Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Has any body made a single speed triple?

Is it possible? I am talking about a triple crank and front derailleur with a single freewheel cog and no rear derailleur.

I have seen the opposite with a single chainring and rear cassette but never this configuration.

I don't think it'll work.

Whacky chainlines are bound to happen.

I'd have to go fiddle with it and see. But generally, the rear derailleur also serves the purpose of chain-tensioner, whereas the front derailleur does not. So if there was some motivation to do so, you could design a front derailleur that also acted as chain tensioner, but a regular one wouldn't work. I think. Or you could use a rear chain tensioner that wasn't a derailleur.

The bigger question would be the point of it all.

then it wouldnt be a singlespeed, amrite?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oShTJ90fC34

Do they make chain tensioners designed to take up variable amounts of slack? I figure most of them are designed for single speed applications—set it and forget it.

Seems like you'd probably end up running a rear derailleur anyway for that reason. Why not just get a 3 speed internal gear hub?

I don't think it'll work.

Whacky chainlines are bound to happen.

No wackier than keeping a multi-speed bike in one mid range gear on the cassette and only switching gears up front. You'd definitely need a chain tensioner to take up the slack created when you shift to a smaller ring. It may work but you'd probably have better luck with double, though.

I don't think the guy has a dérailleur, but there was someone on here with a double crank and a WI dos enos freewheel. Somehow he had enough room in the track ends to utilize all gear combinations without changing chain length. Try searching for that freewheel and you'll probably find the thread.

The point of it would be to wind up with at least a 3 speed and having 17-20 gi amongst the choices for shift on the fly. Could make or break a more challenging hill climb ? White Industries has a SS/freewheel that has 2 different tooth count rear gears on it. That would give the cyclist about 8-10 gi difference in those 2 gear choices.

http://www.bikeman.com/WIND-FWDOSENO1719.html

Gonna need the chain tensioner anyway, but the freewheel concept would be more of a stop and change the chain from gear to gear (manual) solution rather than shifting on the fly while riding. Unless you can reach down with a tool and guide it over somehow without losing fingers ? Also could combine the ss freewheel with a dual or triple crank and get up to 6 gears out of it. Triples commonly have 30/42/52 tooth counts and duals 42/52. Don't know if the midrange of 42 is hard enough of a gear, as some fixies have 46 & 48T cranks.

I run a DOS ENO FW and a road double. As long as you match the tooth count between the front and rear cogs (the sum of both being the same) the chain stays relatively the same length.

I run a 48/45 Front and a 16/19 Rear. I however have not swapped over to the lower gear in over a year so I would debate the usefullness. If I am doing hills, I ride my road bike nowdays.

If you did a triple-single, you could do a 48/45/42 and a 16/19/22 which would give you a pretty wide range, but at that point I would really just rather ride a gear'ed bike. I can't think of ANY time where I would need or want to get off my bike 3 times on a ride to adjust my chain and swap gears. I only did the DOS becuase there is a 7% grade near my office that I would never get up in on a 48/16. Never.

When swapping my own gears, my rear brake pads are just slightly off. I cannot comment on what a 3rd ring would do. Just make sure the pads are not hitting your tires.

I have a triple crank (with a single ring) on my Surly 1x1 and a Chris King SS rear hub which could allow you to run 3 gears in back... I just don't see the point.

This thread neither qualifies as single speed or fixed gear, so why? Go bother some other people with ill legit ideas.

I've got an idea, i wonder if anyone has tried it:

Make a SS with a triple crank on the front and a FD, then throw an old RD on the back to act as a chain tensioner, but then instead of just the single rear cog throw a dingle on there so you have two in the back, or maybe even an old 5 speed thread on freewheel so you basically have 15 speeds on your SS

has anyone tried that??

I've got an idea, i wonder if anyone has tried it:

Make a SS with a triple crank on the front and a FD, then throw an old RD on the back to act as a chain tensioner, but then instead of just the single rear cog throw a dingle on there so you have two in the back, or maybe even an old 5 speed thread on freewheel so you basically have 15 speeds on your SS

has anyone tried that??

Next you are gonna suggest that some wizard create some sort of shifting device that allows one to traverse these "15 speeds" on the fly. Hahahahaha! Right. While we are wishing let's wish for 20, heck 22 speeds!

Keep wishin, buddy.

I was just gonna kick the chain with my foot, but your idea is pretty good too.

it CAN be done, but you would still need both a front and rear derailler... so what's the point? it doesn't really simplify much, just limits you.

The Paul Components Melvin tensioner allows you to use multiple chainrings up to 20 teeth apart in size. I've done it on a couple of bikes with two speeds, nothing would stop you from using a triple provided you don't exceed the 20 tooth difference.

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq334/Masifan/DSC01177.jpg

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq334/Masifan/DSC01178.jpg

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq334/Masifan/DSC01829.jpg

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq334/Masifan/DSC01831.jpg

It takes a few seconds to change gears, it's not intended to be shifted on the fly. One gear is for riding on the trail, the other gear is to ride on the road to get to the trail.

Thanks guys,

I was just curious if it had been done.
Now that I see that last couple of images, I guess it would be a lot of work for a convoluted set up.

Yeah, what you want is a good ol' sturmey archer AW hub.

The Paul Components Melvin tensioner allows you to use multiple chainrings up to 20 teeth apart in size. I've done it on a couple of bikes with two speeds, nothing would stop you from using a triple provided you don't exceed the 20 tooth difference.


It takes a few seconds to change gears, it's not intended to be shifted on the fly. One gear is for riding on the trail, the other gear is to ride on the road to get to the trail.

Could you not take out a couple of links?

I am building up a bike with a double freewheel/double chainrings as we speak!