400 freehub.

I bought a Shimano 7 speed freewheel about 3 years ago, and 8 months after I purchased it it started to click loudly; so I hosed it with "Speed Skate Lube"...yes that's right a lube for skate wheels; and the noise completly stopped and hasn't not returned.

If you put grease in your freehub, it will be much quieter than if you oil it. Obviously some units are just plain louder than others, but any one will be less loud if you overhaul it using grease. The thicker the grease, the quieter the unit, but be careful if you ride in cold weather or the mechanism is "fine-toothed." You run the risk of preventing the pawls from engaging due to the grease in the ratchet teeth. I've used grease exclusively in my Campy freehub for 7 seasons, and it's fairly quiet with no problems.

Years and years ago, there was a tool to inject grease into the body of Sun Tour freewheels. This would make them silent for over a year. You could also but special "cone" wrenches to adjust the play in the same freewheels.

Why that's easy.

Shimano makes an hub with a silent freewheel clutch mechanism (Deore LX R080). It's principle market is bicycle police who use it to sneak up on bad guys. Only bad thing is it's a mountain bike part so it's 135mm OLD.