|   Help me begin the conversion | harp
Oct 30, 2001 1:16 PM | | I have a beater bike that is hanging in my garage. I would like to convert this puppy into a SS, but I'm damn near clueless as to how to begin. FWIW, it has vertical dropouts.
Other than sheldon brown, what sites are useful for information concerning a conversion? I've read his conversion page and am still not clear on what I need exactly. Right now, I know I would like to be able to run a hub with an alternate/bailout cog on the reverse side and I know I'll likely need a chain tensioner. Other than that, nada. Also, what online sites sell SS parts?
Thanks in advance. |
| Check out Bontrager's rant on building an SS.... | Ed
Oct 30, 2001 1:27 PM | | Check out Bontrager's rant on building an SS at http://www.bontrager.com/keith/rants.asp?id=8
Any decent mountain bike can become an SS, you don't need a SS specific frame. Unless you ride really steep hills all the time, you most likely won't need a bail out gear, that's the cool thing about single speeding, you'll learn to climb differently and get stronger in the process. |
| Two-speed singlespeed | Ginz
Oct 31, 2001 8:03 AM | | Definately check out Bontrager's rant. It includes a discussion on Keith's two-speed singlesingle speed with manual transmission. He has a derailuer hooked up as a chain tensioner, with two cogs. So, he can reach down and move the chain over if he wants. |
| 3-speed singlespeed | Hu-man
Oct 31, 2001 9:19 AM | | I've been riding my 3x1 for awhile now. One gear for the road, one for off road and one for steep long hills or very hilly terraine. 95% of the time I am in the middle gear. I tried KB's 4 gear set up with 2 cogs in the rear and using the barrel adjuster to switch between cogs, but its not worth the extra hassle and its not as fast to switch gears as the 3x1. |
| 2 speed works well. | hurricane
Oct 31, 2001 10:47 AM | | That's how I have my cheapo conversion set up.
I'm running a 22/32/bashguard combo up front with a 17T BMX cog out back and the rear derailleur as a tensioner. The 22T is nice to have as we have some long steep climbs (mountains vs. hills) here and it keeps me pedalling instead of pushing.
Total cost was about $5 for the cog and a little time to bust apart some old cassettes for the spacers. |
| webcyclery | DAS
Oct 30, 2001 4:29 PM | | Webcyclery.com has conversion kits and I believe instructions on how to convert. Also, check www.singlespeed.net, singlespeed.cc, singlespeedanonymous.com, and you already mentioned Sheldon Brown.
When I did my first conversion I used the instructions I found in Bike Mag. You'll need a couple special tools, spacers for the cog, a singulator, probably wider bars...
Have fun! |
| I Saw A Singulator on Ebay a Few Days Ago... | T O M A
Oct 31, 2001 5:45 AM | | it may still be there. |
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