Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Hardware alternative to spacer kit?

I am converting a 1980 Lotus Elan (yes, it's a bike) to singlespeed using the existing rear hub. What do you get in a spacer kit? Is there a hardware store alternative?

Thanks

RFC

washers

exactly. you could just take of the derailleurs, shorten the chain and wrap the chain around the little chainring and the cog it lines up with in the back(this is what i'd recommend for folks unfamiliar with truing wheels). like so:

http://www.diaryofamountainbiker.co.uk/oct05/singlespeed_block.jpg

if you do this make sure the chain is straight! if it's not it will fall off when you're cranking up a hill.

but if you're going to do the singlespeed conversion that's described by sheldon brown et al, you'll need washers (or axle spacers) NOT freehub spacers like the numerous "singlespeed spacer" kits sold by performance, surly, etc.

if that part is confusing, read up on the difference between freewheel hubs and freehubs.

Since it's from 1980 I sincerely doubt it's a modern freehub. Bring in the rear wheel, buy a freewheel, the shop should be able to install it for you for $5 (or free).

If you really wanna go to your hardware store, pick up some 10mm i.d. washers. Way cheaper than chainring spacers, same function.

http://www.diaryofamountainbiker.co.uk/oct05/singlespeed_block.jpg

I've done this twice, and I feel that the $30 you spend is well worth the security knowing your chain won't try to climb it's way up the freewheel as you climb your way up a hill. You can get into a serious accident, get hurt, or worse, destroy your bike.

If you have a modern day freehub use PVC tubing and the cassette lockring.

I can't see how this job will require any spacers.

As BlickBlocks said, buy a $15 freewheel from a shop and redish the wheel.

I've done this twice, and I feel that the $30 you spend is well worth the security knowing your chain won't try to climb it's way up the freewheel as you climb your way up a hill. You can get into a serious accident, get hurt, or worse, destroy your bike.

Not to mention you won't have a ghetto, ugly-ass, janky bike.

http://www.diaryofamountainbiker.co.uk/oct05/singlespeed_block.jpg



For the love of all things holy, tell whoever that bike belongs to to fix their quick release.

i found a bike this weekend that was made into a singlespeed, they used zip ties instead of spacers, looks like it works pretty good.

Try to collect some worn our cassettes from bike shops or whatever, break the rivets and use the spacers between the cogs (it takes about 3 to get the correct amount) - at least then you're reusing stuff that would otherwise end up in the landfill, and it works as well as using the spacers you get in a kit.

That said, you probably have a freehub if it's the original wheel - in which case you're going to be better off getting a bmx freewheel to replace it, redish it and be done with it..

I've done this twice, and I feel that the $30 you spend is well worth the security knowing your chain won't try to climb it's way up the freewheel as you climb your way up a hill. You can get into a serious accident, get hurt, or worse, destroy your bike.

definitely a serious concern. i probably didn't stress enough the importance of making sure the chainline is straight. if you do that and keep your chain tight, the odds of the chain derailling are pretty slim.


For the love of all things holy, tell whoever that bike belongs to to fix their quick release.

and tension their chain. good ole google image search.

by the way folks, this is a bike from 1980. unless the rear wheel has been replaced it's a freewheel hub. as i said, the spacer procedure as described in the post above will not work, it's the wrong kind of hub.

like others have said (and like I said in your other thread), you don't want this spacer kit on freewheel (vs freehub) setups.