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Questions and answers about sports

Why would a bike pedal backwards, but not forward?

5 min read

Asked by: Mott Wilson

Originally Answered: If I pedal forward, my bike will move forward, but if I pedal backward, why won’t my bike move back? The answer is inside the rear (driven) wheel. It’s called a freewheel hub.

How do you fix a bike that won’t pedal forward?

Quote from video: They just kind of stay stuck down and so when you pedal forward they just slip over the teeth. And the wheel doesn't turn. So in that case what you want to do is flush out the old grease.

Why is my bike pedaling backwards?

If the wheel is turning backwards reasonably quickly when pedaling backwards, the freehub/freewheel is shot and you need a new one. As for the chain becoming loose when backpedaling, there could be several causes: Freewheel/Freehub is sticky (you’d need to service it)

What is it called when you pedal backwards?

A coaster brake on a bike is a braking system that is set in motion by pedaling backward. As a result, coaster brakes are also known as backpedal brakes.

Can a bike pedal backwards?

The portion of the chain that wraps around the Small Wheel Sprocket is traveling in the backward (CCW) direction which doesn’t cause a problem because it is a freewheel, just like how you can pedal backwards on a bike while coasting forward.

Why are bike pedals locked?

A pedal lock is something that happens with all bicycles, and it can happen while you are riding. It is caused by the pedals rotating in place because dirt, water, grease, or rust has built up on them over time.

Why is my bike pedal stuck?

Unfortunately, bike pedals do get stuck sometimes. This can be due to the elements of nature, such as water and mud. Maybe a lot of rust has built-up in the pedals. Or maybe they were just over-tightened when assembled.

What happens when you pedal backwards?

It might sound a bit, um, contrary, but the research team says that pedaling backward could be beneficial for cyclists, changing the way the leg muscles are stimulated just as marathoners benefit from working sprints into training sessions and weight lifters benefit from minute changes in barbell grip.

Can mountain bikes pedal backwards?

Half turn or so, ABSOLUTELY. I do it all the time. Sometimes I do it because I miss where I want my pedal to be the first time around. But I never sit there and coast, rotating the cranks backwards the whole way down the mountain.

How do pedals spin backwards?

Re: Bike Pedals Spins Backwards When Bike Rolls Back



If chain suck is only happening when backpedalling then it’s a chain routing problem. A gummy freewheel body will result in the wheel spinning when backpedalling and chain suck when freewheeling forward.

What does back peddling mean?

: to retreat or move backward.

Can you pedal backwards on a road bike?

Pedalling backwards while the derailleur is in one gear, but the chain is in another will cause problems, you cannot pedal backwards to change gears, only forwards.

What is freewheeling in cycling?

“Freewheel” means to roll along on a bike without turning the pedals. The front and rear wheels will be spinning but the pedals can stay still, or even be moving backwards. You can freewheel on most types of bicycles. For example, mountain bikes, cruiser bikes, ebikes, and road bikes can all be used to coast on.

How do you unlock bike pedals?

Quote from video: Put all your weight downwards. And there's nothing below that if it suddenly comes loose you're going to hit your handle anything hold it solid put your weight on the spanner. And it should loosen.

How do you loosen a stuck pedal?

Quote from video: You can see it's a massive wrench. You can see it has. Pretty good jaws. And they're offset in such a way that they allow you to line it up for maximum leverage for removing the pedal.

How do you remove a seized pedal?

Pedals Turn But Rear Wheel Doesn’t – Bike Won’t Move – How …

Is it better to cycle backwards?

The cycling study showed that pedaling backward on the Cascade cycle elicited higher heart-rate and energy-cost values than pedaling at identical workloads in the forward direction.

Can you pedal backwards on a road bike?

Pedalling backwards while the derailleur is in one gear, but the chain is in another will cause problems, you cannot pedal backwards to change gears, only forwards.

What is a bicycle freewheel?

The freewheel is a block of cogs that screws directly onto threads on the rear wheel. There is no need for it to be mounted onto a hub. It typically comes with anywhere between 1 to 7 cogs, and it is rare to find a freewheel on a modern bike. You do however find them on some new single-speed bikes.

What does a freewheel look like?

Quote from video: You kind of like look down there's like a little recessed area and so like you want to see whether there's a area for the tool to attach to and so this is the freewheel I took off the wheel.

What is the difference between a freewheel and a freehub?

Freewheel vs Freehub – Thread Differences



One of the main difference is that freewheels typically have a threaded hub. Bikes equipped with cassettes do not have a threaded hub, but instead, slip onto the hub with splines. But the differences, without getting too technical — go deeper than that.