Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Trying to make a cheap fixed gear

Hey all,


I got myself a road bike and i'd like to make it into a fixed gear for as cheap as possible.
I know with the front sprocket i can pretty much just use whatever size i want and adjust the chainring bolts. My main problem is what to do with the rear cassette. Can i just keep whatever size cog i want and take the rest off making some sort of spacer and weld it in place ?

http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j222/bikekilldestroy/ are pictures of it


Thanks.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j222/bikekilldestroy/benbikestuff001.jpg

The formula track hub, or Nashbar track hub are both considered good durable hubs. The Suzue basic and Junior, and Sovos hubs are considered OK by some, garbage by others, depending upon who you listen to, they will eithere require more maintenance, or fail spectacularly. either way, it's not worth the twenty bucks you'll save get the Formula or Nashbar hub. Surly, Miche, and Suzue Promax are also considered good, but they cost a bit more

www.sheldonbrown.com

Do a search for bumbike. Just remove the current freewheel and thread on a cog. Cheap and easy. Just do us all a favor and leave the breaks on.

I thought this type of wheel was a cassette type w/multiple cogs not a freewheel. If i can just thread on a cog, what type do i need to get and do i need some sort of spacer for the chain alignment also if i can just thread a cog on do i still need to weld/immobilize the coasting aspect of the hub?

I'm ******** when it comes to anything over a 20" bmx so sorry if i come off as a little dumb.

that's not a cassette hub. it's a freewheel hub.

search for "bumbike" or "suicide wheel".
then go read sheldon browns fixed gear conversion page.
then go buy a real track hub.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/givexmeoxygen/fe6c5467.jpg

i originally welded the cassette on my conversion, but i made the mistake of riding it with no brakes so the only thing that held the cassette to my hub was 30 years of rust and old age, eventually i hit a rather large pothole while skipping and completely destroyed the rear wheel....

then i upgraded..

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/givexmeoxygen/cog.jpg

thats a durace cog and a bottom bracket lockring threaded onto a road freewheel hub on my old conversion, i used large amounts of red locktite because i don't have brakes..but i would greatly reccomend using brakes if you are going to suicide hub it.

Whatever you do, get some new tires, and soak the chain in some kind a stuff

Remove the kick stand as well ...

I'm mechically inclinded and know bikes so i know the obvious stuff. Would getting a cog and a lockring and maybe welding that into place work well ? Where can i get cogs and lockrings that will work.

Locktite works.

http://loosescrews.com/index.cgi?d=single&c=Bottom%20Bracket&sc=Lockrings&tc=&item_id=LS-1005RC&id=334318510812

http://loosescrews.com/index.cgi?d=single&c=Freewheel&sc=Track%20Cogs&tc=3/32&item_id=SH-2791600&id=334318510812

I took the wheel off to get the freewheel off, and alas its a freehub. So back to square one i need to search out a freewheel wheel in order to get this done.

BikeKillDestroy, how did you determin that its a freehub? I'm almost... nay completly sure its a freewheel and that you can just remove it [with the right tool]. Your LBS should do it for no more then $5 if that.

They told me it was, and when i double checked the spoke protector clearly says.. "for freehub"


I could take a picture of it if you like, but there are no slots for the freewheel which initially made me think.

i will send you a beer if that's a freehub...

Take the wheel off and post a picture square-on of the cog assembly in question.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j222/bikekilldestroy/7c186e49.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j222/bikekilldestroy/51714cfc.jpg

The exact words of the bikeshop dude was that it was some sort of "early" cassette.

Is it a helicomatic or something?

http://bikepartsusa.com/product_info.phtml?p=01-142610

For a suicide hub, use a bottom bracket lockring instead of a track lockring - the threading is different.

Is it a helicomatic or something?

that ain't no helicomatic. the lockring thingy ain't there.

to the OP, nice name.

and i think i owe the op a beer.
pm me your address, i'll get it out in the next day or so

Yea i was looking at it and didn't think it was a freewheel, but to be sure i went there and the dude started to say it was a helicomatic, then corrected himself saying it was pretty much just an ancient cassette. Whatever the case i'm still on the lookout for a freewheel setup so i can rock a ghetto fixie ****!

Long awaited update. Finally got a wheel and made my bike. Works like a charm, i used the "rotafixa" method to keep the cog on the freewheel hub. I should really put some loctite on there eventually.


http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/51/fixieaw8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

good job

Agreed. Turned out well.

My only question is i just spaced the entire wheel over so i can have a good chain alignment. It works but the tire is close to the driveside chainstay. Can i just leave it or will i eventually have to re-dish ?

Oh yea 52/16 in an area with no hills at all is pretty fun. I can slow up easily and crank it and get to a pretty good clip.

you should redish it.

Assuming i take the risk since i suck at truing wheels, i'd be aiming to get the tire as centered as possible correct ?

Bingo. If you don't want to risk it, a shop can probably do it for $20 or so. Maybe more.

Got.. maybe once it gets cold for now im gonna enjoy this thing.

centered in relation to the frame (freewheel hub with spacers moved around so i am assuming its not evenly spaced).