is it possible to make a pedal brake bike into a freewheel bike?

Question

i have a bike that has the brakes on the pedals but i want it to freely pedal backwards(freewheel). if there is a way to change it to freewheel, please tell me how. if not i'll just get a new bike

Answer 1

Yes, but it won't be easy or likely cheap. You need to change the rear wheel, as the "pedal brake" (aka coaster brake) is in the rear hub. I wouldn't recommend just sawing off the brake arm and using the same hub. Once you have a new rear wheel with a regular hub and freewheel (is this a 20" or smaller BMX-type kids bike?), you need to put a caliper brake on the rear (there should be a place to install the brake on the frame in the rear seat stays just above the tire), along with cabling and a brake lever. Bikes designed for coaster brakes may not have a place to install a brake caliper.

You're probably better off selling this bike on craigslist or ebay, and then finding a new one used for close to the same price, and you'll probably come out pretty close in price to where you'd end up if you tried to do the replacement.

Answer 2

I imagine it has a coaster brake on the back with an arm that bolts onto the chain stays. If this is a Huffy or something similar would suggest going into a bike shop and asking them to sell you an entry level mountain bike from a reputable manufacturer. Depends on how you are fixed for finances. You could soldier on with the bike you have by disabling the coaster brake (saw off the arm that bolts to the chain stay) and installing a cheap caliper brake from a scrap bike. The original mountain bikes had coaster brakes but that was around 1978 or '9 if I remember correctly

Answer 3

Get a new rear wheel, without the coaster brake. Of course, get hand brakes for both wheels.

Answer 4

Simply remove the brake.