Anlen Eagle MTB - Conversion to Single Speed

chosen

Hi, have and idea in the end of the bike season to convert my 18 speed mtb into single speed. I use only one speed 38T in front and 16T (sometimes change to 14T) in back. I have freewheel on so it's not a problem to change it into single speed. That's main idea, also I decided to repaint my frame and get it nice look. Have few color ideas in my mind. Biggest problem for me is that I want to install threadless fork, previously I had threaded 1" fork with this type of cups:



and have an idea to put this on:



so the problem is - how hard to find 1" suspension fork for 26", is that even possible?

Also before I had bearing bottom brackets (68x116mm) and will install Monoblock 68x117mm with square-taper. That's main conversions which I will do on my mtb. Here is some photos of my frame:







Cheers, Artur B.

nicklouse

1" sus fork have been made and were readly available but not so easy to find now.

your best bet will be to talk to your local bike shop and see if they have any old ones that might need a little work to make good.

having a freewheel can actually be a problem as you end up with an odd chain line and 16T is about the smallest you will find.

re the BB becareful with the axel lengths as that very much depends on the cranks you use and also what chainline you end up needing. which will depend on how you sort out the rear hub.

chosen

The biggest problem for me is that we have only 3-4 bike shops in my small city, but in other hand I live not so far from our capital - where are a lot of bike shops. So 1" susp. forks are old and no longer produce?

I have 132mm axle length between rear drops. Also I already have rear freewheel, but only with 6 sprockets. And I need to change to 1 with 16T I think. You mean I need to check up how wide BB I can install?

PS. Thanx for fast answer, Artur B.

The Rookie

The only 1" suspension forks produced now are fitted to cheap and horrid supermarket bikes and you'd be better off with rigid.

What Nick is saying (I think) is you need to find out the axle line you have with a 16T sprocket on the back and then try and match that at the front although it may not be possible as the chainwheel may get too close to the frame (chainstay)

chosen

oh, ok I see now! yeap I know about this problem but didn't thinking about problem with chain, thanks for remind me! So it's easier to find rigid fork with 1" tube, it's still available?

nicklouse

chosen wrote:

oh, ok I see now! yeap I know about this problem but didn't thinking about problem with chain, thanks for remind me! So it's easier to find rigid fork with 1" tube, it's still available?

1" forks can be found.
eg lots of loverly carbon http://www.carboncycles.cc/?s=0&t=2&c=82&

and re the freewheel it may be too close to the spokes to give a good chain line and may also catch the tyre. there was many years ago a adaptor/spacer made for this but I have not seen one for a long long time.

It may be better to cold set your frame (see how to on Sheldons pages) and fit a more current hub. with a 135 O.L.D.

and free boddy fitting (cassette type) and get a suitable SS kit.

chosen

Thnx guys for information, I like an idea about to spread frame and put cassette type hub to rear. Ok will post update as soon as possible, the 1st I will repaint my frame and will start to get info about fork.

Artur B.

bikaholic

I've built many single speeds. Here are two "magic number" builds to give you an idea of what's possible:



Carrera Vulcan - 44T mtb crankset, 17T cog, 3/32 chain




Specialized Hardrock - 38T compact road 110bcd crankset, 16T BMX freewheel, 1/8 chain

chosen

Thank you for photos, as I understand on second bike it's freewheel and it fits perfectly or you can't to put wider tire on it? I use Michelin 47-559 (26x1.95) not a wide one!

bikaholic

- 135mm O.L.D.
- Screw-on type hub with a standard 1.37 x 24tpi right-hand thread (any freewheel with a 1.37 x 24tpi or 1.375 x 24tpi thread will fit onto the hub securely).
- BMX freewheels are generally available in sizes of 13T and up.


That particular Specialized Hardrock bike could take a 26x2.30 tyre depending on brand - that's the maximum "safe" size that will fit inbetween the chainstays. It will not catch on the chain.

You will have to measure the gap inbetween the chainstays or offer up a test wheel with a similar sized tyre in order to determine if the tyre will fit the frame or not.