dashuaigeh

Trying to brainstorm creative ways in which DT bosses or derailleur hangers can be put to use or otherwise made to look elegant on a SS conversion. I refuse to ever saw them off or otherwise drew a bike, but they just seem kind of...naked if I leave them there. I've seen DT boss caps, which look nice and cover sharp edges.



What other ideas exist? I was wondering if there existed a rear derailleur bottle opener, or just something to fill the space while it was there, but I can't find much on google.

steppinthefunk 

ding ding
(not mine)

brockd15 

This will be interesting to see. I'm on the lookout for a decent frame to convert to fixed that doesn't have a derailleur hanger or DT bosses so I don't have to address this issue.

nlerner

Once on a ride on my departed Kogswell, which had naked downtube shifter bosses, I found a big old chrome lug nut. Dang, if it didn't fit perfectly on that shifter boss!

Neal

ColonelJLloyd 

That's awesome.

dashuaigeh

R.I.P. your Kogswell! That sucks what happened?

Sweeeeeeeet. If I bike enough to get massive quad muscles, maybe I can set those up to ring every time I go on a downstroke

jtgotsjets

I was going to mention bells too—if I ever convert a bike to SS/FG, that's what I'm doing with at least one shifter boss.

A question requiring even more creativity: what about rear cantilever posts if you're not running a rear brake?

steppinthefunk 

Rack mount! Not sure how the set up would be but I think you'll figure it out.

dashuaigeh

Hmm, in the same vein, what about drilling for a rear brake (less creativity needed). For the cantis, that's a hard one. i was thinking use a bolt to attach rainbow streamers .

EDIT :: rack mount is a much better idea .

nlerner

I sold it! I liked the whole concept and it got me into 650B-wheeled bikes, but it had too long of a top tube for my poor aching neck.

Neal

brockd15 

Yup, Old Man Mountain makes racks that mount to the canti posts. Nitto M12 (or similar) for the front studs.

https://www.oldmanmountain.com/Pages/...RearRacks.html

Seems like SixtyFiver had a bell mounted on mtb derailleur pulley (or whatever they're called, on bikes that use top pull front derailleurs) with a cable hooked up to it so he could ring it using the brake lever.

Edit: here it is https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...r#post10869503

nlerner

You could also go for a 3-speed trigger, maybe even one not hooked up to anything!



Neal

dashuaigeh

That sounds amazing. I'm must try to find a way to do that on a standard road frame.

brockd15 

Looks like I remembered it wrong. Seems like the bell is clamped on and there's no pulley, so I guess you could do it on just about any frame.

91MF

having dt bosses and a der hanger on a singlespeed converted bike doesnt bother me in the least.
its a conversion, to me this means the bike is used alot and simplicity and ease of maintenance are key. adding crap to cover up the fact that the bike had gears once seems silly to me.

here is mine with exposed dt bosses and a visible der hanger. the horror.

one4one

Have you considered a 3 speed frame like a Raleigh Sports? My Robin Hood is wearing 700c28 and the fenders will fit. If I didn't want the fenders I could run tubulars or 27 x 1 1/4. There's nothing to remove.

dashuaigeh

I'm not concerned about them appearing ugly. The only thing I'd want to cover for certain are the downtube bosses - I'm trying to eliminate sharp edges that might scratch. The other stuff is extra. Since they're there already, I'd rather put them to use, but I have no issue with leaving a derailleur hanger empty on a conversion either.

20grit

Run a chain tensioner on the rear derailleur hanger. Allows for quick wheel change (flip flop hubs).

Mount a flickstand type mechanism on the shifter bosses.

91MF

in the countless hours i have spent on the bike pictured[previously as a fixed gear and now as an ss] i have never scratched myself, or anything else, on the dt bosses. even doing ridiculous-hipster-nuts-to-stem skids. i dont understand.

the fact that those little covers for the dt bosses exist and people actually buy them is funny to me.

dashuaigeh

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I haven't had the chance to ride a conversion with DT bosses, so excuse my lack of experience in that area.

I'm just stating that 1) that's one area of possible concern, 2) that it's unused on a conversion, and I'd like to try to use it, and 3) everyone has different opinions on what looks good on a bike. For me, I personally don't mind an empty RD hanger, but I'd prefer to not just have the look of the exposed DT bosses. Your preferences are different.

91MF

still kinda doesnt compute.
so if you have four shelves on the wall and three are full of books do you run out and buy enough books to fill the 4th shelf?
if you really want to use the dt bosses try a dt shifter, nahmeen?

20grit

Duder, you're obviously not getting the point. The op understands that they're there, they're not part of a functioning Fixed gear bike. He wants to, in some way use them. He also does not enjoy the aesthetics of an exposed shifter boss. I would guess 75% of the actions taken by those in this forum are due to some form of aesthetic judgment. I personally agree that it looks like total ass to leave an exposed boss on the downtube.

The original poster's questions are about what one could do with them. We all know they can be left alone.

91MF

if aesthetics are the #1 concern maybe a frame designed to be run singlespeed, without downtube bosses, would be a better choice.

sayin tho, duder.

Otis

How about some pegs on the D/T bosses so you can put your feet up there when you go down hills.

Personally I think all those cover up pieces look pretty bad. I would either find a bike with no braze-on's, or just leave 'em be (or cut them off). Although I would not cut off the der hanger, as you might need that one day. The other stuff can be easily replaced with clamp-on's.

randyjawa 

It ain't fancy, but a simple valve cap will press right on and not look all that bad. Painted the same color as the frame would work well also.