tarr2468

Hello everyone, this is my first post. I am fairly new to single speeds, and need a bit of advice.
Alright, last summer I converted my old Gary Fisher Mamba to a singlespeed. All i actually did was remove the derailleurs and add a surly singulator for chain tension. I have really gotten to love riding a single speed, so i want to get a new rear wheel, and a new crank. I also want to replace the fork with a rigid one.
Im looking to do this as cheaply as possible, seeing as I have very little money.
So far I am thinking of this fork
https://webcyclery.com/product.php?p...cat=319&page=1
and the surly rear hub with a sun rim but I am unsure about the rest.
Here are some pictures of the bike if needed/wanted
https://www.geocities.com/tarr2468/bike/bike.jpg
https://www.geocities.com/tarr2468/bike/crank.jpg
https://www.geocities.com/tarr2468/bike/front.jpg
https://www.geocities.com/tarr2468/bike/rear.jpg
https://www.geocities.com/tarr2468/bike/rearhub.jpg
I would really appreciate it if you guys could help point me in the right direction

redfooj

if you want to do it cheap, get a 20-30$ SS conversion kit that uses your rear wheel (basically some spacers and a cog for your hub) instead of buying a new one

with the money saved you can go to a basic SS truvativ stylo crank for 100$... you can also get some cheaper cranks (make sure they're non-riveted) and remove the uneeded chainrings

fork is fine

put your front brake back on... you'll probably want it

Thylacine

Err, yes, change the cranks and the fork. Again, if budget is your thing, Surly is probably the best value for forks (You need a 'suspension corrected' length one) although Tange has one too (as per your Webcyclery link, which is okay), and cranks and BB? Maybe hit eBay. For rings, Salsa's are good-n-cheap - just make sure you get non-ramped ones.

tarr2468

Yeah, I was looking at one of those kits, but was unsure about them, something like this right?
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW
Also, I just found out about this on pricepoint, would it work?
https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/112...S-Crankset.htm
then i just take out the other chainrings and put it back together without them right?
[EDIT]
I just searched ebay for TruVativ and found this https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...148320447&rd=1 would that work
[/EDIT]
As for the the front brake, i only had one lever laying around, but i just bought new ones, so now I have both brakes.
Yes I know, my crank is a mess and the fork isnt the best, but they have both been through a lot. I also have another bike, but decided to make my old bike the singlespeed.....
As for the fork, would the Surly be better than the one in the link? Its only $7 more, do you think that its worth it?
https://webcyclery.com/product.php?p...cat=319&page=1

Sorry about all the questions, im a noob when it comes to this stuff

Cynikal 

I just picked up a rigid fork from my lbs for $10 and it's suspension corrected. Go to yours and ask, they probably have a box of them in the back.

Go the spacer route, when you are digging around at the bike store also ask them for an old cassette. Take it home and tear it appart. Also take you cassette appart and pick the gear you have been using and fill everything else up with spacers. Viola!

tarr2468

Really? when I first set up my singlespeed, I asked a guy at the bikeshop about a using an old cassette and the gear from my current cassette and he told me you cant do it , maybe i worded it wrong though. Tomorrow I will stop by and ask them about the fork and the cassette, how do the cassettes come apart? are any special tools needed? (besides the one to take the cassette off of the hub)
I have decided to keep my hub for sure now, but I still want new rims,(the ones on there now bend too easily) are sun rhino lites any good, or will I have the same problem with them?
Again, thanks for putting up with all my stupid questions , I really appreciate your help and I am starting to understand all of this

kurremkarm

Get a new bike. That thing has vertical drops. Restore it to the way it was and keep it geared. Sell it or use it for a spare. Build a new bike.

What I would do.

sloppy robot

spot used to make a really nice spacer kit.. i didnt see it onn their site though..

max-a-mill

he was right... using an old rear cog from a cassette (the one with ramps) can cause your chain to derail at VERY bad times! sometimes sending you knees into the bars and/or yourself into the ground.

i would bust up a cassette or two for spacers (cheaper than the conversion) but then spend a whopping 5 bucks on a shimano DX cog in whatever size you want for your cog out back.

i use a dedicated freewheel cassette off road but would be equally conident using one of these (what i commute on).

as for the front, i still use a middle ring (one with shift ramps from an old crankset i have) and it has never derailled on me so i say if you have an old front ring your happy with, use it (or go buy a salsa).

if you got money for a new wheel and want to ditch the tensioner alltogehter look for a white industries eno hub (it allows you to adjust chain tension while still using you normal dropouts). it ain't cheap but it sounds like you ride a bit so maybe you think your worth it!

tarr2468

I just went to the shop today, they got me a Trek fork for $30, and cut the steering tube down to the right size for me. Its not as good of a deal you got, but still better than what I could find online.....

Hmm, now I have to decide, that White Industries hub is appealing, but expensive.....I will probably save up for a little bit and buy it later....
Anyway, now the only problem I have is the crank, will any crank with the removable rings work? the one i have doesnt seem to come apart, but I have found some good deals online on a TruVativ and a Shimano crank....
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...148320447&rd=1
https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/128...nkset-M572.htm
I was leaning towards the TruVativ if it would work, but what do you think?
Also, I am repainting the bike now, it will look much better when its done
If someone could just explain what is needed with the crank, I will be all set. You guys have been very helpful so far and everything is working out great.

tarr2468

Actually, forget about what I said about the crank in the last post, I found this https://www.webcyclery.com/product.ph...1&cat=0&page=1
Correct me if i am wrong, but i will need a new bottom bracket with it right? Even if so, im going to go with that and and probably the White Industries Hub with Sun Rims once I can save up some money. This is going to cost more than what I originally was going to spend, but I think it will be worth it once its done.
Thanks a lot for all of your help!

Kiecker

If you're looking for a cheap SS trail bike why not just look at a Redline Monocog? It's not the best bike but certainly better then what you have. Easily had for ~$400 complete, https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/redline-monocog.html. Or even better, look for a used Bianchi SASS, DISS, BUSS, SISS, etc....

Do the math, this might make more sence.
Crank: 100
Fork: 30
Cog/spacers: 10
Eno: 160
Rim:
BB:
etc.......

redfooj

yeah, any crankset with removeable rings will work. you have a square taper bottom bracket so get a square taper crankset... the one on ebay looks like it'll do fine. you wont need a new BB --- using your current hub, you can use spacers to adjust the chainline.

and youre set

Cynikal 

Most cassettes have 3 bolts running thru them, or just pins. Either way very easy to pull apart.

max-a-mill

let me just say the monocog is awesome! it is my cheapest but still favorite bike.... it really is just a nice bike for rolling tight singletrack. not that anyone asked but here is a picture...



ok, and back to YOUR singlespeed.

the only thing you need to do to normal cranks to make them singlespeed cranks is to taske the rings off (the ones on my bike are normal truvativ stylo cranks). to fully convert them you just need to buy some bmx chainring bolts cause yours will be too long (unless you also use a bashguard which looks cool but IMHO serves no real purpose on a mountainbike).

my advice is make it as cheap as you can for now, and upgrade it as you find you need to!

travismcgee

If and when you can afford it, I highly recommend the White Industries eccentric hub mentioned by a previous poster.

I started on the cheap by converting an old Specialized Rockhopper to single speed with a Surly singulator for chain tension. Naturally I painted the frame flat black with a rattle can while my children watched nervously wondering what had become of me.

I have since upgraded. I took an old GT Zaskar frame that I got for free and powdercoated it. I added a RockShox Duke fork and a White Industries eccentric hub.

Here is a link to the eccentric hub.

https://www.whiteind.com/ENO_web/eno-index.html

Good luck.

shot

Here's an interesting singlespeed kit, never tried it, but it looks OK.

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=