Singlespeed conversion?

[Hard-Drive]

A few months ago I dug out my old Claud Butler Dalesman which I'd ridden as a teenager but had since been lamenting in my mum's shed for about 15 years and gave it a complete restoration as I wanted to do some road cycling to complement MTBing.

Problem is, I have literally ridden it twice, as in the meantime I bought a Giant TCR A0 (which I have ridden a lot!) and try as I might I just can't bring myself to ride a bike that looks retro cool but is a worse ride in every respect than the Giant...I guess that's progress for you!

So I was thinking of converting it to singlespeed and was after a bit of advice. It's got Campagnolo horizontal dropouts (road style, slight angle, front facing, not rear facing track ones)...are those suitable for an SS conversion? Do I need some other kind of device to keep the wheel locked if I'm really grunting on it, as until I replaced the QR skewer which was knackered I used to "pop" the wheel wonky? What else do I need? The hub is an old Maillard screw on type, can I get some kind of single speed screw on freewheel? What about chainset? Can I just lose the small ring and have a suitable sized rear cog? What size?

And finally, for anyone who has done something similar, is it worth it? I think the bike would look good as a single, and I kinda get the whole "pure" riding thing, however in practice am I just gonna hate not having gears, not be able to ride with any of my normal riding friends as they are gonna get peed off with waiting for me at the bottom and top of hills...if I really want to try single riding, shall I just go and do 20 miles and promise myself not to change gear? If you are not a trendy city dwelling courier and you went singlespeeding, do you love it or regret it?

Any thoughts appreciated, oh, and here's the bike...

[MATRS]

These sites should help mate.....

http://www.londonfixiebike.co.uk/
http://www.freshtripe.co.uk/Freshtripe/Home.html

[Stu247]

Cool looking machine, nicely restored and certainly suitable for a fixie or singlespeed !!
I see you have posted on retrobike & bikeradar too

All the information you need should be available here:-

http://sheldonbrown.com/deakins/how-to-fixed-conve...


Should you do it ? yes!!
It adds an extra dimension to your cycling, will take a while to get used to riding fixed but you will enjoy it

I started on MTB's back in the mid 90's on a Zaskar LE (which i still use) before trying road cycling a couple of years ago.
Bought a couple of Giant road bikes and added a Langster a few months ago for a bit of fun.
I think every keen cyclist should have a fixed in their arsenal

[prand]

It would certainly justify keeping it, as you can use it for fun rides, or trips to the pub.

You could give yourself little challenges like, could you do the London-Brighton on a single speed etc.

I wouldn't go as far as a fixed gear though, far too mental.

[deckster]

I did this recently to my two commuting hacks, it was a brilliant move frankly. OK so my commute isn't hugely hilly but there are a few climbs that get me going and I'd really got lazy just trogging along in a low gear. Changing to singlespeed made everything seem fresh and challenging again and I was amazed at the difference it made to my fitness after only a couple of weeks. Can definitely recommend it.

You need one of these - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/DMR_STS_Chain_Te... Dead simple to fit, about 30 minutes and it's great not having to faff about with gears any more

[prand]

Agree with Deckster. I converted my old Marin steel hardtail to single speed (with a tensioner), removed all the gears, and put slicks on, and created an excellent, fairly quick, and fun commuter. It's a great feeling knowing there's basically no maintenance from the "direct drive".

It's fine climbing all but the steepest of hills, it can be tough but I have definitely improved, but easy enough to spin out on gradients and over about 22mph on the flat, but that's not really a problem when speed is not a priority.

Saying that, I've been out on thsi bike several times with a friend on a road bike, and apart from waiting for me to freewheel past at the bottom of hills, I could keep up pretty easily (which surprised him as much as me!)

[Hard-Drive]

Thanks for the advice guys. Deckster, I don't think that item is any good for me as I have a) horizontal dropouts for chain tensioning and b) screw on, not cassette freewheel. This is where I'm having issues, need to trawl t'net to find something to fit!

Any recommendations on rear sprocket size? Big front chainring is a 50 I think...

[deckster]

That'll teach me to skim read

Still seems like there's plenty of singlespeed freewheels out there, a few here http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/userimages/pro...

I run 44-16 which felt hard to start with but I'm thinking of moving to 15 or even 14 as I often spin out on the flat these days. Equivalent if you're running 50 up front would be 18 on the back but obviously will depend on fitness & how many hills you do!

[prand]

mt MTB commuter is something like 43/17 which isn't a knee buster although top speed is limited.

[mk1fan]

Pedant mode - I don't think you have proper 'horizontal' drop outs so you'll need a chain tensioner.

No one can tell you that you'll enjoy SS. You have to try it for yourself. My commuter is a SS Chavbred and it's great. It sounds like you'll need to buy a new wheel - which can be done for very little money certainly less than the cost of replacing your existing hub. You could get a 'flip-flop' hub with a SS on one side and a Fixie on the other - should wish to try Fixie later on.

Give it a go and see if it's right for you. I was going to SS my Stiffee for the Winter but plumpt for an Alfine rear wheel instead. Still might SS it next year though.

[fixedwheelnut]

All my Fixedwheel bikes have the forward facing Campag style dropouts and the wheels all hold in place well with the hub bolts/nuts, I do use the old 'Cyclo' chain tensioners on some but this is more for ease of tensioning the chain after puncture repairs than security for the hub.

For gear choice with the 50 chainring an 18 sprocket will give you a 73" gear and a 19 a 69" gear both good for general riding you can go up or down from there once you are used to it depending on hills or speed.

Here are some links from another forum I use the 63xc.com has usefull how to tips as well as a 'magic gear' calculator where by you choose your gear so the chain tension matches the drop out length.

=================================================================

http://fixiefaqs.xwiki.com/xwiki/bin/view/Main/Web...
fixedFAQs latest version

The number one drooling site
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com Fixed Gear bikes Gallery


How to links
Sheldon Brown runs Harris Cyclery, a good bike shop with a strong web presence. He's here both as supplier of a first-rate selection of cycle bits and as a fount of useful knowledge. His website has so much good stuff that it would be crazy to miss it. Please take a look. You'll probably stay for ages. Why not bookmark us so that you can come back when you've finished?

Why ride fixed? http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html
Fixed Gear Bicycles for the Road

Fixie conversions http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html
Fixed Gear Conversions

Fixed gear parts http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/fixed.html
Harris Cyclery: Your Fixed-Gear Bicycle Headquarters!
Sheldon on chainline http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainline/

http://www.63xc.com/gregg/101_1.htm
63xc.com--How To | FG 101


Shop links
http://www.condorcycles.com Condor Cycles London
http://www.deesidecycles.com/track.htm

http://www.surlybikes.com SURLYVILLE

http://www.highpath.co.uk Highpath Engineering : Home page

Track cycling has ceased trading so I usually buy from Parker International, excellent service. http://www.parker-international.co.uk/ Worldwide Cycling Mail Order Specialists & Consultants - Parker International

Izumi 1/8th chain, with review http://bikereader.com/forum/index.php?topic=28258....

GOLDTEC HUBS https://www.betd.co.uk/

other hubs
http://www.kogswell.com]Kogswell Cycles - The Fork (IS) The Frame[/url]

http://www.philwood.com]Phil Wood

http://www.hubjub.co.uk]Hubjub

http://www.oldskooltrack.com]Old Skool Track NYC
http://www.fixedwheel.co.uk/]http://www.fixedwheel...

http://www.londonfgss.com/
http://www.londonfgss.com/ London fixed gear single speed forum

There is a free calculator you can download here
http://www.machinehead-software.co.uk/
it takes into account tyre size as well

or go to google

Just go to [url=http://www.google.co.uk]Google[/url] and type in

((SPEED miles per hour)/(CIRCUMFERENCE metres) * (SPROCKET/CHAINRING) in (minutes ^ -1)

with appropriate values for your SPEED, wheel CIRCUMFERENCE, and SPROCKET and CHAINRING tooth counts.

e.g.

((31 miles per hour) / (2.155 metres)) * (19/49) in (minutes ^ -1)

Gives 149.6 rpm.

("minutes ^ -1" just means rpm).

You can change the units, e.g. speed in km/h, or circumference in furlongs, and Google with handle it automatically.


http://www.businesscycles.com/tr-refspec.htm BUSINESS CYCLES- Technical Reference Specifications For Track Bikes and Track Components

http://eehouse.org/fixin/formfmu.php

http://www.londonfixiebike.co.uk/intro.html
Welcome to londonfixiebike

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[Hard-Drive]

Bloody hell, what a mine of info, I'll look later. Thanks!

Will also work out if I'd be better running my inner chainring but bolted to the outer side if that makes sense and a smaller rear cog...might look a bit more "minimalist"...

[fixedwheelnut]

I did that with my first Fixedwheel build using the Shimano chainset and used a smaller ring on the outer side of the chainset for a good chainline.

pic here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fixedwheelnut/1842316...

[Nick_F]

Sadly I don't think Sheldon Brown runs anything very much anymore.