Does this sound like a dumb idea?
05-19-15, 12:01 PM
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Does this sound like a dumb idea?
So I've already got a nice single speed/fixed gear ride with 700x25 tires. I'm wanting another with beefier tires for jumping on curbs, running through trails and dirt, etc. I've got a mountain bike with 26x1.75 road tires on it right now, and a 3x7 drivetrain. I was thinking of converting it, and this is my cost estimate:
Custom built 26" rear wheel w/ white industries eccentric rear hub - $350
White industries freewheel - $100
Single speed crankset - $75
So about $525 to do the conversion.
Or is there some bike I can buy new that's pretty much already what I'm looking for, and not much more $?
Custom built 26" rear wheel w/ white industries eccentric rear hub - $350
White industries freewheel - $100
Single speed crankset - $75
So about $525 to do the conversion.
Or is there some bike I can buy new that's pretty much already what I'm looking for, and not much more $?
05-19-15, 12:10 PM
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You could probably find a pre-owned SS cyclocross bike around that price point. See if you can't find an All-City Nature Boy.
05-19-15, 12:11 PM
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Just buy a used 26 wheel, put a free wheel on it and run a tensioner and just leave the triple on and use the ring that matches up to your gearing/chain line.
500 bucks for a beater bike seems silly.
500 bucks for a beater bike seems silly.
05-19-15, 12:49 PM
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many ways of doing it either at high or low cost.
pictured here is my current project:
70 something for the used wheelset (white ind front + deore xt rear + mavic)
40 something for the new tires.
50 something for Raceface triple crank + 10 single ring.
10 bucks single speed conversion kit including a steel cog.
100 ± for both brake sets—Paul Moto front + Tektro something rear.
other parts are from the bins.
not a cheap build, but not terribly expensive*
*pending subjectivity
was going to use a half-link chain in case the chain length gets messy, but lucky it just worked w/o it.
however, your build plan sounds sweet. always fancy the eccentric hub setup.
don't think there's a dumb idea as long as it suits what you want to do and you are not paying for it 'more' than what people do, no?
pictured here is my current project:
70 something for the used wheelset (white ind front + deore xt rear + mavic)
40 something for the new tires.
50 something for Raceface triple crank + 10 single ring.
10 bucks single speed conversion kit including a steel cog.
100 ± for both brake sets—Paul Moto front + Tektro something rear.
other parts are from the bins.
not a cheap build, but not terribly expensive*
*pending subjectivity
was going to use a half-link chain in case the chain length gets messy, but lucky it just worked w/o it.
however, your build plan sounds sweet. always fancy the eccentric hub setup.
don't think there's a dumb idea as long as it suits what you want to do and you are not paying for it 'more' than what people do, no?
Last edited by orangeology; 05-19-15 at 02:30 PM.
05-19-15, 01:07 PM
#5
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Does it use a freewheel or cassette? If cassette you can use the wheel with SS cog, spacers and lockring. There are plenty of SS tensioners available to work with vertical drop outs. You might need a new crank, you might not. The nice thing about SS cog on a freehub is adjustable chainline.
There are also SS 29ers on Bikesdirect for under $500
There are also SS 29ers on Bikesdirect for under $500
Last edited by hairnet; 05-19-15 at 01:10 PM.
05-19-15, 01:43 PM
#7
Your cog is slipping.
05-19-15, 03:30 PM
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I need the sound of the white freewheel. It's like dentyne ice in my ears. I love it, I crave it, the buzz pushes me forward.
So whatever I go with, it has to take a screw on freewheel. Not shifting with what I have now doesn't give me the buzz. Freehubs don't give me the buzz. I must have the buzz. Not just any buzz, not just a similar buzz, but *the* buzz...like the one harmonious set of frequencies that bring the universe together for which there is no substitute.
So whatever I go with, it has to take a screw on freewheel. Not shifting with what I have now doesn't give me the buzz. Freehubs don't give me the buzz. I must have the buzz. Not just any buzz, not just a similar buzz, but *the* buzz...like the one harmonious set of frequencies that bring the universe together for which there is no substitute.
05-19-15, 04:13 PM
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I think you can get a spacer and tensioner kit from Nashbar for cheap. Is this not an option?
05-19-15, 04:24 PM
#13
Your cog is slipping.
05-19-15, 04:27 PM
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05-19-15, 05:19 PM
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but to keep this at least somewhat on topic, OP, you should totally leave the bike as it is and ride it. every bike is a single speed if you ride it like one, yours just has the added benefit of being able to change ratios on the fly
Last edited by neamatoad; 05-19-15 at 05:23 PM.
05-20-15, 10:41 AM
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Single speed kit from Performance $25
Forté Single-Speed Conversion Kit___
Single speed crank bolts to change that triple to a single from E-Bay $7.20
Black Singlespeed Chainring Crank Bolts 8mm BMX Fixed Gear Bike 5 Pack Steel | eBay
$525 minus $32.20 equals $517.80 for beer and a road trip this weekend.
Forté Single-Speed Conversion Kit___
Single speed crank bolts to change that triple to a single from E-Bay $7.20
Black Singlespeed Chainring Crank Bolts 8mm BMX Fixed Gear Bike 5 Pack Steel | eBay
$525 minus $32.20 equals $517.80 for beer and a road trip this weekend.
05-20-15, 03:00 PM
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I don't think there is a cheap way to set up a mountain bike as a single speed to use a screw on freewheel. Perhaps if I already had horizontal dropouts or trackfork ends, but alas... I shall probably just ride it as-is. If I can't get the white ind freewheel on there, then it's not worth doing.
05-20-15, 03:39 PM
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Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssss....bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I don't think there is a cheap way to set up a mountain bike as a single speed to use a screw on freewheel. Perhaps if I already had horizontal dropouts or trackfork ends, but alas... I shall probably just ride it as-is. If I can't get the white ind freewheel on there, then it's not worth doing.
I don't think there is a cheap way to set up a mountain bike as a single speed to use a screw on freewheel. Perhaps if I already had horizontal dropouts or trackfork ends, but alas... I shall probably just ride it as-is. If I can't get the white ind freewheel on there, then it's not worth doing.
while hunting, here are some tasteful images of beautiful titanium mtb frame w White Ind Eccentric and FW setup.
done by one of those who build most gorgeous and delicious bikes across BF here IMO.
( @Vonruden : hope you don't mind linking your bike images here? )
https://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...psp4ea7crd.jpg
https://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...psqqgafopr.jpg
05-20-15, 03:47 PM
#21
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while hunting, here are some tasteful images of beautiful titanium mtb frame w White Ind Eccentric and FW setup.
done by one of those who build most gorgeous and delicious bikes across BF here IMO.
( @Vonruden : hope you don't mind linking your bike images here? )
https://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...psp4ea7crd.jpg
https://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...psqqgafopr.jpg
done by one of those who build most gorgeous and delicious bikes across BF here IMO.
( @Vonruden : hope you don't mind linking your bike images here? )
https://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...psp4ea7crd.jpg
https://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...psqqgafopr.jpg
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