Home > Bike Types > Commuter

Get Double Your Fix w/ Curtis Odom’s New Double Sided Fixed Gear Hubs

21 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

Curtis Odom is known for his gorgeous retro bicycle hubs, which include fixed gear and threaded road hubs as well as cassette road hubs. Now, he’s giving folks a double fix with a new two-sided threaded fixed gear hub.

“The double sided hub is basically at conceptual level now,” said Odom. “All I really  need to do is develop a new center section to make the pieces fit together.”

Why should such a thing exist? Well, historically, roadies would have two cogs and flip their wheels around to the larger one when they hit the climbs. It was the inspiration for Campagnolo to develop the quick release (followed shortly thereafter by the derailleur), after all. Nowadays, it’s just, well, God only knows. Odom’s developing it because of demand. He said originally  he didn’t want to do it because it’s not as aesthetically pleasing. But, people want what they want, and he said it’s not all that hard to do. Both flanges are the same as the driveside flange on his regular hubs, so it’s just a matter of creating a shorter center piece so that total hub width is correct. Speaking of which, these will be 120mm standard and 126mm and 130mm as no-charge options.

The hub shell centers are available in alloy or polished stainless steel, but the flanges on all of them are alloy. Glance at some of the finished hubs (pic after the break) and they look like one piece. Odom says that’s because his machining is so precise.

Odom: “I was originally planning on them for NAHBS 2013, but it might be out before then.”

Look for the double sided fixed hubs to be about $500 and available by NAHBS if not sooner. The price is a bit more than his regular fixed hubs because the threaded part, lock ring and driveside flange are all slightly more expensive parts. The image here is all that’s out at the moment, but Odom assures us it’s beyond vaporware, it’s just a matter of piecing them together.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

21 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Russell
Russell
11 years ago

Actually you mean Campagnolo was inspired to develop the quick realease, not the derailleur.

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

People were making derailleurs decades before Tullio came up with the QR. Read “The Dancing Chain” by Frank Berto if you are interested in the history of the development of bicycles.

carl
carl
11 years ago

I appreciate nice, hand made things, but $500? Really? Ia that for the rear hub only, or a front/rear combo?

Topmounter
Topmounter
11 years ago

$500 and they’re not disc brake compatible?!?!

Chris
Chris
11 years ago

“It was the inspiration for Campagnolo to develop the quick release”

Kinda but not exactly. What inspired the quick release wasn’t having to flip the wheel around per se. What did it was a race in 1927 over the freezing Croce d”Aune pass. Back then road wheels were not bolted on as you see on track/fixed gear bikes but rather were held on with large wing nuts so they could be undone by hand rather than requiring a wrench. As Tulio was going over the pass he stopped to change gears only to discover the wing nuts and his hands were so frozen he couldn’t undo them. It was out of this frustration the quick release was born 3 years later. His first derailleur followed three years later.

NotAMachinist
NotAMachinist
11 years ago

They look like old Campagnolo Gran Prix hubs.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28801694@N04/4988154777/

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Topmounter- As it’s a double fixed hub, you COULD put a rotor on one side, and the cog on the other, using a Broakland Disc Brake adapter.

PDXFixed.com
11 years ago

Wow, two fixies on one hub?!?

Justin!
11 years ago

Surly will sell you a fixed/fixed hub. It’s worth the extra cash, even if you run it fixed/free, as sometimes you strip the lockring threads – still can run the hub fixed!

Curtis Odom
11 years ago

The price is for a pair.

truman
truman
11 years ago

Are these Hubs going to be available in the sweetheart edition? Gotta have the hearts!

Stephen
Stephen
11 years ago

freaking ridiculous. I have some great “single speed specific” tracks of swamp land in Florida that i’ll be considering selling if this takes off…

Michael Graves
Michael Graves
11 years ago

I have 3 training rides with hills that I do on a regular basis. Problem is that I need to choose a 17T which is in the middle. Now I can run a 15T/19T. Can’t wait.

Psi Squared
Psi Squared
11 years ago

News flash for those kvetching about price: you don’t have to buy the hubs. It’s a fact.

Larry Falk
Larry Falk
11 years ago

I don’t need the hubs, but I like the axle bolts!

plebs
plebs
11 years ago

You could have two drive sides, for a more symmetrical bike, with a bit of locktite. Would definitely be unique.

caskey
caskey
11 years ago

They look a lot like old english Airlight hubs. The double siding is not as useful as you might think. First you can’t use a large range unless you want to add and remove chain sections.(two teeth difference, maybe three at a stretch). Also you can’t have a back brake unless you like to constantly readjust brake pads. They were designed for track racing on a budget, lots of guys ran a 15/16 hub when I was a kid.

Kurt The Mechanic
Kurt The Mechanic
11 years ago

Good point Caskey. For all of you who posted your excitement about having two different fixed cogs……its been around for years and even companies like formula and origin8 make cheap fix/fix hubs. And yes you will not be able to run a huge difference between the two. If you have a true track frame with long rear entry dropouts you might get a 3 tooth difference but it is uncommon.

After saying all that………..It is a beautiful hub set that would be well worth the money if you have it. If I lived near a Velodrome and had another spot in my bike arsenal for a true track bike, I would consider these hubs the starting point of a beautiful and well performing bike.

Rob
Rob
11 years ago

Double fixed hubs are not new, jesus. Formula, surly, white, phil, list goes on. Only thing this has is old school aesthetic.

Aayush
Aayush
9 years ago

I am having a 7 rear gears attached to it,but i have to buy a disc brake to it but it needs double threaded hub. Where do i get it in India.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.