Converting to fixed/ Single Speed

neilmacd

Sure this may well have been covered previously in another thread but I wonde rif anyone can give me a steer on this.

i've got an old steel frame - 501 tubing - that I was thinking about converting to fixed/ ss.
The rear dropouts are spaced for 7 speed - shows how old it is - which I reckon is 127mm compared to the 130 which covers 8 speed upwards.

Does anyone know if you can get a single/ fixed hub or wheel that'll fit that spacing without getting the frame reset or if I need the frame re-don

markos1963

I don't think you'll need to get the frame reset, just use spacers to take up the slack, are you going to use a Track hub(120mm spacing)? This should make it easier as the dish on the wheel is equal so centralising the wheel is easy. The only problem I can see will be getting the chainline straight, you might be lucky and not have to space the sproket or chainset.

hopper1

What about the drop outs?....
Do you not need horizontal track style drop outs, as opposed to 'normal' roadie type? :roll:

markos1963

hopper1 wrote:

What about the drop outs?....
Do you not need horizontal track style drop outs, as opposed to 'normal' roadie type? :roll:

Given the age of the machine I would reckon its got diagonal dropouts which work ok for chain tension

lae

You get just use some spacers to budge the axle over to get the chainline straight. I just used an 18t BMX screw-on freewheel and a spacer and re-dished the wheel a little bit myself. Not ideal, but it was always a cheap bike and it works fine for me!

Sheldon Brown has a good article on frame spacing and chain line.

grpnpton

If you have a cassette hub you can remove it weld the end (inner side) then you will have a reliable fixed sheldon brown did this

amaferanga

grpnpton wrote:

If you have a cassette hub you can remove it weld the end (inner side) then you will have a reliable fixed sheldon brown did this

Or just buy a proper fixed hub from On One for £15?

lae

Yeah but if you're just trying out the fixed thing, then there's no point spending even £15 to find out that you hate it. Any welder will put a couple of spotwelds on for free.