Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Converting my road bike to a fixed gear.

Let's start of with: "I am totally new to the topic of single speed."

However, I want to convert my road bike( i am building up a new machine) into a nice bike that I can take around the city.

That is my bike. http://www.khscanada.com/2004Bikes/flite_320.htm

Look at the frame and wheels. All the other stuff is not there any more.

What are your suggestions experts? :)

I know that I will have to get a special hub for the rear wheel. What about the hooks where you put your rear wheel in? Those are standard road ones not the track ones.

just give me some directions.

Big thanks

Sell that bike and buy a fixed gear. Too nice of a bike to convert

Sell that bike and buy a fixed gear. Too nice of a bike to convert

U really think so?

Actually i am determined to convert it. I dont want to put any money in it. The bike is not at my athletic level ( i am a triathlete), and it is not worth too much money - Single speeds are expensive as hell, at least here, in Poland that is.

And I was not precise. That is the model I have. The type of a bike. The one that is hanging on my room's wall definitely does not look this fine. I just wanted to show you the frame I have.

Whatever you want..
The best way to go is to buy a White industry ENO hub. Google is your friend. I just sold my 135 mm and bought a 130mm for my roadbike. It might be you dont know me, but you will love me for telling you this.

buy it from these local messengers:
http://fixie-king.dk/wordpress/

Or these very nice brits:
http://hubjub.co.uk/

Whatever you want..
. It might be you dont know me, but you will love me for telling you this.


I do love You. :love: jk That was exactly the info I was looking for.

So, I know what to do with the wheel issue. What about the rest?

Loose all the other components and I have a fixed gear?

Waiting for suggestions. :D

the only problem with the bike is it doesnt have horizontal dropouts to adjust the chain tension. you can convert it...but you have to do some research to find the "magic ratio" in which the chain will be fairly tensioned

the only problem with the bike is it doesnt have horizontal dropouts to adjust the chain tension. you can convert it...but you have to do some research to find the "magic ratio" in which the chain will be fairly tensioned

Or...


The best way to go is to buy a White industry ENO hub.

go to the velodrome--- this is the basic bicycle--- sell this tri and get a track--- you will change your perception about riding ss or conversions--- take a real notice of geometry---

you will need a singulator to accomodate the dropout---- you can convert this, but a track bike
is what this whole stuff is about----

you will need a singulator to accomodate the dropout---- you can convert this, but a track bike
is what this whole stuff is about----

Singulators are for single speed only, not fixed.

:roflmao2:yes singulators are for single speed only--- I am trying to convince this fine young rider to ride
A TRACK BIKE thank you, sincerely, a single speed rider...:innocent::notamused::twitchy::lol::crash::thumb:

Maby people should be a little less obsessed with track frames for bikes ridden on the street. If your going to ride a bike on the street(like 95% of the people who ride fixed gears) the only real need for track geometry is to impress your hipster friends.

Maby people should be a little less obsessed with track frames for bikes ridden on the street. If your going to ride a bike on the street(like 95% of the people who ride fixed gears) the only real need for track geometry is to impress your hipster friends.


hahahahaha ..
wheni need some cheering up i surf the SS/ fixed forum . and this is why .
soon it will be something else .

hey hey hey...

there is the thing. the frame is staying. I love the semi tri geometry in my bike... i don't want to have a track bike. when I will be really rich i will have whole bunch of bikes for many different purposes. :D:D:D I want to have a bike that I can use for everyday fighting with traffic.

the issue of the chain tension is solved. (Eno hub - I had no idea hat anything like that existed..)

I am probably going to change all the spokes right? I'll leave the rim - It took whole lot of beatings already and is still perfect.

You'll need the ENO hub as mentioned before or (as also mentioned) you have to find the right ratio and chain length to work with the vertical drop. ENO hubs are a bit expensive ($120-130). Of course, now, you'll have to rebuild your rear wheel with the new hub which means new spokes. Looks like you have 20 spokes back there. I'm not sure you can get an ENO for a 20 spoke rim, but it can't hurt to look around.

Your other option would be to build a new rear wheel with the ENO hub (or someone build it for you). Obviously you'll need a new rim if you take this approach (as well as spokes, nipples, etc.). This is getting expensive, but your best approach if you want a nice conversion that allows you to change the cog size in the rear.

If you want to find that magic chainring/cog ratio and go with a standard hub, you'll save yourself some money, but increase your frustration and won't have the ability to adjust your ratio. In the end you'll be stuck in one position and if you don't like the ratio your riding, tough.

After you have your rear wheel figured out, theres a bit you'll have to do. Pick a chainring, get your chainline right, etc. Come back when your ready. Google is your friend. Sheldon Brown is your best friend.

i will go with the eno hub. the rear wheel is 24 spokes and front is 20.

i think that i know all the stuff about the wheel. tell me more about the chainline. I will need a new crankset probably right?

don't laugh!! who's sheldon brown? heard the name but i am not sure...

:crash:I dont understand the obsession of turning a perfectly designed tri bike or for that matter road specific racing bike into a track bike or ss when the seed is there for a track feel and position--- simplicity and function--- I ride a ss with 1 front brake-- but I know that what I am riding was designed for gears and bottom end--- I am happy but the track is where these ideas come from-- and the vintage side of cycling--- oh, well ---- go ahead do what ya want--- have fun show us pictures later---SB lives on..... and just get a singulator and a ss cog--- but dont go and talk about rake and agility later....sheeeesh.... do it..... just do it.....:twitchy::twitchy::twitchy::twitchy:

hahahahaha ..
wheni need some cheering up i surf the SS/ fixed forum . and this is why .
soon it will be something else .
Ok, well instead I'll go buy a track frame and put risers on it, then I will have true track skillz!:twitchy:
Seriously, most people jump on the track bandwagon to be cool, not because they need it.

There is no velodromes in my region of a country. (i dont live in the states.) All the components of this bike are not worth more than 100 $ all together. that is why I want to get rid of everything and insed of building up a new road bike on a basic of this frame i wil build 2 bikes: the fixed on this frame and another racing bike (pedal force)

don't laugh!! who's sheldon brown? heard the name but i am not sure...

He's a recently-deceased bike guru who's site has yet to be rivaled. here's a page on fixed gear stuff: http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed/index.html

Seriously, most people jump on the track bandwagon to be cool, not because they need it.

I didn't know I did it to be cool. I thought I wanted the simplicity and low maintenance of a single gear because I spend 95% of my time in one gear anyway on my old 18 speed commuting bike.

I didn't know I did it to be cool. I thought I wanted the simplicity and low maintenance of a single gear because I spend 95% of my time in one gear anyway on my old 18 speed commuting bike.

I ride a fixed gear, but not a track bike. AFAIK all track bikes are fixed gears, but not all fixed gears are track bikes. I was just saying that most people get TRACK frames to be cool, when a ROAD frame will work just as well if not better for most of the riding people do.

I ride a fixed gear, but not a track bike. AFAIK all track bikes are fixed gears, but not all fixed gears are track bikes. I was just saying that most people get TRACK frames to be cool, when a ROAD frame will work just as well if not better for most of the riding people do.
road frame fixed gear ftw!

ENO hub, as others have said. Converted my very comfortable to me road bike using one a couple years ago, and am very glad to have swapped over that way.

Then you're only out the cost of a new rear wheel/cog/lockring setup. IF you find you don't like the setup, you can put the geared stuff back on and sell the ENO wheel.

Bonus: Any other road frame you have hanging about that you like the fit/feel/geometry of can use that ENO wheel as well.

You can get the ENO for 110 euro plus 10 for shipping here: http://bike-components.de/catalog/White+Industries/ENO+Singlespeed+Standard+Nabe+130+mm?osCsid=1c9bfa8bf089056b2cd91c95b18f944a

You'll need new rims which will also offer a stronger wheel as the ENO is either 32 or 36 spoke. I've had good luck with 36H hubs on the streets of Riga; cobblestones are brutal to low spoke wheels.

Don't convert that bike, just sell it. It's not that that bike is unconvertable (it almost is) it's just you will save time and money by selling that bike and buying a complete single speed or fixed gear. And you said they are ultra expensive or whatever, have you looked around online at all?

I too am thinking of converting an old road bike to fixed or single speed.

I finished rehabbing an old Lambert I thought I'd use for a commuter. Two problems: 1, I'm now addicted to brifters and find shifting the old down tube friction shifters a drag... and 2, parts for the old Dia Compe brakes. Newer brakes I have from upgrading don't fit.

So, I can avoid both issues by going to a fixee, right? I'm assuming you get some braking with a fixed, by attempting to back pedal. Is that right? and how quickly can you stop.

Or I could fix the brakes and go to a single speed freewheel. Thought I'd ask for your ideas.