Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - my first FG conversion - chain conversion

i'm wrapping up my first FG conversion. I got this because a) i wanted to actually build a bike instead of just ride one and b) i wanted an old bike to compliment my new bike before deciding which one to make a project.. something like that.

anyway, the drivetrain is all from my kilo; BB, crank, cog, lockring, wheels. the only thing that didn't work was the chain (too short) so i got a new one and threw it on. so just a couple questions. it's pretty noisy. is this something that will fade as the chain breaks in? also, does the hub sit OK in the dropouts? with another link the chain has so much slack i can just about pull it off with the wheel all the way back in the dropouts. TIA.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/save_alkaline/cadaver023Medium.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/save_alkaline/cadaver026Medium.jpg

and some pics of it just waiting on a brake. :)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/save_alkaline/cadaver022Medium.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/save_alkaline/cadaver029Medium.jpg

1. You're definitely far enough into the dropout. I've ridden on much scarier setups than that.

2. How many miles did you have on your Mercier before you did the swap? Old cog and ring + new chain will often = noise. You did strip off the crap fake lube and put some real stuff on, right?

looks like fun

i realize now that my title says 'chain conversion'.. i blame it on the wine, lol.

thanks for the feedback. i was definitely worried about the dropout. that's a relief! i have a few miles on the cog but not a lot. maybe 300 miles or so. as far as the lube, i was wondering about that too. after installing it i didn't know if i needed to clean it off and lube it or not so i checked sheldon brown (RIP) and it said the lube on a new chain is good. but it sounds like there's a lot of controversy in that department.

really nice job,...I love those old (real) chicago schwinns (are you getting a honey brooks saddle to go with that bar wrap?) :D

I was always told that as long as the rear wheel doesn't slip it's good, but I like to get it centered in the dropouts, looks like you have it in there about as good as it's going to get tho.
also don't forget that a brand new chain will stretch a little right away, so I'd ride it around a bunch, hopefully after the first chain adjustment you'll be dead center in the dropouts without changing anything further.

you can also try different chainring/cog combo's or use a half link or two in the chain to get the axle as centered as possible in the dropouts, but I don't think it's a problem unless you start getting axle slip when you skip stop, or backpedal.

my brand new GIANT BMX chain was silent right away, maybe you have some grit or something in there? try cleaning the chain, then lube it and see if it doesn't shut up. your chainline looks really good too

smart to wait on a brake too, and don't let anyone "tease" you into thinking otherwise, we just had a cyclist die in a traffic accident here in santa cruz, CA.
there are no real details except the cyclist and a fed ex truck were at the same place at the same time, the cyclist was riding a fixed gear bike with no brakes that he had purchased only a few days prior, the cyclist took a long fall from an overlook type highway and after the incident the cyclist died a few hours later from his injuries.

you should wait on another brake lever too... seems so weird to ride with just one.

thanks for the positive feedback, reckon! i have to admit i was a little worried about what i was going to get after putting up the pictures (i think of the jackass thread and some other, not so positive feedback that's given on this site, haha).

i really like this frame! i did some research on the schwinn's when i found this. of course, my research led me to a thread on bikeforums where a guy explained the schwinn le tours and super le tours. i guess they were only made in chicago in '79 and '80 in an effort to save the company by making affordable lugged frames. i was really excited when i found this one with chicago on the badge instead of 'schwinn approved japan' or something like that. and yes, a brooks will be on there at some point. when i have some more money to spend. :)

that sounds like very good advice on the chain as well. i really appreciate that. i'm going to get out for some long rides to work it asap. it's raining buckets right now though and i'm not that eager to get it figured out! haha!

i know i'm losing a couple street cred points but i like the added safety of the front brake. even if i don't use it on my ride at all, it's nice to know it's there should something happen. i don't want to end up as one of those stories. :(

on a side note, i love your avatar! i saw the pic posted on FGG the other day. do you know if there's a higher res version of it somewhere or who painted it?


jody, i have to admit it took some getting used to the single lever but it doesn't really bother me now and it does the job.

That's a nice looking bike. With my setup brand new chains are always noisy at first, and then quieten down. fyi dual levers are the cat's vaj, even thought it may look funny to have a tektro not hooked up to anything.