I have been trying to put together a list of all of the things I will need to build up a fixed/single-speed. I just realized after doing some reading that I may have overlooked something. I know that a flip-flop hub has a freewheel side and a fixed side. What does this mean? Does a flip-flop hub have teeth and pawls inside? Or is it just threaded to take a freewheel?

This may seem like a simple question, but I can't seem to find an answer.

Thanks

I have been trying to put together a list of all of the things I will need to build up a fixed/single-speed. I just realized after doing some reading that I may have overlooked something. I know that a flip-flop hub has a freewheel side and a fixed side. What does this mean? Does a flip-flop hub have teeth and pawls inside? Or is it just threaded to take a freewheel?

This may seem like a simple question, but I can't seem to find an answer.

Thanks

you can put a single speed freewheel on the free side--it's not expensive, and you might find it useful, but the basic answer is that you are screwing a small, one speed freewheel onto a threaded hub body. As to whether you need to do this--I guess you could just leave it, if you want. I've got a rear wheel that's got a fixed track cog on the fixed side and a 17t freewheel on the other and I never use the free side. On the other hand, maybe someday I will.

with lockrings on both sides as they wil accept either a fixed cog or a freewheel....many people have posted that they never use the freewheel, but having two different fixed cogs can be handy. Anyway, if you do go for a freewheel a BMX model works and they are only about $12....

Or is it just threaded to take a freewheel?

It's just threaded to take a freewheel.

Like UkiahB said, could be fixed/fixed. That's what I run, and that's how I had my current wheels built. Can screw whatever you want onto that baby.

I removed hte freewheel from mine and now run fixed/fixed.

Not all flip/flop hubs are created equal. Some are only fixed/free and some are fixed/fixed. The chainline will be wrong if you have one kind and try to use it the other way.

I know this from personal experience with a D/A track hub. Others may not be the same.

FWIW, I have fixed/fixed and like it fine.

The ass end of my bike has a 16 fixxed / 16 free. I have the freewheel on there incase I bonk really hard or its really pissing rain out but...... it's yet to see a chain on it. Plus I use the brake lever off of a kids bike. Theres so little leverage I need to be able to "jake brake" haha