Single Speed Bikes
- Thread starter SkyRider
- Start date
A few things to consider:
- you want to figure out which front chain ring / rear cog combo is going to make you happy - pushing a big gear may look all manly, but is not super fun for lots of stops and starts and can be hard on the joints when braking; conversely, you may find you spin out a lot with a small gear. Find which gear you're comfortable in and try and keep the chain ring and cog teeth numbers similar when you set up a fixie. Read up on gear inches for more info.
- the concept of chainline is important (having a relatively straight chain). You can ghetto approximate by playing with bottom bracket and wheel hub axle lengths
- you can get a rear wheel built special for fixed that uses a hub that's threaded specially for fixed and has bigger flanges to deal with the stress of the setup, and the builder can dish the wheel to get a better chainline, or you can go ghetto and use a lockring and heavy duty locktite to keep the cog of your choice on a regular (freewheel) hub. This is cheaper, but I've had the cog break loose under heavy skip braking, and as a result had no way to stop...
- on the topic of braking, are you going to go no brakes? It's pure, but can you read traffic really well and are willing to accept the consequences when you can't?
- another thing to consider is chain length - you want to have a nice snug setup, and this is easier to accomplish the more horizontal your dropouts (the slots your rear wheel slides into on the frame) are. True track bikes have completely horizontal dropouts for this purpose, but you can approximate pretty well with sloping dropouts. The worst are vertical dropouts, with those you pretty much have to play around just with removing links to get the best chain tension compromise you can. You can just cut your existing chain down, or true track chains are beefier and much more solid.
- lastly, consider crank length - since you can't stop pedaling and coast around corners with your inside pedal up, it's smart to consider shorter cranks if you plan on cornering aggressively so you don't bottom out and crank vault. Not too much of an issue if you're converting a cruiser....
Bottom line is you can go really full bore in getting everything all trued up and tight, and it feels great when you're riding a setup like that, smooth, quiet, connected to the asphalt, but you can also ghettoproximate something to get a feel for it and have tons of fun figuring out if you want to shell out a bunch for a dedicated ride and then you still have a great bar commuting beater to fall back on... if I was starting out and curious , I'd keep the front chainring, find a track cog with gearing I want that's the right size and threading for my existing hub and lock it on (I could get someone to tack weld it on and reduce the anxiety of having it bust off, but I'd throw loctite and a lockring or smaller cog on anyways as well to increase the chance that it'll stay on - disclaimer, you've been warned that it may undo on you and if you have no brakes this is not good!!), adjust the chain, and giv'er.
I've been riding fixed for almost 20 years, and a lot of guys I ride w bemoan the hipsterization of what was once a niche, cult like style, but I think the new ease of getting parts, the decent beginner rigs for very reasonable prices, and all the cool personalized rides you see around town are great - enjoy your conversion if you go ahead with it!
shakenbake
Senior Turgid Member
As for fixed wheel bikes, you really should have a frame that is built for it, with the appropriate rear dropouts.
The other thing is, you need to know how to ride a bike without brakes. Back in the day, fixed wheel bikes were used either on bike tracks, or during winter for training in England and other European countries. I have a road version of this venerable machine, although I don't ride it any more.
The other thing is, you need to know how to ride a bike without brakes. Back in the day, fixed wheel bikes were used either on bike tracks, or during winter for training in England and other European countries. I have a road version of this venerable machine, although I don't ride it any more.
Wow, more complicated than I thought. I was hoping to take my conventional 5 speed bike, get rid of the derailleur that has died and replace the rear wheel with a single gear wheel.
BTW: I was thinking of just keeping the 2 brakes, front and rear, that are currently already mounted on the bike.
BTW: I was thinking of just keeping the 2 brakes, front and rear, that are currently already mounted on the bike.
You can go single speed without going fixed. Single speed freehub is common, then you can keep your brakes. To go single speed cheaply, all you'd need is a chain tensioner, a ss free hub and a new front chainring. Not as fancy as a hipster bike, but at least you'll know if you want it or not.
This is a great alternative, and you could likely reduce cost even more by re-using your original chain ring if you can find a rear gear size that matches one that you're already comfortable using within your existing 5spd cluster...
You can keep your brakes regardless which option you use, but find you won't really use the rear one at all if you go fixed as it feels weird and messes up your cadence, and this way you can work on your braking technique gradually with a back-up if you want to eventually go brakeless...
shakenbake
Senior Turgid Member
That! Much easier. But f you go with a chain tensioner, you may as well go for a derailleur.
Historically, time trial cyclists in England used to go that single-speed route.
BTW, do you have a chain rivet tool? You would need it to shorten your chain. If you don't, I would recommend that you get one at a reputable bike shop.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ca/en/cyclo-universal-rivoli-chain-rivet-extractor/rp-prod7962
Check mine out
That bike looks extremely uncomfortable to ride. I don't get why you'd want a track-like geometry. Track bikes are not meant to be comfortable, they're meant to be ridden for short intervals. I'm assuming those pink drop bars are just for show, otherwise it looks like your hands would be several inches below your waist. But you put tape up high, so don't even really need the drops at all? Hmm... Search online for a Midge bar. Would serve your purposes much better, and it won't have that obnoxious drop.
Having said all that, it does look pretty. I like the pink anodized pedals and pink tire.
Check mine out
Skinny tires, no gears, no brakes, no front shocks and an ED causing seat. That's your ideal bike?
I suppose it's one thing if you want to look cool, but for city riding in Toronto it's a bad choice.
I have an old bike (my beater for around town) that 'converted' itself to three speed and later one speed when the derailers crapped out. Fixed gear is a whole different story though.
I spoke to someone and he said get rid of the dead derailleur, put the chain on one of the rear sprockets and shorten the chain to meet the new structure. Bingo, a single speed bike (similar to your "single speed" bike).
I still don't understand why a 1 speed is better than a 5 speed. Acceleration from a standstill is poor, top end suffers and you do know Toronto has hills? Embrace technology, fix your derailleur and enjoy the benefits of a 5 speed. Can't be that expensive to replace.
shakenbake
Senior Turgid Member
Here is an inexpensive option for less than $25, taxes in.
http://www.sweetpetes.com/product/sram-x3-7-8-speed-rear-derailleur-201595-1.htm
Especially if you have friction shifter levers, you don't have to worry about indexing.
I actually find it comfortable for me.....I knew already u guys would point out the inconsistencies of it....I take it all as constructive criticism. ...im a new born cyclist im learning as im going its a crazy ride. Like its owner...so pls be nice I made it pink to support breast cancer and to ride wth it to future charity bike rides... ..and plan on taking the professional bicycle mechanical course in Guelph which is fully funded by my employers 
.....I built that all by myself I promise the next one I build will bbe up to par your geometrical ratios of what bike shud b
.....I built that all by myself I promise the next one I build will bbe up to par your geometrical ratios of what bike shud bSimilar threads
