Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Dumb Question.

I have a really quick question about fixed gear conversions. One thing I am curious about is how solid is a fixed rear wheel in a horizontal drop out. I am about to purchase two complete nishiki olympic bikes. I am going to build myself a fixie out of one of them and keep the other as a beater or build my special lady friend a s/s bar hopping bike. I am pretty hard on bikes and I have images of laying on the ground with a rear wheel that has pulled out of the drop out due to me cranking too hard on the pedals. I dont have to worry about this on my san jose. Is there anyway to stop this from happening or this an irrational fear? Does anyone make a horizontal drop out chain tensioner? (which has nothing to do with my question, just a side thought). Any help would be much appreciated

How many times has your axle slid forward on your San Jose? Don't use a quick release axle and tighten it properly. You'll be fine.

You'll be fine.

You'll be fine.

qft

I have a really quick question about fixed gear conversions. One thing I am curious about is how solid is a fixed rear wheel in a horizontal drop out. I am about to purchase two complete nishiki olympic bikes. I am going to build myself a fixie out of one of them and keep the other as a beater or build my special lady friend a s/s bar hopping bike. I am pretty hard on bikes and I have images of laying on the ground with a rear wheel that has pulled out of the drop out due to me cranking too hard on the pedals. I dont have to worry about this on my san jose. Is there anyway to stop this from happening or this an irrational fear? Does anyone make a horizontal drop out chain tensioner? (which has nothing to do with my question, just a side thought). Any help would be much appreciated

As I have been corrected before, it's highly unlikely you'll pull BOTH sides of the axle, simultaenously out of their dropouts.

More likely is that one side slips and your wheel jams. Usually this occurs when you're starting from a stop. You really don't have much to worry about.

As I have been corrected before, it's highly unlikely you'll pull BOTH sides of the axle, simultaenously out of their dropouts.

More likely is that one side slips and your wheel jams. Usually this occurs when you're starting from a stop. You really don't have much to worry about.

Yeah it will suck but you're unlikely to get injured if you have the wheel far enough back in the dropouts.

Some chaintensioners can be modified to work with horizontal dropouts but it's probably a waste of your time and money unless you are running a QR.

I am pretty hard on bikes and I have images of laying on the ground with a rear wheel that has pulled out of the drop out due to me cranking too hard on the pedals. .... Is there anyway to stop this from happening or this an irrational fear? Considering dudes who rode the tour de France in the 80's didn't have too much of a problem with it, and they were using QR's, I think you (who cannot crush cinder blocks with your thighs) won't have a problem.

thank you.

I have a really quick question about fixed gear conversions. One thing I am curious about is how solid is a fixed rear wheel in a horizontal drop out. I am about to purchase two complete nishiki olympic bikes. I am going to build myself a fixie out of one of them and keep the other as a beater or build my special lady friend a s/s bar hopping bike. I am pretty hard on bikes and I have images of laying on the ground with a rear wheel that has pulled out of the drop out due to me cranking too hard on the pedals. I dont have to worry about this on my san jose. Is there anyway to stop this from happening or this an irrational fear? Does anyone make a horizontal drop out chain tensioner? (which has nothing to do with my question, just a side thought). Any help would be much appreciated

All track droppouts are horizontal. When was the last time you heard of a properly mounted rear track wheel coming loose?

I was having a really hard time with axle slippage and eventually i managed to modify a tensioner to work with my horizontal dropouts. See how it works out with your bike first though before dropping any money on a tensioner. If you have problems they will very likely be minor annoyances rather than the catastrophes you are visualizing.