Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - SS Moser

attempting to build a track bike moser frame. i ride road bikes, but want to get into track. i want a single speed but i don't want it fixed gear, at least not yet, (i don't trust myself yet) can this be done? what would be needed to do this? i don't know a lot about track bikes. thanks

You'll need a wheelset w/ a flip-flop rear hub and a BMX type single speed freewheel.

If you plan to ride the bike freewheel it must have brakes and not all "track" bikes have correct mounting points for brakes.

If you are running brakes, you might go ahead and set the bike up to run fixed gear since it's not really any more difficult or dangerous than freewheel riding if you use foot retention and run brakes.

Good luck whatever you decide.

yeah, the frame dosnt have break mounts, so i might just make it fixed gear. is it hard to get used to? i feel like if your going fast and you need to stop your ******, and if you get tired and for some reason just stop than you will fly over the bike, like those gay elliptical machines. cause you will just skid. also are the rims different than road bike rims? i tried to fit my road rims on it, and it didn't fit.

would you run a break also if its fixed gear? wouldn't your legs just act as a break or would that act like a buffer for your legs. thanks

Hello yes this can be down and is quite easy, to a point. do you have road frame or a real track frame? if it is a road frame does it have horizontal dropouts or vertical? do you have a wheel that takes a freewheel?

you need a 2/32 single speed fwheel (I think that is the right pitch not 1/8) the chain ring you wish to use up front and a chain. take you wheel to your LBS and ask them to respace it to use single speed on your frame. they need to know is your frame a track or road 126 or 130 spaced. you can repsace it yourself but you may still want a shop to redish it. then it is a matter of attaching the freewheel to the wheel, putting the chainring and chain on. if you have vertical dropouts you may need something to tension the chain.

I hope this is clear enough even though I have been out of the businees for awhile I still assume everyone knows what I am talking about.

PS I do not know how to attach this to all my replies but I am looking for green and red presta caps.

yeah, the frame dosnt have break mounts, so i might just make it fixed gear. is it hard to get used to? i feel like if your going fast and you need to stop your ******, and if you get tired and for some reason just stop than you will fly over the bike, like those gay elliptical machines. cause you will just skid. also are the rims different than road bike rims? i tried to fit my road rims on it, and it didn't fit.

would you run a break also if its fixed gear? wouldn't your legs just act as a break or would that act like a buffer for your legs. thanks

man, if you're getting thrown by those 'gay' elliptical machines then you should approach fixed gear bicycles with extreme caution.

1. 700c rims should work perfectly fine. maybe your tires are too big? many track frames only take tires 25 or smaller. if you're running even 28's your wheels might not fit in the frame.

2. run a brake on fixed gear. yes, you can stop without it but learning to do so effectively takes time and practice and there will always be times when a brake is handy to have. think of it more like a parachute. you won't need it until you need it... and then you'll really need it.

3. if you want to get into track, then you should build a bike for track and ride it on the track. period. and don't show up at the velodrome with a brake and a bell and your bars and saddle on the same level on your 'track' bike. there are no stoplights or cars on the track, so leave all that gunk on your road ride.

4. good god, don't ride a freewheel on the velodrome. if you're coasting on the track you are losing heroically.

yeah im running a track bike(horizontal dropouts). that's the thing i kind of want a wheel that can freewheel but cant mount a short break on it. i kind of get what you mean with the wheel, ugh i hate my LBS they're a bunch of *****. alright thanks for the help. the only thing that is making me make this decision is that im going to be riding on a path also, with some hills and downhills.

oh no, i wasn't going to go the the track with a break or a freewheel . just to get going i want to have something that i can go to just in case.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/hanney12/moser/P1010142.jpg

okay, i'm a bit confused. do you intend this machine to be for use on the track or on the street? the way i see it, the options here are:

1. fixed track: this frame will be awesome! you will want light wheels, teeny tires, low low bars, a full 18" drivetrain, stiff cranks, track pedals and all that.
2. fixed street: this frame will also be awesome! you will want heftier rims, fatter tires (maybe the fattest the frame will take), good cranks that keep yr 42mm (or whatever) chainline on that thar bb, a 3/32 or 1/8 drivetrain and a freakin' brake. seriously. if you want to ride brakeless, ride with a brake for a year and then take it off.
3. freewheel track: this frame will get you hurt. freewheel on the 'drome is a bad idea that is so bad i cringe thinking of it. you will be ridiculed for even showing up with such a contraption and the local pursuit team will probably beat you up and take the frame just out of spite. don't do it. trust me.
4. freewheel street. this frame will be cool-looking but definitely not awesome. you will want to have two brakes and that will mean all sorts of drilling. can you even drill for a back brake? i admit i don't know, but it seems like a bad idea.

What's the spindle length of the BB? This'll affect the chainline, which in turn might also affect what rear hub/cog you use.

Just exactly how much do you know about bikes?

What's the spindle length of the BB? This'll affect the chainline, which in turn might also affect what rear hub/cog you use

very true. just looking at it i feel like it's short enough to hit in that 42-45 range. i suspect the bb was installed on the assumption the frame would be built up for the velodrome.

however, even if the bb is a total disaster, replacing it is dead simple (well, as simple as lugging it down to yr lbs) and there is absolutely no shortage of discussion on bb/crank combos that will give you a laser-sighted chainline.

im not sure how to find the length, i do know the basic mechanics and such. its a campagnolo BB, it says 36 x 24F

Build up a coaster brake rear wheel for it, then if you cant/wont drill the fork for a brake, run one of those clamp on deals on the front.

Brakes can be run without a problem on that frame, and NO drilling. You will have to run full housing on your brake cables and zip tie them to the frame, though. For a front brake, use this: http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_482_1209&products_id=3748

And for the rear, you can go with this: http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_482_1210&products_id=2128

Both are intended to be used on bikes that aren't drilled for brakes.

Also, on the rear wheel issue, make sure you have a rear wheel that has the proper 120mm hub width or it will be too wide to fit in the dropouts.

Build up a coaster brake rear wheel for it, then if you cant/wont drill the fork for a brake, run one of those clamp on deals on the front.

now that would be cred by the bucketful... a velosteel on that frame. yow!

I think it would be cool.

I will say it

COASTER BRAKES ARE COOL

Cooler than some noob (not saying the OP is a noob) riding a fixed brakeless and crashing.
Most of the fixed riders I see, would be better served with a coaster brake, but maybe not, on a recent trip to San Fran, it appears pushing your fixed is the cool, hip thing to do.

well, in no way am i going to suggest that fixed not be ridden simply because it's the hip thing to do -- fixed gear is just plain fun and i support fun -- but i do agree that this no-brakes culture is dangerous and i encourage everyone, op definitely included, to run at least a front brake. you don't have to use it except in emergencies if you don't want to, but emergencies happen, so run a brake.

and as for coasters... i'm definitely hoping they're the next big thing. i think it's either going to be that or p-fars and since p-fars are a total death trap, i'm throwing my weight behind coasters...

well if he figures out how to mount then those disc brakes will be real stoppers LOL

a Coaster hub!!! what a fantastic idea. I knew a guy on the south shore who did that for his winter beater.

+1 to Frymaster's comments. That frame looks like it would be best suited to track use only. It sounds like OP has trepidations about starting off with fixed gear- Just GO For It. You will get used to it quickly. Start off with a conversion or a cheap one, use at least a front brake, develop your confidence and see if you stick with it. Then build up that track bike.

go ahead and build that bike up as a FG, but learn to ride it before you take it to the streets full time. Ride around you neighborhood for a couple of weeks, practicing your skids and getting a feel for riding fixed. Once you feel confident enough in your abilities, then start riding it full time.

It's not that hard to learn to ride brakeless, and a lot of people do it with no problem. I ride w/ a brake becasue my fork is drilled for one and I odn't see a reason not to. If I had a frame w/o drillings, I would probably just go for it though. Where do you live?

i live on long island ny. i might invest in a front brake. just for learning, but who knows maybe i will be able to pick it up quick. so ill build it up than choose on a brake or not.

definitely get a front brake.