ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Flip-flop hub

A flip-flop hub is like a magic trick for bicycles! You know how a normal bicycle wheel only turns in one direction? Well, a flip-flop hub is a special kind of hub that can make the wheel turn in two different directions.

It's called a flip-flop hub because you can flip the wheel around and ride it backwards, just like a clown on a circus bike. But instead of having to take off the wheel and flip it around yourself, the flip-flop hub lets you do the magic trick with a simple twist of the pedals.

So, let's say you're riding your bike and you come to a spot where you need to make a quick getaway. If you have a flip-flop hub, you can twist the pedals backwards and the wheel will turn in the other direction, allowing you to move backwards just as easily as you can ride forwards.

But don't worry, you don't necessarily have to be a magician to use one of these special hubs. Many cyclists use flip-flop hubs to easily switch between a single-speed and a fixed-gear setup on their bike. This way, they can use one bike for both commuting to work and racing on the weekends.

In short, a flip-flop hub is a special kind of bicycle hub that lets you ride your bike backwards by just twisting the pedals. It's like magic!