Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Converting SS to Fixed: WTB Single-Duty Hub

Hi,

I asked this same question in the Bicycle Mechanics sub forum.

I am looking to buy a bike with a WTB Single-Duty rear hub (http://www.wtb.com/products/wheels/hubs/laserdiscsingleduty/). I'd like to turn it into a fixie without building a new wheel, especially since the bike has a rear disc brake. Is it possible to "lock" the freehub easily and safely to make it a fixie?

TIA for any advice.

Surly fixator Maybe

i have a roger with a similar setup. i think you'll have to flip the wheel and put an ISO cog on it to make it fixed.

I am looking to buy a bike with a WTB Single-Duty rear hub (http://www.wtb.com/products/wheels/hubs/laserdiscsingleduty/). I'd like to turn it into a fixie.. Is it possible to "lock" the freehub easily and safely to make it a fixie?


No...the freehub is not designed to be locked. Its going to be much easier to bolt a drilled cog, such as a tomicog, onto the disc side. Takes about 3 minutes to install. If your bike is equiped with a rear disc brake that would mean that you would have to remove the rear disc first and go without a functioning rear brake when riding fixed, but you don't really need a rear brake for fixed anyway.

link for tomicog....http://tomicog.blogspot.com/

No...the freehub is not designed to be locked. Its going to be much easier to bolt a drilled cog, such as a tomicog, onto the disc side. Takes about 3 minutes to install. If your bike is equiped with a rear disc brake that would mean that you would have to remove the rear disc first and go without a functioning rear brake when riding fixed, but you don't really need a rear brake for fixed anyway.

link for tomicog....http://tomicog.blogspot.com/

Depending on the rim, he would probably still be able to use a rim brake, if necessary.

Hi,

Thanks to all who responded. The bike is a Bianchi Roger. I am going to make it more suitable for street riding in wet weather to help keep me from having to use my indoor trainer (which I hate). I was interested in the fixie aspect because I wanted to have that option regardless of the weather, though I ride 1,000+ miles per year on a velodrome. I may just get another rear wheel built for those times that I want to ride it as a fixie. Perhaps having the "freewheel" option is better for wet roads anyway.

BTW, the rims on the stock wheel are not machined for cantilevers and there are no alternate brake bosses on the frame.

I may just get another rear wheel built for those times that I want to ride it as a fixie.

BTW, the rims on the stock wheel are not machined for cantilevers and there are no alternate brake bosses on the frame.

Doesn't seem worth it to me, unless you find a disc brake compatible fixed gear hub. I don't think one exists, but perhaps Phil Wood would custom make one???
Unless you want to look for a disc-specific FG hub or monkey around with a Surly fixer, you are basically stuck without having a rear brake when riding that bike fixed. The easiest way would still be to just flip your current wheel around and bolt a tomicog onto the disc side.

Edit: the only other way I can think of riding that bike fixed and with a rear brake would be to swap your crank arms and bolt the tomicog and disc onto the left side of the hub, using spacers and extra long bolts. I've seen it done, but thats a rather esoteric way of solving your problem, and probably not worth the trouble.

surly makes a fixed / disc hub (http://surlybikes.com/parts/hubs/).

As does Phil Wood and I think Paul. Is your frame spaced 130 or 135?

surly makes a fixed / disc hub (http://surlybikes.com/parts/hubs/).
whoa! How did I miss that?