Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - How hard to convert a road bike w/o horizontal dropouts?

How hard is it to build a singlespeed/fixie using a road-bike with modern dropouts (non-horizontal)?

Would you advise this? Is it too hard to try?

What special tools (if any) would I need to do this that I wouldn't need with horizontal dropouts?

I am thinking of purchasing a used bike on eBay and converting it but a lot of them don't have horizontal drops.

How should I proceed?

Thanks,

Jake

i say its not worth trying - once you do find a gear ratio that'll have a proper chain tension, you may want to switch it out as you adjust to your new bike. you won't get any versatility in changing out components

i say its not worth trying - once you do find a gear ratio that'll have a proper chain tension, you may want to switch it out as you adjust to your new bike. you won't get any versatility in changing out components
???

"Rule of 4" and same total teeth on cog + chainring.

Eno

Eno


$$$

meh. do it right or don't do it at all.

???

"Rule of 4" and same total teeth on cog + chainring.


i wasn't aware there was a method to do so. how does it work?

so the general concensus I'm getting is...

I should get horizontal drops for a conversion, otherwise its too much of a pain?

I don't really understand:

eno
$$$
"Rule of 4"

but it sounds bad... :)

ENO = http://www.whiteind.com/ENO_web/eric.html
$$$ = ~$130
same total teeth = gear ratio changes, but chain length doesn't change. i.e. chain tension doesn't change
"rule of 4" = never heard of that one.

same total teeth makes sense, but finding that initial ratio's gotta be a pain in the ass

"rule of 4" = never heard of that one.
The rule of 4, meaning that you can add/subtract 4 teeth total from cog and/or chainring, and with chain length adjusted by adding or removing a link, your dropout position should stay the same.

same total teeth makes sense, but finding that initial ratio's gotta be a pain in the ass
That's why a vertical dropout frame is not exactly the best canidate for a conversion. :)

same total teeth makes sense, but finding that initial ratio's gotta be a pain in the ass

http://www.63xc.com/toddp/halflink.htm
http://www.peak.org/~fixin/personal/fmu/php/fixmeup.php

then there's chain "stretch" to deal with.
thus...ENO

nice. i didn't realize there was a method to the madness. i had always thought it was pointless to try and convert one. thanks for the links.

I'm impressed... this question got pretty thoroughly answered very quickly. Props to all you 1x1s. Thanks.

We all have little else to do ;)

We all have little else to do ;)

speak for yourself. I'm at work :D

i've been tempted to try this before, but this thread reinforces all my decisions not to.

You can buy a decent steel frame and have some frame builder put in rear facing fork tips (not drop outs - see Sheldon). Cost? About $100 or less if you just rattle can spray paint it yourself. Just an idea.

speak for yourself. I'm at work :D

Sadly so am I..:)

Sadly so am I..:)

soooooo boooooooooored.

You can buy a decent steel frame and have some frame builder put in rear facing fork tips (not drop outs - see Sheldon). Cost? About $100 or less if you just rattle can spray paint it yourself. Just an idea.


SPRAY PAINT. i loathe the phrase 'rattle can.' are you 96 years old?

**** "rattle can." vote two for "spray paint." seriously.

we should have an ENO sticky

How hard is it to build a singlespeed/fixie using a road-bike with modern dropouts (non-horizontal)?

Would you advise this? Is it too hard to try?

What special tools (if any) would I need to do this that I wouldn't need with horizontal dropouts?

I am thinking of purchasing a used bike on eBay and converting it but a lot of them don't have horizontal drops.

See: http://sheldonbrown.com/vertical

Far and away the best solution is a White Industries ENO eccentric hub. These work great, cost less than getting your frame torched, and don't mess up your paint job. http://harriscyclery.com/white-hubs

If you're bound and determined to replace the vertical dropouts, replace them with horizontal dropouts, actual dropouts where the opening faces forward.

Don't let anybody talk you into installing those silly atavistic rear-opening fork ends that are so trendy at the moment...actual dropouts are much more practical. The classic Campagnolo 1010 is the ideal dropout for singlespeed/fixed gear use.

See: http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/fixed.html#frameparts

I also highly recommend going for actual fixed gear, not just singlespeed...it's way more fun!

See: http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed

Sheldon "Coasting Is A Pernicious Habit" Brown

My guitar techie uses the word "Spray Bomb"
for Spraypaint.
It gives me the heebie jeebies each time he says it. Eurgh!
Yea, for sure it should be called Spraypaint, not other terms used by "96" year olds.

Whoa. You're in high school and have a guitar tech? Does he drive the tour bus too, or is that reserved for another roadie?