Spesh Singlecross as a fixie

Feltup

Hi Jim,

I wonder if you could fixie it for me to ride my singlecross as a fixie? The problem I have is that I need an appropriate lock ring for the 16T cog I want to put on there. Is the dura ace lock ring compatible and any ideas where I can get one preferably on line?

Yours truly,

Wannabe Fixie

don_don

http://www.hubjub.co.uk

I take it you'll be using some sort of 'magic gear' set-up with a flip-flop hub? Presumably the Singlecross has a vertical drop-out?

I don't see any compatibility issue with the lock-ring itself, as long as you have a hub with threading for a fixed sprocket and lockring

il_principe

don_don wrote:

http://www.hubjub.co.uk

I take it you'll be using some sort of 'magic gear' set-up with a flip-flop hub? Presumably the Singlecross has a vertical drop-out?

I don't see any compatibility issue with the lock-ring itself, as long as you have a hub with threading for a fixed sprocket and lockring

Surely it has horizontal dropouts?

don_don

Surely it has horizontal dropouts?

Right, that makes sense. I was thinking of my old Tricross so got confused (or more so than usual)
:oops:

Feltup

The single cross has horizontal drop outs and a flip flop hub. Thanks for the link!

bigease

I am riding mine as a fixie. I have a 16T fixed cog on. At the moment I have not put a lock ring on, although I have brought one from charlie the bike monger. It is a standard lockring and I believe that it is the correct one although I haven't tried it yet.

It was only a tenner so if I got it wrong then I haven't lost too much. Once I had changed the tires to some 25mm road tires it is now a flying machine and I am loving it.

Feltup

Cool, can't wait to get out on mine. I am leaving the cross tyres on because there is the possibility that I can head home via a mix of road and bridlepath (this would mean I escape the half mile long 1:10 hill).

I am still not sure I can cope with 1:10 hill on a 42x18 let alone a 42x16.

bigease

Sounds like a sensible plan to me. Have fun!

Matt-B

I can second the Charlie recommendation, I bought a surly lock ring from him for exactly this purpose (along with a 17t sprocket, because I'm more of a wimp than most?) and it worked a treat. Went for a ride, then re-tightened the lockring, and it hasn't slipped since.

Hurrah!

blorg

Technically you don't need a lockring unless you are going to skid stop, but I would certainly put one on if you have the option. Grease it and remember it is reverse thread.

My own Tricross came with a lockring already attached to the fixed side of the hub, I'm just waiting on a 15T sprocket.

I have managed up to 25% gradient on 46-17 (between 42-16 and 42-15) but anything over 8% for me on that gearing is pretty uncomfortable and definately not efficient.

Note if you are buying a sprocket you want 1/8 (wide type) for the Tricross.

Feltup

Thanks for that information, really useful.

As for getting up steep gradients in silly gears, I did Wrynose Pass east side in the Lake District once on a 42-21 but it was one hell of a grind. I was younger, lighter and ignorant of the pain I was going to put myself through!

majormantra

blorg wrote:

Technically you don't need a lockring unless you are going to skid stop, but I would certainly put one on if you have the option.

Even if you aren't skidding you'll want to control your speed some of the time by resisting the pedals. Granted, the loads involved aren't nearly as great as with a skid but I agree that there's no reason not to have a lockring if your hub will take one.

Matthew

blorg

I completely agree Matthew, I'm only thinking of situations where your hub will not take one. You will not remove a well tightened sprocket from pedal resistance, you can do however from skid stopping. A "suicide" hub is IMHO not terribly dangerous- as long of course as you are running brakes.

unclemalc

Feltup wrote:

I am still not sure I can cope with 1:10 hill on a 42x18 let alone a 42x16.

My thoughts exactly, if I extend my usual route. I may try tomorrow if it feels right...

Go for it... :shock:

Feltup

42x18 up the 1:10 hill was fine last night. When I say fine I mean I only coughed part of a lung up. So I am now thinking that 42x17 is the way forwards for fixed riding around here and not 42x16 until I get a lot stronger.

unclemalc

Feltup wrote:

42x18 up the 1:10 hill was fine last night. When I say fine I mean I only coughed part of a lung up. So I am now thinking that 42x17 is the way forwards for fixed riding around here and not 42x16 until I get a lot stronger.

Similar, but might have been a different bit of lung... :shock:
I told myself that I would return on the 42/16 when I was fitter....

29029

I have a 2008 SingleCross with a 16T fixed sprocket and have noticed the chain line is not as straight as with the supplied 18T freewheel.

Have you noticed this, is it a problem?
Can you get fixed sprockets with a greater offset from the HUB or use a spacer?

Thanks.

Ade.

blorg

Ade, you definately have it screwed in tight with the shoulder against the hub? I am pretty sure mine is OK. You certainly shouldn't need to fiddle with spacers as the bike is custom made as a SS/fixed.

Anyone having trouble getting up hills etc- are you on the stock tyres? There is a _major_ difference putting on 700x25 slicks, it makes the bike a lot nippier and easier in general.

29029

Can you tell me what make of fixed sprocket you are using?

Mine is a grey steel one from Pearsons, not sure of the brand.

Thanks.

Feltup

Which way round did you put the sprocket on? Gear to the outside i.e. away from the spokes with the extended section inwards?

I have just been using it on the stock tyres as I have taken it off road on a couple of rides. I am sure it adds to the drag on the road which might account for why my quads were feeling it after 65 miles. 1 in 10 hills are hard work but I can grind them out.

don_don

Feltup wrote:

I have just been using it on the stock tyres as I have taken it off road on a couple of rides. I am sure it adds to the drag on the road which might account for why my quads were feeling it after 65 miles. 1 in 10 hills are hard work but I can grind them out.

I recall the tyres on my old Tricross were like riding in treacle. I swapped to Conti Gatorskin 28's which made a world of difference.

Feltup

To be honest I am too lazy to keep swapping tyres i.e. slicks for the commute and longer road runs and cx tyres for the times I want to head in to places like Swinley forest on my longer road runs. I therefore run the standard cx tyres and convince myself that the extra resistance is good training!

andy jackson

i have stuck slicks on mine, and a16t free and 16t fixed, seems to work fine, hope vision4 turned up this morning so some fixed night time riding on the country roads is in order!

i want to get rid of the brake leavers on he tops but cant be faffed with redoing the bar tape at the mo, will wait till its a bit scuffed me thinks.

karnali

put a 17t fixed on mine and left the 18t free on the other side i do one week at a time commuting on one sde then change i over. its great but fairly hilly where i am and would struggle with a bigger gear presently, the panniers don't help this either.

i have a set of 28mm gatorskins to go on but its been icy/frosty every day since they arrived so will fit after its warmed alittle

29029

Feltup wrote:

Which way round did you put the sprocket on? Gear to the outside i.e. away from the spokes with the extended section inwards?

Yep, it's on the right way round.

Found this from the Sheldon site http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainline.html there is a chart with measurements for freewheel and fixed sprocket chainline.

The chain line of the Shimano 3/32 18t freewheel as fitted is 7.89 (I measured 8 mm).
The fixed sprocket I have currently is about 5.5mm, very slim.

Using the Sheldon charts can see the Shimano 1/8 Shimano Dura Ace is close at 7.05 mm and have just ordered a 16t Shimano Dura Ace Track Single Sprocket from Wiggle.

Makes sense I guess that the Shimano fixed matches the Shimano freewheel for use in a flip flop setup.

Thanks for the replies.

ps/ just been out for a spin and it is a lovely bike isn't it!

blorg

@Ade- mine, which works, is a 1/8 Dura-Ace if that helps

29029

blorg wrote:

@Ade- mine, which works, is a 1/8 Dura-Ace if that helps

Agree, fitted mine today, it lines up very well and looks great on the bike in black 8)

passout

I got this bike from Pearsons & bought a 16t freewheel at the same time. They sell fixie cogs too. Does fit but not in exactly the same way as the 18t spech one as mentioned above, chain seems out of line. Still got the tyres on but want to change them - bit slow.

Nice bike - ideal as a fun commuter/trainer.

bigease

I brought a 16T fixed cog from Pearson when I brought the bike. The chain line on that seems fine.

I am loving the bike, but seem to have developed a knocking sound after the first 350 miles. I guess I will give it a service and take a look at the BB as the most likely suspect.

Put the original tyres back on for the bad weather the other day, but it felt so slow, so the 25s are back on again now.