Vertical Drops and Single Speed?

humbert

My about the town bike is on its last legs and I was considering switching it to a single speed using something like this.

I've a feeling it's probably not worth the hassle, I'd have to get a rear wheel too as the one I have is pretty buggered and I haven't had much look finding such a thing as a single speed wheel.

Obviously I'm a novice here but I'd appreciate some advice, even if it's just to tell me it's a bad idea...

blorg

You can go single speed with vertical drops no problem, you just need a chain tensioner like the one you linked- that Alfine one is designed for a hub gear but the same principle applies. Presuming you have a standard freeghub you can replace the cassette with a conversion kit like this - you basically just use one sprocket and the thing you linked to tension the chain.

The warnings you may have seen are related to using a chain tensioner with a fixed wheel which does not work, it is fine if there is a freewheel involved.

You can re-use your current wheel, you just replace the cassette with the conversion kit.

petethedrummer

Here's a youtube vid on the topic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93M9lvl8LM8

NeilMcEoigheann

Yeah its a good idea.
if you have a free hub on your back wheel then you can use a DMR spacer SS kit. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=2300 thats what i have anyway
and one of these to keep it tight http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Surly_Singleator_Chain_Tensioner/5360010364/
but your suggestion should do it.

humbert

Thanks for the info. Read about the problems with fixed gears alright but I like having the option to freewheel.

Is the norm for a single speed bike to use a regular wheel and swap the cassette for spacers?

blorg

It would not be the most common if you were starting from scratch, no, most singlespeed bikes are built basically to track bike standards and use a thread-on freewheel.

It will however work fine if you are are starting from having a bike with a freehub and derailleur. Doing it that way from scratch would just add extra unnecssary expense on parts designed for gears and disadvantages like unnecessary wheel dishing.

If you are coming with a bike with freehub I don't think there is any particular disadvantage other than the aesthetics of how your chain looks. If you can live with that go for it.

humbert

Thanks a lot for the tips. I wasn't at all sure I was approaching this right.