Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - dropouts

Im thinking of converting a fuji suntour i recently acquired. Is it possible to run non-horizontal dropouts on with a fixed gear hub or is that a bad idea?...sorry if this seems like a dumb question. Im kinda new to this whole thing.

White Industries' ENO eccentric hub Is your best bet, but expensive. Otherwise, do a search for "magic ratio."

it depends how vertical the dropouts are and how much play you can get in the chain. basically, if you can't tension the chain you can't do it. if they're semi-vertical you may be able to tension the chain. get us a picture and we can give you a straight answer(like "you need an eccentric hub" or "you need to be extremely precise with your chain length" or "you'll be fine")

the drop outs look similar if not the same as the ones on youre "1986 Nishiki Sport 10 speed" if that helps...no digi cam.


http://imageshack.us/?x=my6&myref=http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=310004

the drop outs look similar if not the same as the ones on youre "1986 Nishiki Sport 10 speed" if that helps...no digi cam.

From what I can tell, the dropouts on that Nishiki are horizontal. If your bike has the same dropouts, you'll be fine for conversion. "Horizontal" dropouts aren't usually 100% horizontal, they're slanted so that the wheel can "drop out." Perhaps you are confusing them with rear-opening "Track Ends," which are dead horizontal, open to the rear, and are found on track bikes and many frames designed to ride fixed in the road. For a lot of people, track ends are preferable for fixed gear bikes. Personally, my only fix is a conversion with drop outs and it works great for me.

Track Ends, Good:
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5264/0012029kp4.th.jpg (http://img223.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0012029kp4.jpg)

Horizontal Dropouts, Good:
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/7166/pic00016op0.th.jpg (http://img505.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pic00016op0.jpg)

Vertical Dropouts, Bad:
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/5975/techwforddropoutsik3.th.jpg (http://img523.imageshack.us/my.php?image=techwforddropoutsik3.jpg)


A question for the assembly: Why are drop-outs used for road bikes and track ends used for track bikes? I can only assume it has something to do with tensioning a chain in a single-speed drivetrain?

yea, i was assuming you needed track ends for a street fixie. thanks for the advice.

A question for the assembly: Why are drop-outs used for road bikes and track ends used for track bikes? I can only assume it has something to do with tensioning a chain in a single-speed drivetrain?

Horizontal dropouts allow the rear wheel to be adjusted without having to move the rear brake pads (generally not relevant to fixed gear). Track ends allow the rear wheel to be moved without changing the height of the bottom bracket (generally not relevant to geared bikes). However, some time trial bikes use track ends, so go figure.

it's not as simple using track ends or horizontal dropouts but it's not impossible. with a half link there really shouldn't be too much of an issue unless you like your chain super tight or with an exact amount of slack.

If you have vertical dropouts and can afford an ENO hub, it's a damned good way to go. Security and ease of chain tensioning are every bit as good as with track ends.