EdT

I've been riding a single speed conversion for a few years now and am ready to make the committment to a track end frame. I like the idea of sliding dropouts complete with disc tabs so I don't have to adjust the brake everytime I adjust the chain tension. I would like a nice clean frame, disc only, but, actually, no disc tabs either. Because, well, I want the disc tabs to be on the sliding drop out. So - I'm looking for MTB frame with track ends, no brake bosses, no disc tabs. Just fast clean lines. Anyone know where to look? Anyone have a favorite frame? Voodoo? Fetish? On-One? Other???

Thanks,
Ed

^oZ

I like on-one, good geometry, cheap, indestructable

robcycle

I think most MTB frames with track ends were intended to be ridden SS, so you will probably find canti bosses or disc tabs. You could always strip them off and repaint it. Oh, and Smoke Bikes , out of Asheville makes fixed MTB frames, if you want to go custom.

-Rob.

Straws

I'd say custom probably. If you know really want you want there's no harm in doing so.

dirtyphotons

you can either have track ends or you can have sliding dropouts with disc tabs. pick one.

Severian

+1 to dirtyphotons.

the shop I work at has a SS compatible 29er (a Specialized Rockhopper 29er). But a quick check on the 'site tells me that the ONLY bike they're doing with the 29er's sliding dropouts is the 29er. Which is a shame because I like those dropouts.

EdT

hmmm....

Clearly I don't understand something. I thought a sliding dropout was something you added to a track end to make adustments easier. So my question is a little different now. I'm looking for a frame with a sliding drop out with disc tabs on the sliding drop out (as opposed to to disc tabs on the frame). Because I'm hoping to adjust my brakes once and then when I adjust the chain tension I don't have to adjust the brakes again.

Who makes this type of frame?

Thanks.

dirtyphotons

^there you go. i can see why it'd be confusing but yeah, the sliding dropout is part of the frame.

the rockhopper 29er is one such frame. 2006 on one inbred, voodoo has several.

most sliding dropout frames will have the disc tabs on the slider so that you don't need to adjust the brake when you change the dropout position.

is this gonna be for trails? do you have any preference for wheel size?

coelcanth

paragon sliding dropouts:

blickblocks

^^^ Those are really pretty.

robcycle

Not true. My Monocog 29er has track ends with disc tabs. They are slotted so that you can adjust the position of the caliper relative to the wheel. But really, on an off-road SS, how many times are you going to change ratios? Isn't that the purpose of a single speed, not to change gears?

-Rob.

dirtyphotons

sorry, i wasn't very clear. you can either have sliding dropouts or you can have track ends, not both.

either can have disc tabs. the latter require you to readjust your brakes every time you change ratios.

i change ratios quite often.

Severian

Those are very pretty. though why the machinist decided to put a derailleur hanger onto a set of dropouts that really want to be SS is beyond me.

time bandit

^only reason i can think of is to tighten/loosen your wheelbase on your roadie...

Severian

huh.. and inch would do it. But I'd think that would make your steering twitchy, or your climbing wonky. Shifting the rear center back would mean that more force leans on the front. I say this without any actual numbers to back up my claim. But it makes sense in my head that changing your wheel base w/o changing your frame geometry might do some strange things.

dirtyphotons

to me the big advantage of sliding dropouts is that you can do both geard and ss, with disc brakes, with a minimal amount of tinkerking. if i want to go ride geared today i can make the conversion while i drink my pre-ride coffee.

with the slotted disc dropouts you sometimes have to loosen the disc caliper in order to remove your rear wheel. sometimes you don't, it depends on the frame.

TheBrick

I vote on-one. This year they do't have the sliding drop out but theframe looks very nice clean. It really seems like a do all bike. I have seen them fixed, single speed and gear riding around London, and I have even seen travel logs of people who have used them for touring across latin America.

vuduchyld

Kind of a hijack, but are you going to ride your mtb fixed? On trails?

Do people really do that?

I could imagine riding a single speed mtb, even though I have never done it. It would actually be fun and cool, I'm sure. On the trail, I seldom use more than maybe 3-4 gears...hell maybe not even that.

But the thing about going fixie is that you really don't have a ton of control over when your pedals are down and what might be in the way.

Granted, I'm a bit of a fixie newb, but I can't imagine how hard that must be!

markhr

ebb = cleaner frame

No forking around trying to work out if your dropouts are aligned.

doofo

what is this two frames spooning
?

EdT

26 is what I'm used to. I'm game to try 29, but I'ld like to ride one before I buy one...

wroomwroomoops

Look at the Zion frames. They're gorgeous, they use an eccentric BB to achieve chain tension, and they are eccellent quality. Diskbrake only.

EDIT: plus it's steel.

wroomwroomoops

You missed the part when the OP said he doesn't want to d*ck with adjusting the brakes. With that frame, he'd have to work his ass off adjusting the diskbrake calipers everytime he slides the wheel for any reason.

EdT

for me -

- fixed for the road
- ss for the trail

I can't imagine fixed on the trail, but I suppose some one does it.

Actually - I bent the front fork of my fixie driving my bike into the roof of a garage - doh. Seemed like a good time to by a nice road bike - so I did - and I love it and I haven't rebuilt the fixie yet. But I'm all about ss on the trail. Means a little more hike-a-bike for me, but that is OK.

robcycle

Yup, people do it. Its not as hard as you would think, just allot more work, as you are working to go both up and down the hill. A front brake helps, but your legs are still moving. But its just another learned skill, like riding in a ****ty urban environment. You probably won't be as fast as everyone else, but if you were concerned with that, you might rethink the SS thing.

If your keep your momentum you wouldn't believe the stuff you can get through. And it really is like having a motor when climbing, basically the flywheel effect. You provide the additional power to overcome drivetrain friction, plus what is needed for the next pedal stroke, but there is a large amount of retained power from the last stroke, so ... Well, the first time I tried it, I felt like I had four wheel drive.

Its really not as hard as people think. For me, it was a quest to find a bike I could commute five miles to work/school with, and then hit the trail before heading home. I HATE riding a mountain bike on the street, so I ended up with a swiss-army bike. Converted 10speed, 700x38c tires, front caliper brake, rear fender. It was a good place to start.

Sorry for the threadjack

-Rob.