Bike pegs are predominantly used by BMX riders to perform stunts and freestyle tricks. They are generally fitted on the axel. But can you run pegs on a female axle?
Provided that the female axel is thick and robust enough, preferably 14mm thick, you can run pegs on it.
Overall, female pegs are more robust, more protected, and lighter than their male counterparts.
Those are essentially the qualities that make them an excellent choice for running pegs, as I’ll discuss later.
We’ll also look at what bike pegs and axles are and the role they play.
Can You Run Pegs On A Female Axle?
The short answer to this question is YES. You can run pegs on female bike axels without any problem.
But to enjoy maximum strength, consider using a thicker female axle, especially a 14mm axel. Such an axel is thicker, stronger, and durable.
But before I can explain how you can run pegs on a female axel, let me explain what a bike axel is and how the male and female options differ.
What’s a Bike Axle?
Like the wheels and cogs, the bike’s rotating parts have a supporting element that we call the axel.
So, the axel is essential in supporting the wheel when you pedal, and the same goes for the cogs.
Note, however, that we’ve both male and female axels that differ in appearance.
Male vs. Female Bike Axle
Generally, male bike axels are longer than their female siblings, and they have external threading. Female axels, in contrast, are shorter and have inner threading.
The bike wheel is secured onto the male axel by a set of nuts that goes through the axel’s threads. As for the female axel, the bike wheel is bolted into its head.
In summary:
- A male axel goes through and out of the bike hub and is tightened by a set of nuts.
- A female axel is a hollow tube that stays inside the bike hub (doesn’t stick out)and is bolted on its head.
What’s a Bike Peg?
Bike pegs are metal bars, mainly aluminum, screwed onto the bike wheel. On BMX bikes, their job is to help you perform tricks and freestyle stunts.
But when it comes to other bikes, the pegs help carry an extra passenger on the wheel.
Note, however, that pegs are not best for carrying passengers. If you use them that way, you could weaken the frame or inflate the tire. That mainly happens when you fit them on a mountain bike.
And when it comes to passenger safety, they have to be careful as their feet could slip and get caught by the spokes.
How Can You Run Pegs On Female Axle?
Given that the female axel is shorter and has internal threads, it’s easy to run bike pegs on it. Note that the mechanism is the same as in males.
The difference is that you have to loosen the bolt on the female axel head instead of unscrewing the nut (in the case of male axels).
Now, here are the general steps for running pegs on female axels:
- Remove the bolt on the female axel and those on the washer
- Insert the bolt head into a firm socket and then slide it (the socket) and the washer into the bike peg
- Confirm that bolt’s threads of the bike pegs’ ends stick out
- Now screw in the bolts into the female axel and ensure it is tight
That, my friend, is how you run pegs on female bike axels.
Why Run Pegs on Female Axle? What Are the Advantages of Female Axles?
You probably are asking, ‘why female axels and not male axels?’ What is so special about female axels that make them great for bike pegs?
Well, here are some essential advantages of female axels:
- Female Axels Are Stronger
Compared to male axels of the same thickness, female axels are stronger. Essentially, that’s because they don’t extend a lot and can maintain their shape and strength.
Besides, the fact that male axels are longer than female axels means it’s easy to break them (male axels).
That also means it’s not easy to break a female axel, as it’s often the case with most male axels.
This attribute of female axels makes them the best for doing stunts.
Note, nonetheless, that male axels can be stronger than female axels if they are thicker. In this case, 14mmm male axels are stronger than 3/8″ female axels but not stronger than 14mm female axels.
- Female Axels Are More Protected
The threading on female axels is not as exposed as that on male axels. The bolts, too, are not exposed. As a result, it’s not easy to damage the threading or bolts on a female axel, as it’s often the case with male axels.
That explains why female axels are more durable than male axels.
- Female Axels Are Lighter
Though female axels are more robust than their male counterparts, they only require fewer materials during their manufacturing. So, they are generally lighter.
However, the difference in weight between the two axels is slight (by about 6.5%).
- Female Axels Are Cost-Efficient
Some people argue that female axels are neater and therefore more aesthetic than female axels. I also think so, given that the threading doesn’t stick out.
Can You Put Pegs On Any Bike?
Like I mentioned earlier, bike pegs are only best for BMX, allowing you to perform stunts.
While you can use pegs like NOSTIFY Aluminum Alloy Bike Pegs on other bikes, you’ve to be careful not to overload the bike as you could weaken the frame.
The other issue is that the extra weight could deflate the tire.
Overall, the bike wheels have to be stronger for you to fit pegs.
It’s generally easy to fit pegs on the wheels of regular bikes. You need to screw them onto the wheel at the point where the spokes meet.
If your bicycle is designed to hold pegs, you should locate an open screw head. You’ll then need to screw the pegs onto the exposed head and fit them perfectly onto the wheel.
FAQs on How to Run Pegs on Female Axle
1. What Are Bike Pegs For?
Bike pegs are predominantly used on BMX to perform stunts and freestyle tricks on the road.
And when it comes to other bikes, these tiny cylinders support the weight of the extra passenger that you carry on the wheel.
2. Can You Put Pegs On A Mountain Bike?
Mountain bikes are not as strong as BMX bikes. For that reason, they are not the best for passenger pegs.
If you fit pegs on mountain bikes, you could quickly deflate the tires or weaken the frame.
So, even if it’s possible to fit pegs on mountain bikes, you must be careful not to overload the bike.
3. Are Female Axles Stronger?
Female axels don’t stretch a lot and are not as exposed as male axels. As a result, they are more robust.
The axels won’t break easily, and that makes them more effective in running bike pegs.
4. Can You Put Pegs On Quick-Release Axle?
Adding pegs on a quick-release axel is a good idea because it gives your bike an upgrade. In that case, you get to pull off some exciting tricks on the street that you ordinarily don’t do.
5. How Much Do Bike Pegs Weigh?
Bike pegs are generally lightweight. Most of them average 3 oz. Note, however, that some pegs weigh much more while others weigh less, depending on construction material and size.
6. Are All Bike Pegs The Same Size?
Bike pegs vary in length, with most of them measuring 4-4.7 inch. They also have varying thickness but a majority of them measuring 10-14mm.
7. What Pegs Are Best For A BMX?
BMX pegs need to be extra strong, non-skid, and reliable. They should also be easy to fit and should be able to tolerate reasonable weight.
In that case, here are the best BMX pegs:
- Amotor Bike Pegs – Best Anti-Skid BMX Pegs
- Zelerdo Alloy Bike Pegs – Best for BMX and Regular Bikes
- Leo & His Friends Bike Pegs – Best Heavy-Load BMX Pegs
8. Should I Put Pegs On My BMX?
Pegs are generally handy when it comes to doing stunts and freestyle tricks. So, consider them if you would want to do tricks with your BMX.
But if you are not into such, then there is no need of fitting them.
9. Are Plastic Pegs Good?
Plastic pegs are lightweight, and some last reasonably longer if you don’t overload them. The other advantage is that most plastic pegs are cheaper than metal pegs.
Note, however, that they are not as robust as metal pegs.
Relevant Posts:
Can You Run Pegs On A Female Axle? Closing Thought
It’s generally possible to run pegs on female axels, as it’s the case with male axels. The secret is to go for thicker female axels as they are more robust and more protected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What distinguishes a male BMX axle from a female one?
In your journey through the exciting world of BMX riding, you might have come across the terms ‘male’ and ‘female’ axles. Essentially, when we compare male BMX axles to female ones, the most noticeable difference lies in their diameters. Predominantly, male axles are around 14mm in diameter, making them typically stronger than their female counterparts, which are usually 10mm in diameter. However, this doesn’t mean that female axles are inferior; they’re just different in terms of design and function.
Is it possible to attach pegs to any bike?
If you’re exploring the possibility of adding pegs to your ride, I must tell you, they can’t simply be attached to any bike. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. The axle of your bike plays a vital role in peg compatibility. The common misconception is that they can work on a dirt jumper, road bike, or mountain bike, but in reality, this isn’t feasible. The axle needs to extend beyond the fork or dropouts sufficiently to accommodate and securely hold the peg. This is something I learnt through my personal experience with BMXing.
In what ways do male and female axles differ from one another?
You may think that all bike axles are the same, but I promise you, they’re not. There’s a distinct difference between male and female axles. Traditional ‘male’ axles have a threaded end onto which a wheel nut is wound. On the other hand, ‘female’ axles screw directly into the hub of the bike itself. A number of my BMXing budds have noticed that front hubs tend to be female. However, both male and female designs can be discovered on rear hubs – it’s quite a mixed bag!
Can you expand on what a female axle is?
Sure, I’d be happy to explain! The term ‘female axle’ can sound a bit strange if you’re new to the BMX scene. Simply put, the female part is the axle located inside the hub assembly, acting as the supportive platform where your bearings and driver rest. The male parts can be seen as the bolts supporting the hub and attaching it securely to the frame of your bike. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle, really – everything has its place for the bike to function seamlessly.