Single speed conversion
Sea_Green_Incorruptible
Posts: 431
OK folks. All this talk of single-speeds and fixies has got me interested. So interested in fact that I’m toying with the idea of converting my old roadie (Raleigh Ultimate with very tired Tiagra groupset, drops and totally knackered STI levers. Sound frame and carbon forks. Wheels OK-ish. 7000+ miles ‘on the clock’) to a flat-bar fixie if possible, single-speed if this proves to be too tricky.
Various websites around telling me what to do and it all seems straightforward-ish. The main difficulty seems to be to do with maintaining the chain tension on a multi-gear conversion with vertical dropouts.
So… a couple of specific questions for those in the know:
1) First, the dropouts on the bike are replaceable. Anyone know if there’s such a thing as replaceable horizontal dropouts I can get instead to get round the chain tension problem? Not sure how specific they would have to be to fit my frame mind.
2) As I said, the current groupset’s ‘tired’ and the wheels are only OK. Which means I wouldn’t be averse to changing the lot if necessary rather than trying to clean them all up and convert them. Is there anyone out there who manufactures this kind of conversion kit: e.g. new wheel with fixed hub + single speed crankset + chain? Where would I buy such a thing? And any idea of what sort of price I could expect to pay?
3) And would replacing the whole drive train help with the chain tension issue (i.e. the chain would be designed to fit) or would I still be left with ‘issues’ here? Any easy fixes that anyone knows of?
Anyway. Sorry for all the questions. I’m digging around on t’web myself but any help/advice/wisdom from existing single-speeders would be greatly appreciated. I’m really getting excited by the idea at the moment. Cool project for my Xmas leave!
Various websites around telling me what to do and it all seems straightforward-ish. The main difficulty seems to be to do with maintaining the chain tension on a multi-gear conversion with vertical dropouts.
So… a couple of specific questions for those in the know:
1) First, the dropouts on the bike are replaceable. Anyone know if there’s such a thing as replaceable horizontal dropouts I can get instead to get round the chain tension problem? Not sure how specific they would have to be to fit my frame mind.
2) As I said, the current groupset’s ‘tired’ and the wheels are only OK. Which means I wouldn’t be averse to changing the lot if necessary rather than trying to clean them all up and convert them. Is there anyone out there who manufactures this kind of conversion kit: e.g. new wheel with fixed hub + single speed crankset + chain? Where would I buy such a thing? And any idea of what sort of price I could expect to pay?
3) And would replacing the whole drive train help with the chain tension issue (i.e. the chain would be designed to fit) or would I still be left with ‘issues’ here? Any easy fixes that anyone knows of?
Anyway. Sorry for all the questions. I’m digging around on t’web myself but any help/advice/wisdom from existing single-speeders would be greatly appreciated. I’m really getting excited by the idea at the moment. Cool project for my Xmas leave!
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Comments
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try the 'special interests' forum
see http://www.hubjub.co.uk/ for SS related stuff
personally I can't see the point in SS* - and I have tried it - but each to his own.
*[apart from my bmx of course]Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer0 -
Ahhh. Hadn't seen that forum. Will post there instead...0
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redddraggon wrote:Surely you need fixed for track racing?
If that's a question, yes. I think there are multi's as well. 2, 3.0 -
It would seem that you could take all the cogs off of a multi cassette and slide the cog you prefer back on and fill the rest with spacers. Or buy a new wheel. 'Don't know, but sounds like a challenge.0
