Converting to fixed gear?

You might find some helpful info here:-
http://www.63xc.com/

Lewis.

Bill at [email hidden] wrote on 5/29/05 3:47 AM:

Quoted message said:

I have a mt. bike with broken derailleur hanger that I want to convert into
a fixed gear. Question 1: what replaces the normal cassette setup on the
rear wheel? Currently it's an 8 speed cluster. Question 2: What chainring
would one use in the front? Looking to make it as "general use" on the
trails as possible. I know there are variables, but looking for someplace
to start. Thanks - Bill

If you want to go fixed, the afore mentioned site is a good place to start -
http://www.63xc.com

If you just want to run a singlespeed on that bike, you can get a handful of
cassette spacers and a Shimano rear BMX cog, plus some method for tensioning
the chain, such as the Soulcraft Convert -

http://www.soulcraftbikes.com/id57.htm

or the Surly Singleator -

http://www.surlybikes.com/parts.html
(click on 1 x 1 singleator)

Line up the cog with your middle ring, take off the other two, shorten your
chain (or set up a new one) strip off the unnecessary shifters, cables and
derailleurs and have at it...

Most folks start their singlespeeds at around 2:1 (36x18, 34x17, 32x16) and
then adjust from there. Wide bars help.

Hope that helps,

-- Jim

PS - White Brothers ENO hub is another way to tension it, but you've got to
build that up into a wheel --

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/wheels1.html

and since you're heading there, read this -

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/singlespeed.html

--

CycloFiend

to reply directly, replace the dashes to create the name above

Bill said:

I have a mt. bike with broken derailleur hanger that I want to convert into
a fixed gear. Question 1: what replaces the normal cassette setup on the
rear wheel? Currently it's an 8 speed cluster. Question 2: What chainring
would one use in the front? Looking to make it as "general use" on the
trails as possible. I know there are variables, but looking for someplace
to start. Thanks - Bill

An alternate solution, if the der is OK and it's just a mauled hanger
tab:

http://tinyurl.com/8wkcg

Otherise, there are issues to consider; chief among them, are your
dropouts angled enough to allow chain tension adjustment? Not all
frames are good candidates for single-speed conversion[1]. Also,
although your terrain may be friendlier to a fixie than ours, I would
balk at trying to ride a bike through the woods here without the
ability to coast past a one-side obstacle with the pedal high.

[1] Yes, eccentric hubs can often overcome this, but that's yet
another task and expense.

--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Bill said:

I have a mt. bike with broken derailleur hanger that I want to convert into
a fixed gear. Question 1: what replaces the normal cassette setup on the
rear wheel? Currently it's an 8 speed cluster. Question 2: What chainring
would one use in the front? Looking to make it as "general use" on the
trails as possible. I know there are variables, but looking for someplace
to start. Thanks - Bill

Shoot for 65 inches around town . Something like a 48-20,
41-17 or a 38-16. If you are not conversant with gear
inches, divide front by rear times nominal wheel size
(48/20*27=65).
A simpler answer is : what do you like? If you rode that
bike comfortably in your 43-19 then by all means cut the
chain for your 43-19.

I suggest you do that, actually. Remove the changers and
just trim your existing chain for a likely combination.
Leave all the gearing in place until you ride enough to form
an opinion about appropriate gearing for your physique,
neighborhood and taste.

If you want it to look cleaner later, disassemble your
cassette and replace all the cogs except the one you'll ride
with spacers taken from discarded cassettes. Place your
favorite size cog in among the spacers directly behind the
chainring of your choice.

If your broken gear tab bike has horizontal ends, this can
all be easily done in less than an hour. If your frame has
vertical ends all possibilities get more complex/expensive.
If that doesn't hold any meaning for you look here:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/trakends.html

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On Sun, 29 May 2005 18:18:20 GMT, Werehatrack <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

An alternate solution, if the der is OK and it's just a mauled hanger
tab:

http://tinyurl.com/8wkcg

This link doesn't go anywhere useful (just the main index page).

Jasper

On Tue, 31 May 2005 11:08:05 GMT, Jasper Janssen <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 29 May 2005 18:18:20 GMT, Werehatrack <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

An alternate solution, if the der is OK and it's just a mauled hanger
tab:

http://tinyurl.com/8wkcg

This link doesn't go anywhere useful (just the main index page).

This should work:

http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?&item_id=LS-1701PD

--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Werehatrack said:

This should work:

http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?&item_id=LS-1701PD

No, I couldn't get that to work. How about this?

http://tinyurl.com/9e8pw
or equivalently
http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?d=single&c=Derailleur&sc=Rear%20Hanger&tc=&item_id=LS-1701PD&id=826435119676

--
Dave
dvt at psu dot edu