You Get What You Pay For (Sometimes)

Product Review: White Industries Eno Freewheel

My decision to build my brown Cross Check up as a single-speed meant that I would be dealing with a single-speed freewheel for the first time. My mantra for building up this bike was "be thrifty." I tried to quell my urges to always have "the finest". The inexpensive Cane Creek S3 headset that I picked up is quite serviceable, though I could have dropped a lot more on a Chris King headset, the difference being mostly the bling factor of the CK. I got the Tange bottom bracket instead of the much spendier Phil Wood bottom bracket (which I have on two of my current bikes). It feels unnatural when I try to be thrifty, but this economy is affecting us all, so even my frivolous ventures have to be on a smaller scale. When I am building a completely unnecessary fifth bike, I try to tighten my belt when it comes to the parts. The wheelset that I had built for me came in at about $200, when my dream wheelset would have been pushing $700. And so far, the wheels seem quite rugged.

In keeping with the "cheapskate" theme of this bike, I tried to be sensible and order the inexpensive freewheel instead of the White Industries one. This is where I may have blundered. When looking at freewheels, it became clear that my choices were the $20 price point of the ACS Claws and Shimano, the $10 Dicta Freewheel and at the other end of the scale, the White Industries. I went with the ACS Claws. From what I initially saw in my research, it seemed fairly durable and inexpensive. Once I installed it and took my bike for a test drive I noticed the noise – "Clunkity, clunkity, clunka, clunka, clunkity, clunkity, clunka, clunk." What the hell is that?' I wasn't sure where it was coming from, but it was definitely coming from the drivetrain area. It was only while I was pedaling. It was actually kind of jazzy sounding "Clunkity, clunkity, clunka, clunka, clunkity, clunkity, clunka, clunk." If the sound were not so worrisome, I may have been tempted to snap my fingers and recite beat poetry along with it. I knew it wasn't the hubs because it was not present when I wasn't pedaling. I therefore deduced that it was the bottom bracket, chain, chainring or freewheel. After getting home, I put it up on the rack to investigate. I checked the bottom bracket and could not find any play in the cranks, so I ruled that out. The more I looked into it, the more it seemed that the freewheel was the culprit. I took off the chain and turned the cog. It seemed OK, but there was a little play in cog. I could move it back and forth slightly.

My next plan of action was to see if anyone else has had this problem. After various internet searches for freewheel + clunking sound, ACS Claws + knocking, ACS + clunk, and saw that many people had this happen. The consensus seemed to be "That's just what they do." The verdict seemed to be the same for Shimano and Dicta. I don't think I could live with that for very long. These were originally intended for BMX bikes, and apparently the BMX set doesn't care about noises. I suppose that pretty much every part of a BMX bike is going to clunk eventually.

But I had visions of quietly pedaling down the avenue with the simplicity that only single speeds can bring. Sure, many talk of the "zen" of fixed-gear riding, being one with the road and all that hooey, but it is not the same. They talk about the bike being stripped down to just the bare necessities, no coasting, no shifting, and usually no brakes. I guess that could be true if it were your only bike, but I don't think it is so if you also ride geared bikes a lot. I recently sold my fixed gear, not that I didn't like it, but it was a little impractical. If "zen" means "stress", then I guess they might be correct. The first time you forget that you are on a fixed-gear and raise yourself off the saddle to coast over a bump in the road is enough to get the nerves on edge and the butt on asphalt. I did have a front brake on mine, but there is always the worry that it is just not enough. My geezerly knees are in no shape to be doing the spectacular skid stops I hear about. A single speed, on the other hand, seems like pure simplicity to me, even with the extra mechanism to allow coasting thrown in. Obviously there is nothing wrong with gears and they definitely have their place, but I just wanted a simple, inconspicuous around-town bike, and riding down the street on a bike that sounds like a washing machine with a sack of quarters in the spin cycle didn't fit the bill.

While perusing the web looking for answers to my problem there were several solutions that came up the most often: 1. Grease: Cover the entire thing with grease. Shoot grease into every opening. Soak it in oil. Get that thing so lubed up so that every time you try to pick it up it goes flying into the air like a wet bar of soap and you have to chase it around for an hour or so before you can get it installed. 2. The Rube Goldberg Method: "Oh, piece of cake, all you need to do is connect the thing-a-ma-bob to the doohickey, get yourself a Z90 Bertram C-type flange, pop it under the Brunswick 2-inch flim-flam gasket and there you go. 3. Get a White Industries Freewheel.

I decided to go with option three. After being unable to find one at the area bike shops (One of them "almost" had it. "It's in our computer, let me see if I can find it." After being put on hold long enough to endure "Don't Stop Believin'" in its entirety, and half of "Cold as Ice", I finally got my answer – "I guess we must have sold it."), I ordered it online, along with the tool I would need to remove the old one. Two days later it arrived on my doorstep. Before I even saw the cog itself, it seemed like a quality product. It came in a nice little box, not just in a plastic bag with the top stapled shut. Upon slowly opening the box as if it were a present from Tiffany's, there it was in all its shining glory. I could tell right off the bat that this was a definite step up from the previous one. Holding it in my hand and turning it, it felt much smoother. I tried to wiggle the cog back and forth, but it wasn't budging. This was one precision component.

I removed the old one, replaced it with the White Industries Eno and put the wheel back on the bike. With some trepidation I carried my bike downstairs, afraid that it might not be the freewheel after all, but just a result of my shoddy bike-building skills. What if I spent four times as much as I did on the original freewheel and that wasn't even the problem? After the first few pedal strokes, I knew my fears were unwarranted. This was what I had envisioned! Quietly pedaling down the street listening to the sweet trill of the 50-pound crows that seem to have driven all the other birds out of the neighborhood and the gentle honking of motorists goading each other along, I thought, this is what I should have gotten in the first place.

If I ever again need another freewheel I am definitely not going to skrimp. But unless it is for another bike, I don't see that happening. White Industries freewheels are completely rebuildable and I foresee many years of use from this product.

From what I can tell, it seems there are two classes of single speed freewheel, all others then far above those, White Industries.

Here is what White Industries has to say about their freewheels:

Freewheels have notoriously been considered the Achilles' heel to the drive train system. Traditionally, the freewheel has been considered a disposable component that should be replaced on a regular basis. We approached the component differently. We set out to create and manufacture a freewheel that would be durable, reliable, and easily maintained. We succeeded in our endeavors and the ENO freewheel is now regarded as an industry leader. The freewheel utilizes a sealed cartridge bearing instead of a loose ball system. The advantage of the cartridge bearing is that it is sealed from the elements such as mud, grit, and water. The other benefit is that the bearing is nicely contained in one simple unit and easily pulled and replaced when worn. The ENO freewheel features a machined inner driver and machined outer gear case resulting in a freewheel that runs concentrically without the tight loose spots common to other freewheels. 36t engagement system and a case hardened, electroless nickel plated outer gear case make this freewheel a perfect addition to your single speed. Made in the USA.

I can see why BMX and even mountain bike riders might not mind a knocking freewheel, they may not even be able to hear it. Besides, they are probably breaking and replacing things all the time. But for around town utility bike, I don't know of any other choice but the White Industries.

White Industries Website