Standard road frame fixed conversion

lackofgrip

I recently dropped on a Ribble Frame and am making a fixed gear bike,

I have all the parts necessary apart from the wheels.

Is there a wheelset available that are Q/R rather than bolt on like most of the fixed wheels seem to be?

I don't want to have to file out the dropouts (which are 130mm spacing)

The frame in question http://www.flickr.com/photos/95736461@N03/11342564165/

amaferanga

Why would you need to file anything if you use a solid axle? How are you going to tension the chain for fixed with those dropouts anyway? I assume you know you can't use a chain tensioner?

lackofgrip

amaferanga wrote:

Why would you need to file anything if you use a solid axle? How are you going to tension the chain for fixed with those dropouts anyway? I assume you know you can't use a chain tensioner?

You can get chain tensioner's, I know what you mean though. Would the fixed hub axle of a bolt through not be too big?

amaferanga

Axle size should be the same.

Unless I'm missing something then you can't use a chain tensioner for fixed. Fine with single speed, but not fixed.

Monty Dog

Standard size of rear wheel axles is 10mm, regardless of whether they are solid or QR - put the file away. You simply cannot use any form of chain tensioner device with a fixed gear - the chain tension will collapse the tensioner, typically resulting in a shipped chain and worst, a jam and a world of pain. If you are using a singlespeed freewheel with a chain tensioner you're OK with a QR with your vertical drop-outs as there's nowhere for the wheel to move.

Monty Dog

I should add, if you want to go fixed with your frame then you could use a wheel built with a White Bros ENO Eccentric hub - I've been running one for years with a frame with vertical drop-outs. The wheel spindle is offset from the hub body so you can take-up the chain tension and lock-down with the retainer screws.