Pedal kickback is a major issue for bike designers, as it impairs the performance of the suspension. The crank moves upwards when the rear suspension compresses and presses against the rider's feet and legs. This leads to more fatigue and less control.

The Italian manufacturer Ochain has already addressed the problem and has a working solution on the market with a chainring spider that can be rotated a few degrees. Now parts and wheel specialist ethirteen is following suit: A cleverly designed freewheel offers a few degrees of play. On board are three pawls which, as usual, ensure the frictional connection of the freehub with the hub shell. In addition - and this is the innovation - there is a fourth, small pawl. This makes it possible for the hub to rotate forward by 12, 15 or 18 degrees as desired, and thus exert no force on the chain. 

According to ethirteen, this allows the rear triangle to be active more often in the middle range of the suspension, making it particularly effective. As the crank is less of a rodeo, the ride is quieter and less tiring. Decoupling the drive and rear triangle also increases the downhill speed, as confirmed by numerous downhill racers in the promotional clip.