A sometimes un-discussed issue is that the long axle overhang between the drive side bearing and the jam nut against the dropout allows flex. This is what results in bent or broken axles, which is often what is focused upon when discussing the benefits of cassettes. Cassettes have a much short section of exposed axle and thus less flex. But that flex from a freewheel axle also loads the dropout and can result in dropout failure as well. Phil Wood and Bullseye hubs, with their larger diameter axles, reduce or eliminate this as well as a cassette hub does.
The chief benefit to me of the cassette is that my 220 lbs don't screw a cassette down tight. Jim Thill's mechanic Mongo spent probably 5 hours trying to get a freewheel off of my Phil hub on my A/R a couple of years ago. Power tools and destroying the freewheel were ultimately necessary. Also, a vertical dropout reduces the flex of the axle by providing better support for the jam nut and the axle, reducing the likelihood of bending or breaking an axle. A freewheel on a standard hub with a 9 mm threaded axle and horizontal dropouts are the worst combination. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
