Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Wal Mart mountain bike to single speed?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Roadmaster-Granite-Peak-26-Men-s-Mountain-Bike/15711164

I'm trying to convert this Roadmaster, 18 speed mountain bike to a single speed. This will be my first time. I want to do this as cheap as possible because I live in NYC where bikes get stolen regularly.

So I was going to remove all the gear cables, shifters, and I wanted to put a single speed chain ring & cog. Can I take apart the multiple gear cogs & chain rings and just use one of those? Or should I buy a new cog & chain ring made for single speed?

I was also thinking about a single speed conversion kit. Is this the cheapest way to convert to single speed or is there a better way that is just as cheap?

Also, when I convert to a single speed can I pedal backwards without the rear wheel moving backwards like a BMX bike? Or will it move backwards like a fixed gear?

It'll cost you as much as the bike to buy the appropriate tools and parts to do what you want. It will cost slightly less to have a LBS do it. But yes, it can be done. Alternatively, you could choose not to take apart a relatively new bicycle and ride it.

How To Turn Your Wal-Mart Mountain Bike into a Single Speed (by mickey_):

Step 1: Acquire aforementioned Wal-Mart mountain bike.
Step 2: Ride it.
Step 3: Do not touch the shifters.
Step 4: DO NOT touch the shifters.
Step 5: ????
Step 6: PROFIT!

i wouldn't waste any time trying to convert a wal-mart mountain bike...but i guess it would be interesting. if you want to do it the cheapest way possible, just take off the derailleur and shifters and stuff, shorten up the chain, and stick it on one of the sprockets/chainrings. you may not have an ideal gear ratio tho

how to turn your wal-mart mountain bike into a single speed (by mickey_):

Step 1: Acquire aforementioned wal-mart mountain bike.
Step 2: Buy it.
Step 3: Do not touch it
step 4: Do not touch it
step 5: ????
Step 6: Profit!

+1 qfmft.

Those cheapo MTBs have a freewheel, not freehubs.A conversion kit will not work.Chainrings are usually riveted, so taking unwanted rings off is not a option.You'll need a BMX freewheel,crank and most likely a BB, which will be~$80 plus tools.As mentioned above, not really worth it.

dont bother.. crackheads will steal any bike and real thieves woudn't steal a walmart bike no matter if it's SS or not

to do it ultra-cheap, if you are lucky, one of the existing chainrings and cogs will give you the "magic ratio" that you need. if you can get a magic gear ratio, all you will need is a chain breaker and tools to remove the shifters.
otherwise you will probably have to buy new chainring and or cog and it will be too expensive to justify doing

why do you want to SS it? just to do it? honestly mickey_'s advice is the best

and converting to single speed will not give you a fixed gear bike...

is there any particular reason why you want to convert to a single speed?

i bought a used mountain bike wit horizontal drop outs and converted it for less than 75 dollars

1) Newbie makes a single post nearly a month ago.
2) Everyone tells newbie that this is a totally bad idea.
3) Newbie goes away and does not post again.
4) A month later someone bumps the thread and starts talking to a wall.
5) An epic thread is born.

http://dudelol.com/img/white-guy-dancing.gif