Conversion to Single Speed

[wardfoto]

you can also magic gear the bike. just run an even/odd (typically) chainring/cog combo, use a halflink, and viola! singlespeed, with no tensioner, and no white industries hub needed.
now if you've got the cheddar, white industries eno is THE way to go.
in addition, make sure to use an actual singlespeed cog, as the pieces from a cassette are ramped to induce shifting, and i've found through experience and other riders that this will typically throw your chain right off under hard acceleration.
i'm sure others have thoughts on this, but it has worked for me everytime so far.
atoyot- that's a great looking old puegeot. love those old school bikes...

 

[Fast Eddy]

make sure to use an actual singlespeed cog, as the pieces from a cassette are ramped to induce shifting, and i've found through experience and other riders that this will typically throw your chain right off under hard acceleration.

Ramps help pull the chain onto the next cog. They won't cause ghost shifting. SS cogs typically have a bit taller teeth. If you have proper tension, cassette cogs work fine.

 

[wardfoto]

true. and it shouldn't. however, after messing with it for four or five rides, changing tension by sliding the wheel forward or backwards in the drops, it never happened again once i converted to a ss cog.
just my experience.
oh, and while it's fairly obvious at this point, i, too, am a singlespeeder. though the addiction has taken over, and now i'm a 29'er singlespeeder.

 

[Lugboot]

Next you'll go full rigid 29er SS . . .

and then full rigid 29er SS fixie . . .

and then you'll be buying cogs from a guy i know . . .

and then you'll get a god complex . . .

Stop it now!!!

 

[bagh33ra]

I personally do not like chain tensioners. The bikes I have converted to SS that had vertical drop outs I converted to custom horizontal with the use of drills and grinders! Just don't take to much metal off!

Dude, can you elaborate on that, or even better post up a build thread with some pics? My ghetto SS is on the shelf right now for want of either an ENO or some fabrication. I considered trying to re-machine the dropouts but wouldn't really know where to start.

Someone I know also suggested just leaving them vertical and using the sheldon brown calc to get the gear sizing and chain length appropriate for my stay length. Haven't looked into that as an option though.

 

[atoyot]

Dude, can you elaborate on that, or even better post up a build thread with some pics? My ghetto SS is on the shelf right now for want of either an ENO or some fabrication. I considered trying to re-machine the dropouts but wouldn't really know where to start.

Someone I know also suggested just leaving them vertical and using the sheldon brown calc to get the gear sizing and chain length appropriate for my stay length. Haven't looked into that as an option though.

Well it depends on what you are trying to grind. If it is a high dollar frame of course you may not want to cut it. I have a couple frames in my garage. Let me know what you have.

Basically, once you get your single cog on the rear...or decide which cog from the cog set you are going to use check your chain tension. If it is to loose or too tight you may need to take a little metal out to accommodate the adjustment needed. A half link may work instead.

If you are trying to build a fixed gear on a bike with vertical drop outs...don't. It might be alright for a SS freewheel but I would never do it with a fixed gear!



a generic frame I grinded

my first commuter (horizontal drop outs!)

 

[wxm]

If your goal was to save money, single gear is not necessarily going to get what you want. At least it is true in my case. I have been riding fixie for years now, started with a simple fixed conversion, then soon followed by wheelset and crank upgrade... This is because single or fixed gear requires much more precision to get the drive train right, evne though it needs less maintenance once it is set. So get a $30 hanger, you are back in business. Never the less, I am talk in the mud, a forum with flood of experienced wrenchers that appreciate the good machines! I have to admit once you get used to the fixie or track you never want to look back.

Here is my commuting ride, fed up with difficulty of stopping, I converted it to a fixie two years ago. It has been good addition to my other track bikes, and I am glad that I did that. Unlike my cruiser, it needs no attention at all.

 

[atoyot]

Here is my commuting ride, fed up with difficulty of stopping, I converted it to a fixie two years ago. It has been good addition to my other track bikes, and I am glad that I did that. Unlike my cruiser, it needs no attention at all.

I ride my fixed gear all the time now for fun. My commuter still has a free wheel. It is a very strange feeling when you try to slow down and the bike just keeps moving!

 

[MT-PTK]

My Beater commuter SS.

I threw together a SS commuter from a bunch of parts I had laying around. I wanted to use the bomb proof Aerospoke on the rear but it couldn't be locked out. I freind gave me the Surley tensioner to take up the slack and I've had no issues with it at all. I know some people don't like them but it works fine...and it's a beater.
The Eno is a workable option for vertical drop outs if you have the dough and want to build up a wheel.

I just picked up a set of Velocity Deep V's F/F for my fixie project. I'm looking forward to finishing that up soon.



William

 

[atoyot]

Sweet set up! I still don't like the tensioner but still a sweet ride!

 

[wardfoto]

well, about that whole rigid 29'er ss thing....:whoops:
as for the rest... seems unlikely.
fixie on the trail is an awesome sight to behold, but i'm just not that good.
i work in a bike shop, so your guy will cost me more than my guy...
and i'm the slowest guy in my crew by a site, so the god complex is not gonna happen... hehehe

Next you'll go full rigid 29er SS . . .

and then full rigid 29er SS fixie . . .

and then you'll be buying cogs from a guy i know . . .

and then you'll get a god complex . . .

Stop it now!!!

 

[Lugboot]

i work in a bike shop, so your guy will cost me more than my guy...

I mean this guy:

TomiCOGs

i could use a bike shop gig--it'd save me some cash, fo sho!