As I understand it a low engagement hub might result in fewer harsh kickback moments, but will be less predictable, it will sometimes kick hard or not at all, where a high engagement hub will kick more consistently. Once coasting at higher speeds kickback becomes a non issue in either case and that's when you start to feel chain whip and other vibrations (the Ochain device might help here too)
Another way I think of kickback that I haven't seen discussed before is that if the kick is not harsh enough to upset your balance on the cranks, it actually translates from pedal kick-back to wheel kick-forward. You will feel it through the cranks, but if you're poised and strong through the compression you can get a little squirt of forward momentum from it. the Ochain would smooth this out for you, absorbing the shock at the chainring, before feeding it back to the wheel as the chainring rebounds.
Sept. 22, 2020, 11:49 a.m. - BadNudes
As I understand it a low engagement hub might result in fewer harsh kickback moments, but will be less predictable, it will sometimes kick hard or not at all, where a high engagement hub will kick more consistently. Once coasting at higher speeds kickback becomes a non issue in either case and that's when you start to feel chain whip and other vibrations (the Ochain device might help here too) Another way I think of kickback that I haven't seen discussed before is that if the kick is not harsh enough to upset your balance on the cranks, it actually translates from pedal kick-back to wheel kick-forward. You will feel it through the cranks, but if you're poised and strong through the compression you can get a little squirt of forward momentum from it. the Ochain would smooth this out for you, absorbing the shock at the chainring, before feeding it back to the wheel as the chainring rebounds.