Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Short chainring bolts or spacers?

I am working on my first SS build. It's a Lotus road frame, early 90s, Taiwan built. Here it is:

160353

I bought the bike cheaply and am trying to complete the build the same way; it's not a real lightweight bike and I think it'll end up being someone's commuter. I have a 16T Shimano SS freewheel and a blue KMC chain.

The original crankset had welded on rings, so I'm trying to use a Sugino crankset I had lying around, by removing the outer ring and going with the inner ring (40T). Of course now the chainring bolts are too long. But instead of just buying SS bolts are there spacers I could put between the spider and the inner chainring? That would move the chainline slightly closer to the stays but not enough to be dangerous, and would help with the chainline, which is going to be imperfect anyway.

Any advice welcome!

spacers work fine.

Déjà vu?

Hacksaw and loctite.

Tall bike.

3/8" star washers work real well in place of short stack. Way cheap at your local hardware store. Get ten. You may have to tap them on w/a hammer and deep set socket. My fixie has them on as I type this.

Thanks guys! Something else I was thinking of was a chainring guard that would fit where the 52t ring was, thereby filling the space and being a 'cuff protector' for a commuting bike. I have heard of someone grinding the teeth off a big chainring for that purpose, but that seems like a long way around.

Tall bike.

:( that's my line

Hairnet, do you have a picture of you on a tall bike? I mean, you're already like 6'5"...it'd be pretty cool to see a tall guy on a tall bike.

Hairnet, do you have a picture of you on a tall bike? I mean, you're already like 6'5"...it'd be pretty cool to see a tall guy on a tall bike.

hehe

:D
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs122.snc3/16969_435384930088_794100088_10726380_6347523_n.jpg

:thumb:
Thanks guys! Something else I was thinking of was a chainring guard that would fit where the 52t ring was, thereby filling the space and being a 'cuff protector' for a commuting bike. I have heard of someone grinding the teeth off a big chainring for that purpose, but that seems like a long way around.

I've done this as I had a 46t chainring in the front, but w/proper chain tension and a good bolt asembly w/lock washers on your rear wheel it souldn't be necessary. Hey, maybe you should think about using the big chairing instead of the small. Hills are pretty scarce in Chicago...I lived there 15 years. Either way keep your pant leg rolled up. :thumb:

You are right about the 40t chainring being a bit wimpy, nashcomm, but imagine this being a commuter for a small woman, and not a very aggressive rider. It's definitely not being built for me!

If it tests out with too high a spin rate I'll go looking for a somewhat bigger chainring. 110BCD so should be some choices. Not sure what you mean about lock washers on the rear wheel--it's a freewheel. In fact I have a couple of spacers, I think originally BB spacers, on there to move it out slightly. I may also try a trick I have heard of, flipping the BB spindle to get the chainring a bit more inboard. I know chainline has some leeway but I want to get it as right as possible, especially as it's a bike I'm going to sell. Can't have some hipster fixie-riding boyfriend telling the future owner that her chainline's no good!

BTW I lived in Nashville for almost 18 years! Grew up there...though there is some debate as to whether that actually occurred.