UnsafeAlpine

Just thought I'd say hi. I'm hoping to do a little more mountain biking this year than I've done in the last few, but we'll see. I have a 99 Schwinn Homegrown hardtail that, as it turns out, is one size too small. Live and learn I guess.

I also have another frame that I'm going to build into a single speed/fixie. If anyone has suggestions on doing that with a URT FS, please let me know. I've pondered it a bit, and it looks as though it will be a straightforward conversion.

scrublover

on the fixie/urt thing, so long as you can get good chain tension a fix will be fine. if not, SS it and use a tensioner.

UnsafeAlpine

Oddly enough, it actually has rear facing horizontal dropouts, so that shouldn't be an issue.

scrublover

Oh sweet! That'll make for easy conversion.

It'll be boberific.

ed 

Are you going to build a SS or a fixie. Two very different things.

Regarding the Tomato frame size...just a noob mistake...no biggie, you'll get over it, noob.

I'm curious then...what URT has horizontal dropouts? "NEXT" brand?

scrublover

AFAIK, the OP knows the difference and what that entails for a build.

URT stuff was made by a lot of companies for the brief time it was in vogue. Could be one of many. Possibly a Klein? I know some of their hardtails from back then had some minimalistic "rearward facing" drops. Catamount?

UnsafeAlpine

I'm going to build both... Surly makes a fixie/free hub. My plan is to use the fixie side in the winter as a bad mofo commuter, and then use the free side in the summer as a fun XC.

As for the Schwinn, yeah, that was a total n00b move. I'd wanted one for years, though, and had the money a couple years ago. Found a killer deal on one and was just so excited I forgot to be smart.

The frame in question is a '95 Catamount frame. It was supposed to be one of the absolute best FS of its time and was built in my hometown. Of course, it's way old school now and that's why I'm planning on just doing some fun stuff with it.

UnsafeAlpine

Nice guess. The previous owner filed out the super thick dropouts so they are now rather substantial. He had ridden it as a SS for a while before selling the frame to me.

C Law

That URT will not be fun to ride singlespeed off road due to the bob. It might be fun for a minute but it would get old quick for me

UnsafeAlpine

I'm curious about this "bob" you speak of. The last time I rode this bike (granted, was back in '97 or something) there was no bob to it that I remember. Catamount worked hard on assuring their URT was more advanced than anything else. Most mtb magazines agreed with them. Again, though, this is all coming from 12 year old memories...

ed 

I wanted one of those crazy "S-stays" Homegrown HT's forever man I also wanted a 4-banger and a Straight-Six. Those were PIMP!

If the Catamount works out...you could look into a new shock for it. Something with platform.

UnsafeAlpine

what's platform?