Say goodbye to pedal kickback 

By Oscar Huckle

Published: Monday, 23 September 2024 at 14:00 PM

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e*thirteen’s new Sidekick hub is claimed to isolate the drivetrain from the rear suspension, eliminating pedal kickback and improving rider speed, control, grip and comfort on descents. 

The Sidekick achieves this by using a proprietary freehub mechanism that decouples the drivetrain from the suspension when freewheeling. 

This isn’t the first kickback-reducing product we’ve seen, with the most notable release the Ochain Active Spider.  The Active Spider is an attachment that enables the chainring to rotate anti-clockwise to a certain degree (depending on which elastomers you choose) independently of the cranks. This gives you what Ochain calls a ‘chainless’ ride feel. 

But e*thirteen reckons its hub solution betters its competitors “because it eliminates the root cause of the problem at its source, unlike other devices that require pedal kickback to occur before masking a portion of it”. 

As well as the Sidekick hub, e*thirteen is also releasing new Grappler Sidekick Flux wheels, a new rim design with engineered compliance for improved grip and comfort, and the all-mountain oriented Sylvan Sidekick wheels. 

The Sidekick hub will retail for £469.95 / $499.95 / €499.95 / AU$843.95 or $559.95 / $589.95 / €589.95 / AU$995.95 with a 7-speed integrated cassette. A matching front hub will set you back £159.95 / $169.95 / €169.95 / AU$287.95. 

How does Sidekick work? 

A proprietary freehub mechanism disengages the drivetrain from the rear wheel when freewheeling. 

What e*thirteen calls an ‘adjustable engagement deadband’ then filters any kickback and chain vibration before it reaches the pedals. This in turn isolates any pedal feedback from the suspension. 

When freewheeling, a spring keeps the Sidekick’s pawls disengaged. When you pedal, what e*thirteen calls the Pawl Pusher lifts the pawls into position, which enables them to engage with the ratchet. 

The Pawl Pusher has three settings (12, 15 and 18 degrees), enabling you to tune the amount of deadband and resulting anti-kickback. 

The Sidekick relies on a steel axle, which e*thirteen says is for stiffness and reliability, and the ratchet is replaceable and serviceable. 

Many claimed benefits 

e*thirteen says the Sidekick will be of particular benefit to those who ride with flat mountain bike pedals, with the hope that the improved stability means your feet are more likely to stay exactly where they’re meant to be, boosting comfort and reducing fatigue in the process.

The brand also claims the shifting will be smoother and quieter. 

In addition, e*thirteen says the reduced drag of the hub results in a speed benefit and the system is said to be “whisper-quiet” when freewheeling. 

e*thirteen says you don’t need to change your rear-shock compression or rebound tune and the Sidekick enables you to spend up to 50 per cent more time in the mid-stroke of the rear-wheel travel, ensuring you’re getting the most out of the available travel. 

The brand goes as far as claiming that, in its tests, it saw a cumulative increase of up to 44 per cent in time spent across the 11 to 70 per cent travel range on downhill mountain bikes. For reference, e*thirteen says it arrived at these figures by using a BYB Telemetry system with a 1,000Hz/sec sampling rate. 

It’s important to recognise that figure will vary for different mountain bike genres. 

The Sidekick hub will be available with SRAM XD or Shimano Microspline, HG and mini-HG freehubs. You can choose between Boost, Super Boost, 157x12mm or 148mm DH mountain bike axle standards. 

e*thirteen claims an XD Boost hub weighs 452g. 

New Flux rims 

As well as offering the Sidekick hubs separately, e*thirteen will also be offering them as part of its new Grappler Sidekick Flux wheels.

The wheels use a new Grappler Flux rim, a downhill or enduro-specific rim claimed to pair durability with a more forgiving and compliant ride. 

e*thirteen describes the rim as being “the ideal choice for riders who challenge the limits of speed and agility on fast, aggressive tracks and trails while desiring more comfort, reduced fatigue and enhanced traction”.   

The Enduro rims sport a 17.5mm depth, and the DH rim 20mm – with both options available in carbon or alloy. 

They have a 30mm internal rim width and are hookless, which e*thirteen says offers better tubeless tyre security and resistance to impact damage. 

Despite the added compliance engineered into the rim, e*thirteen says they’re as strong as its World Cup LG1 and Grappler rims and still offers a lifetime warranty on its carbon rims, with a five-year crash-replacement policy for alloy offerings. 

The alloy rim variants are available in 27.5 or 29in, whereas 27.5in sizes are only offered as a rear-wheel option for the carbon rim variants.