Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - single speed cyclocross dropout theory

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thechamp
04-19-05, 10:47 PM
I've been thinking alot about single speed cyclocross frames lately and I was wondering if it would be preferable to have track dropouts and possibly a tensioner, or would it be smarter to have (vertical) road dropouts with a (deraileur) hanger with a singulator or some such device.
The way I figure, the latter would be preferable to eliminate any possibility of your rear axle shifting, but would a good tensioner do the job just as well?
Any well founded theories or *shudder* experience to support one setup over the other?

oldskoolboarder
04-19-05, 10:59 PM
Go track. My Il Pompino has track and it's more adjustable. Only reason to vertical is to leave yourself the option to go geared.
potus
04-19-05, 11:03 PM
you could go vertical with an EBB

climbo
04-19-05, 11:11 PM
ditch the tensioner idea, it will give you problems eventually. The stress and muck and build up of gunk in the mud means anything like derailleurs gets messy quickly. Go horiz drops and eliminate any hassles in the long term.
jim-bob
04-19-05, 11:19 PM
Track ends are the way to go. Who needs extra moving parts?
Smorgasbord
04-20-05, 01:41 AM
Or adjustable vertical dropouts. You have your tension set where you need it, and easier in and out. Though they are ugly.
Martyr
04-20-05, 04:26 AM
Or adjustable vertical dropouts. You have your tension set where you need it, and easier in and out. Though they are ugly.

my gios (my geared road bike) has adjustable vertical drop outs.
IMO they look great but the problem with using them for fixed (on my gios at least) is that they only have about 8mm of adjustment which doesn't give anything like the range i get from the fork ends on my track bike.

There are 4 options (that I know of):

1. vert with tensioner
not really serious is it? leaving the option to go back.
may as well leave the old derailleur on with a short length of cable to set it to the required adjustment. look like crap but cant be much worse than a tensioner.

2. vert with eccentric BB
see 3.

3. track fork ends.
i saw a "Spot brand" cyclocross frame with fork ends. neat frame
Spot offers the same frame with vertical drop outs and an Eccentric BB - i haven't seen one though.

4. horizontal drop outs.
i just checked the surly site and their "cross check" has horizontal dropouts.

i put horizontal DO on my MTB when i converted it. i am happy with it. i dont know what benefit fork ends would have given me.

for a cyclocross bike, i would lean toward the horizontal drop outs.

marty