Singlespeed cranks

dawnophile

Anyone got any advice on what cranks/BB to put on my singlespeed? No real budget, but I don't want to go overboard an a second bike.

AdamP

Anything you have lying around will be just fine....

my beasty has my older XT crank and BB - http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/1697041/

You can use whatever you want or can buy on budget (try ebay)

If it works good for gears, it works good for proper bikes.

Dunno the rest of your set up, but if you use a non-eccentric BB, get a chain tensioner (surly / gusset / etc).

Adam

dave_hill

Something like a Gusset Pygmy will allow you a greater degree of flexibility when setting up the chain.

spongtastic

buy anything with removable chainrings, you can get deore square taper sets for £20 on ebay. You've then got a spare set of indestructable deore rings if you're running a geared bike.

Only problem at the mo is sourcing decent sqaure taper BB's. UN73's are rare and even UN54s can be difficult to get in 68/113.

I'm running an Alivio/Truvativ LE on the Raleigh Discovery pub bike and XT/UN73 on the Saracen SS.

If you can find one, then Truvativ Stylo SS sets from people upgrading their on ones to geared can be found for £40, but then you've got to make sure your BB shell has been faced, and you may as well buy a Deore M532 from CRC for £45 and keep the rings again.

You might not need a chain tensioner if you can find the magic gear, Don't buy an sram PC1 chain because they're a pain to remove, buy a cheap SRAM 8 speed chain that comes with a powerlink. Blackspire chainrings are cheap and so far mine have been rust free. invest in a chainring bolt tool and you'll need shorter bolts if you don't use a bash ring.

Don't be afraid to try anything you think may work.

dawnophile

I'm currently running a 10 year old crank and middle ring on my singlespeed commuter/winter hack left on there after i broke the rear mech and decided to convert.

The new SS bike will have an eccentric BB, and though I have a nearly new deore crank sitting around, i'm tempted to put something on there that was intended for the purpose. Plus the doere gears will go on another bike

redvee

I've got an Altus AT15 spider and Sugino LH crank, similar style so doesn't look odd running a Haro 46T 1/8" BMX C/Ring with 3/32" chain!! Spinning on a UN52 68/109. Must have 6 UN52 BBs at home of varying lenghts.