Fixed/Single Speed Commuting

gtvlusso

rustncogs wrote:

Hiya,

I'm just hoping for a quick bit of advice, maybe someone can tell me if I'm getting a bit ahead of myself with how easy I think this will be.

I'm currently commuting on my rigid MTB with skinny 1.1 slicks and a 9-speed Deore LX setup. It's really hard to restrain myself from buying a second bike, so to distract myself I was looking at giving SS a go, so here's what I think I need to do so far:

- Spend about £20-£40 on a DMR conversion kit or similar (i.e. sprocket, spacers and tensioner)
- Take off rear mech, front mech, cables & shifter pods and cassette. Take off middle and granny chainring. Chuck all these in cupboard.
- Keep 48t chainring on.
- Fit sprocket and spacers.
- Put 9-speed chain back on.
- Fiddle with spacers until chain-line is dead straight.
- Set chain tensioner.
- Ride.

I know the existing chainring won't be ideal, but will it work? I don't want to wreck it, but I don't want to fork out for a whole new crank and chainwheel set.
I thought maybe this setup would work ok with a BB mounted chain tensioner because it would wrap the chain around the chainwheel a bit more?

Thanks!

A

Sounds about right - just watch the chainline - get it right or it will make horrible noises and wreck the chain. Your chain is probably 3/32nds size - maybe worth getting a heavier duty 1/8th size if you are using a high gear (80" and above).

Above all, enjoy!

gtvlusso

Grindy, Grindy - had to grind some material of my fork ends to fit MKK chaintugs this weekend - Grr! 5mm my arse!

Well worth it though for tensioning - but next time buy the big ones whatever size fork ends you have!

vorsprung

itboffin wrote:

I'm long overdue a new SS frame but I have a couple of questions.

3. Dolan FXE or Ribble TT frame?
The FXE is pretty much a track frame with bosses, the TT basic frame has lovely curves and is very lightweight.

Neither have clearance for mudguards and the ribble one looks like it only takes 20mm tyres

How about a Cotic Road Rat instead?

vorsprung

I changed the cassette on my Orbea the other day

I now have a recycled 16 tooth spocket so I'll be gearing up from 42x17 (66") to 42x16 (70")

Anyone else gearing up now it's warmed up a bit?

gtvlusso

Was considering 48/15 or 50/16 - but we'll see. I still have a few hills to get up to and from work......

KiwiSS

Hi everyone, long time lurker, first time posting.

Does anyone want some Charge Racer handlebars? I changed them off my Racer and think it's a waste to toss them out.

Cheers

spasypaddy

right on the way home this evening my chain tug flew off as i attempted to pull away from lights.

I dont normally ride with a ratchet or a 15mm spanner (apart from the one on my multitool) that can get the rear wheel up tight enough so it was difficult enough getting the wheel off and realigning it due to it locking up.

What can i purchase (preferably from evans) that i can attach to my bottle mounts preferably?

wgwarburton

Hi,
Handy with an angle grinder? Cut the (other) end off a 15mm ring spanner and reshape it as a tyre lever: A single tool that does what's necessary for a fixie.

Won't mash up your nuts like an adjustable or multi-tool. Can tighten with your foot, if you really want to clamp down...
To fit your bottle mounts, drill two holes in the shaft to suit.

Cheers,
W.

gtvlusso

They should bring out a swiss army knife for fixie riders....:-)

Feltup

spasypaddy wrote:

right on the way home this evening my chain tug flew off as i attempted to pull away from lights.

I dont normally ride with a ratchet or a 15mm spanner (apart from the one on my multitool) that can get the rear wheel up tight enough so it was difficult enough getting the wheel off and realigning it due to it locking up.

What can i purchase (preferably from evans) that i can attach to my bottle mounts preferably?

I bought a pedros trixie from Chainreaction.

unclemalc

vorsprung wrote:

I changed the cassette on my Orbea the other day

I now have a recycled 16 tooth spocket so I'll be gearing up from 42x17 (66") to 42x16 (70")

Anyone else gearing up now it's warmed up a bit?

42/18 to 42/16 on the Spesh. I may take it round my regular road route to see if I make it uphill... :shock:

wgwarburton

Feltup wrote:

I bought a pedros trixie from Chainreaction.

No tyre lever. Pah!

Cheers,
W.

vanquished

WGWarburton wrote:

Feltup wrote:

I bought a pedros trixie from Chainreaction.

No tyre lever. Pah!

Cheers,
W.

I quite like the look of this:

http://www.ridepdw.com/goods/tools/3wrenchoraw

They had it up on the front page of BikeRadar a week or so ago - seems to be a slightly neater take on Surly's Jethro Tule...

bratboy

If you have quality wheels and tyres you don't really need a tyre lever, just a strong pair of hands to roll the tyre off and I never use levers to put the tyre back on. (mitts or gloves are useful though to get enough grip)

wgwarburton

vanquished wrote:

I quite like the look of this:

http://www.ridepdw.com/goods/tools/3wrenchoraw
... seems to be a slightly neater take on Surly's Jethro Tule...

That's the fella! If I'd seen that I'd probably have bought one instead of making mine.

Anyone seen a fakenger with one of these on a cord around his neck, yet? I reckon there'll be a sighting before the summer's out... :-)

Cheers,
W.

defdaz

Does anyone commute on a fixie / ss from bristol to bath? Just wondering what it's like riding a fixie on the hills (my mind says EEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!)?

Thanks,

Daz

vorsprung

defdaz wrote:

Does anyone commute on a fixie / ss from bristol to bath? Just wondering what it's like riding a fixie on the hills (my mind says EEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!)?

Thanks,

Daz

The cycle path has no hills. I don't live there. Is the path clogged up with horses and baby buggies first thing in the morning or someat?

gtvlusso

defdaz wrote:

Does anyone commute on a fixie / ss from bristol to bath? Just wondering what it's like riding a fixie on the hills (my mind says EEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!)?

Thanks,

Daz

No worrries - I do all of Bristol in 48/16 and surrounding countryside - hard on Park St and Bridge Valley Road, but good elsewhere.

Bristol to Bath path is flat - I would go with a higher gear, 52 x 16 or something as it is so flat.

I have ridden it many times fixed - it is not a problem.

el_presidente

On-one are doing Pompino frames for £99 at the moment which is quite frankly ridiculous

itboffin

el_presidente wrote:

On-one are doing Pompino frames for £99 at the moment which is quite frankly ridiculous

I wish you hadn't told me that ......

il_principe

itboffin wrote:

el_presidente wrote:

On-one are doing Pompino frames for £99 at the moment which is quite frankly ridiculous

I wish you hadn't told me that ......

Oh dear God that is tempting, in white too!

itboffin

Yup and I'd get that much for my Raleigh 531 steel frame on fleabay, mmmm new bike smell - yummy!

majormantra

Don't forget, the £99 doesn't include forks.

Matthew

spasypaddy

grrrr i cant justify buying it.... would be so nice but i have a fixed and i want it for training so theres no justification to buying it

itboffin

spasypaddy wrote:

grrrr i cant justify buying it.... would be so nice but i have a fixed and i want it for training so theres no justification to buying it

Do you have a pic of your ss/fg i've not heard of that make.

spasypaddy

of course mate, here you go

ive just removed the mudguards for the 'summer'

itboffin

Nice v nice, where did you get it from and is that steel?

I really like the fork rake, are they carbon?

an is that a jelly mould?

spasypaddy

yeah its steel, from a shop called The Cyclestore in North London (Friern Barnet to be more precise).

Yeah carbon forks, need a little bit of comfort, do wish i'd got the steel forks (or the carbon forks that are shaped like steel) but these are good, just not as much clearance for the front guard as i'd like

also yes, thats a spaceman jelly mould. the pic is from when i got the bike last october

spasypaddy

also i want to know how fast i need to be going to hit over 200rpm... i did 177rpm today at 35.7mph. Anyone know how to work it out?

vanquished

spasypaddy wrote:

also i want to know how fast i need to be going to hit over 200rpm... i did 177rpm today at 35.7mph. Anyone know how to work it out?

(35.7mph / 177rpm) * 200rpm

suggests you'd be doing 40.338mph at 200rpm

(simple equation, basically - speed is proportional to pedal revs - faster you pedal, the quicker you go, so divide known speed by known revs to get your gearing multiplication factor (speed at 1rpm), and then mutiply that by your target revs to determine ultimate velocity).