High efficiency bicycle hub

1. 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.

2. 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; and

e. a retraction device frictionally mounted on the axle adjacent to the driver, the retraction device comprising a plurality of retraction members, 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 wherein the retractable engagement member comprises a plurality of pawls intermittently and angularly dispersed about an outer periphery of the driver, each pawl comprising:

i. a pawl spring mounted underneath each respective pawl biasing each respective pawl radially outwards away from the driver; and

ii. a reciprocal retraction member protruding axially away from the pawl,

f. wherein the retraction device further comprises:

i. a retaining ring mounted on the axle adjacent to the driver,

ii. wherein the plurality of retraction members are intermittently and angularly spaced around an outer periphery of the retaining ring, each retraction member protruding angularly outwards away from the retaining ring,

iii. wherein forward rotation of the driver engages the pawls with the toothed engagement ring and wherein reverse rotation of the driver slides each reciprocal retraction member underneath one of the retraction members, thereby retracting each pawl radially inward and disengaging each pawl from the toothed engagement ring.

3. The bicycle hub assembly of claim 2 , wherein the retaining ring is frictionally engaged to the axle such that the retaining ring can apply a small torsional resistance before rotating about the axle in either direction.

4. The bicycle hub assembly of claim 3 , wherein the retaining ring comprises a circumferential stop protruding axially away from an outer periphery of the retaining ring upon which the retraction members exert an outwardly biasing force.

5. The bicycle hub of claim 4 , wherein each retraction member is a spring element.

6. A method of near frictionless coasting, comprising:

a. providing an axle having a central axis; a hub coaxially mounted on the axle, the hub comprising an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface defining an axial hole, wherein the hub runs near frictionlessly on the axle; a toothed engagement ring fitted inside the axial hole on the inner peripheral surface of the hub; a driver mounted to the axle; a retractable engagement member operatively connected to the driver; and a retraction device frictionally mounted on the axle adjacent to the driver; and

b. reversing the direction of the driver to distance the retractable engagement member from the toothed engagement ring,

wherein reversing the direction of the driver radially retracts the retractable engagement member;

c. sliding the retractable engagement member underneath a retraction member to retract and hold the retractable engagement member in a disengaged state.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the retractable engagement member is a pawl.