Cheaply Building a Single Speed

Originally Posted by SpecializedWRX

What would be the cheapest way to build a single speed?

Originally Posted by camit34

I built a single speed (not fixed) for just less then $100 US. I found and old Viscount at a local Red Cross thrift store for $35. New tires, tubes, bar tape, a gear for a BMX bike and a new chain. Took it completely apart to clean and lube everything. Took off the old gear set from the rear hub, put on the new BMX 16 tooth gear, took of the front 52 tooth and left the 42 tooth on it. I did grind down the legs (for lack of a better word) the held the big 52 tooth gear on the crank to clean up the look, but it is not needed.

All and all - less than 100 duckets and I have a neat little single speed. Godd luck...

Originally Posted by wb 86

Picked up an old Giant steely rigid. As prev. stated stripped and lubed everything. Used the middle chainring, crankset had spacers to cover the lack of an outer ring. Used a dremel to break apart the cassette for the rear cog and needed spacers. Set up the chainline w/ the cog and chainring. Used the spacers to keep the cog from sliding on the freewheel Bike had horizontal drop-outs (key in home brew single speeds) to adjust chain tension. That was it. Search the web for building single speeds, a ton of pics and tutorials are out there, I built mine ages ago and can't recall sites offhand but its poularity is gaining so I,m sure there is more info on em around.

What type of riding will your father be doing? I saw a "cruiser" ss yesterday at the YMCA thrift store in my town w/ a flat bar and coaster break for $2,yes two dollars in road worthy condition. An older schwinn beach cruiser. If I wasn't moving into a new , smaller place this weekend I would have snagged it for around town errands.

Craig