Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Took the SS leap!!

Well it has actually been a long project... for a couple years I have been slowly collecting parts and finding deals to build up a SS. All said and done the complete bike came in below $300 WOO HOOOO!!! New bike for cheap YIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPPPPPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! So I finished it last night and took if for the first ride today. I only have pics in the parking lot but man this bike was a blast, I will be riding this bike more!

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/Funrover/Bike/DSCN0034.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/Funrover/Bike/DSCN0032.jpg

Looks awesome. I'd like to see some close up shots of the drivetrain and that tensioner you've got.

What's the gearing on there?
What hub/freewheel/tensioner did you spec it out with?

I'll take some pix of the ss/fg commuter rig I'm working on. It's rideable, but there's little finishing touches I want to do, like new bartape, a computer mount, and an extra blinkie mount.

Looks awesome. I'd like to see some close up shots of the drivetrain and that tensioner you've got.

What's the gearing on there?
What hub/freewheel/tensioner did you spec it out with?

I'll take some pix of the ss/fg commuter rig I'm working on. It's rideable, but there's little finishing touches I want to do, like new bartape, a computer mount, and an extra blinkie mount.



Chain - Sram
Tensioner - Forte
Gearing - 32/18
Hub - Not remembering...??

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/Funrover/Bike/DSCN0037.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/Funrover/Bike/DSCN0036.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/Funrover/Bike/DSCN0035.jpg

Awsome! I have a 1994 Gary Fisher that i am doing the single speed conversion to. I have actually thought of going totally SS on both of my mountain bikes.

Yeah I have 1 SS and am keeping the other mountain ride geared!

Single Speeds are soooo cool - thought I would share

06 GF Rig
Chris King Headset (Pretty in Pink)
White Industry cranks (ENO)

Those are both great looking rigs!
Laduckslayer - LOVE the crank!
funrover - good build! I really liked my forte tensioner - does a good job!

Here's my new (to me) singlespeed/fixed commuter.

1988 Trek 400 frame/fork
New Salsa MA Bell Lap bar, IRO hub, Sugino 44t chainring, Shimano 18t freewheel, Surly 18t cog, SRAM chain, Brooks saddle
Scavenged parts off my 1991 Series-5 PDG for everything else

Here's MY FG.

http://www.bikeforums.net/picture.php?albumid=11&pictureid=78

Fixie..... not for me! I give you props for that!

Fixie..... not for me! I give you props for that!




Yeah, me either!!



but those are still some nice bikes though. :D

I love the idea of the single speed and the look is AWSOME!!

Thanks for the newest idea??? Hmmm.

I love the idea of the single speed and the look is AWSOME!!

Thanks for the newest idea??? Hmmm.

I think what makes it even more fun is building the bike. Sure, I could have spent just a little more than I did on my conversion and bought a new Messenger or Kilo TT... but building the bike up from a salvage frame (literally, I pulled mine from a dumpster) and building the wheels myself was the biggest bike mechanic feat I'd attempted.
If you do go singlespeed or fixed gear, see about breathing new life into an old bike first. Craigslist, garage sales, or even dumpstered bikes all can be brought back from near death as long as the frame is still good.

I think what makes it even more fun is building the bike. Sure, I could have spent just a little more than I did on my conversion and bought a new Messenger or Kilo TT... but building the bike up from a salvage frame (literally, I pulled mine from a dumpster) and building the wheels myself was the biggest bike mechanic feat I'd attempted.
If you do go singlespeed or fixed gear, see about breathing new life into an old bike first. Craigslist, garage sales, or even dumpstered bikes all can be brought back from near death as long as the frame is still good.


X2 Bring back an old ride!!

I think what makes it even more fun is building the bike. Sure, I could have spent just a little more than I did on my conversion and bought a new Messenger or Kilo TT... but building the bike up from a salvage frame (literally, I pulled mine from a dumpster) and building the wheels myself was the biggest bike mechanic feat I'd attempted.
If you do go singlespeed or fixed gear, see about breathing new life into an old bike first. Craigslist, garage sales, or even dumpstered bikes all can be brought back from near death as long as the frame is still good.


You are correct but being a UBER-CLYDE makes me kinda of worry about old stuff. Also reading some of these post people spen as much on rims as some are spending on entire bikes!! So the real question is will any "for lack of a better term" name brand frame work on a single speed conversion. Also I know there is a lot of SS haters but I live in Daytona Beach so there is not much for hills in this area.

I agree on an older bike, by the way. My Fixed is a 1971 Nishiki frame, hand made by their old master framer, Kawamura (It's a signature frame), and no, I don't grind of the dérailleur hangers or cable guides, as that would be blasphemy with a classic older frame.

Another bonus, SS wheels are stronger, due to less dishing to accommodate the drivetrain.

I agree on an older bike, by the way. My Fixed is a 1971 Nishiki frame, hand made by their old master framer, Kawamura (It's a signature frame), and no, I don't grind of the dérailleur hangers or cable guides, as that would be blasphemy with a classic older frame.

Another bonus, SS wheels are stronger, due to less dishing to accommodate the drivetrain.

A true SS wheel is stronger but how about a multigeared rim converted to SS?

Also what is a good price for a set of SS rims? Will any frame hold 29ers if you change the forks?

Well I managed to get used rims for a geared bike and made them SS.... They hold up great! Keep your eyes open and you can build a used set up that is extremely strong for cheap. And not all frames can fit 29's, if you plan is 29's get a 29 frame

A true SS wheel is stronger but how about a multigeared rim converted to SS?

Also what is a good price for a set of SS rims? Will any frame hold 29ers if you change the forks?

Unless you're using a set of off-center drilled rims (like the Velocity Aerohead OC) which uses an off-center rim to accomodate for greater strength even with the increased dish of a geared wheel, the rim itself isn't going to be singlespeed specific. I'm using a 17 year old pair of Wolber Alpine T170 rims on my ss/fg conversion. The front is still the stock setup on a 105sc hub, and the rear I tore down and rebuilt with a high-flange fixed/fixed hub from IRO. The hub and spokes cost me around $60, and building it took around 3 hours from having a pile of parts to having a finished wheel.

There's no reason to spend some of the insane amounts for wheels that people do, unless you're racing on the track. Sure, a pair of Phils or blingy Kings laced to Deep Vs looks pimp, but it's not necessary. A decent hub can be had for $50 or less. New spokes are pretty cheap. Even if you can't true a wheel, you can probably follow the instructions on Sheldon's site, lace the wheel yourself, and bring it to the LBS to finish the tension/truing for $20.

Those are nice bikes for sure but I never really understood the whole fixie/ss thing. If you want 1 gear on your bike just don't touch the shifters during the ride. ;)

I converted an older road bike to a single speed to ride to work. Lots of fun, cheap and simple.

Tensioner works fine (used a Surly Singlator) and the original wheel works fine with a single cog and lots of spacers.

See post with pics here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=8012235&postcount=83) or look at the 5 page long thread covering the entire conversion.

Those are nice bikes for sure but I never really understood the whole fixie/ss thing. If you want 1 gear on your bike just don't touch the shifters during the ride. ;)

Sort of... That's a good way to decide if you'd like to make the jump to a full-on single or fixed bike.

There's no shifters to accidentally tap (especially helpful for racing ss 'cross, where you're on and off the bike frequently).
There's no derailleurs to snag on rocks and branches when riding offroad.
A true single/fixed wheel is stronger than a geared wheel.
It's lighter, because you don't need shifters/cables/derailleurs/multiple rings and cogs.
Less parts means easier to clean and maintain.
Fixed gear is even simpler, because you can remove the rear brake, too. Moving parts to service: 1 brake and lever, headset, bottom bracket, hubs.

I still love my geared bikes, and won't give them up for anything.

Thanks for all the advise!!

And so the search continues!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!