High Efficiency Bicycle Hub

A bicycle hub assembly, comprising:

• a. a hub comprising a central axis, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface defining an axial hole, wherein the hub runs near frictionlessly on an axle coaxial to the central axis, the axle inserted in the axial hole;
• b. a toothed engagement ring fitted inside the axial hole on the inner peripheral surface of the hub;
• c. a driver mounted to the axle;
• d. a retractable engagement member operatively connected to the driver, wherein the retractable engagement member comprises a plurality of pawls intermittently and angularly dispersed about an outer periphery of the driver, each pawl comprising a pawl spring mounted underneath each respective pawl biasing each respective pawl radially outwards away from the driver, and a reciprocal retraction member protruding axially away from the pawl;
• e. a retraction device frictionally mounted on the axle adjacent to the driver, the retraction device comprising a retaining ring mounted on the axle adjacent to the driver and a plurality of retraction springs intermittently and angularly spaced around an outer periphery of the retaining ring, each retraction spring protruding angularly outwards away from the retaining ring, wherein the retaining ring comprises a circumferential stop protruding axially away from an outer periphery of the retaining ring upon which the retraction springs exert an outwardly biasing force,
• f. wherein the driver, the retractable engagement member, and the retraction device are arranged inside the hub such that forward rotation of the driver engages the retractable engagement member with the toothed engagement ring and wherein reverse rotation of the driver completely disengages the retractable engagement member from the toothed engagement ring by sliding the reciprocal retraction member underneath the retraction spring.