Cassette Question
06-07-08, 09:56 PM
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Cassette Question
This is my first attempt at converting a bike to a single speed and my first attempt at in depth bike work in general, so bear with me. I took my rear wheel from a 72 Raleigh Super Grand Prix to a bike shop and asked what it would take to get the cassette off and convert it into a single speed. The guy told me that they would have to switch the axle around and rebuild the hub since the single cog would not line up with the front crank. Apparently the hub isn't long enough. He said it would be an extensive job and I doubt I can do it on my own. This is disheartening bc I thought I could do this conversion easily. Any thoughts or suggestions? Is the guy at the shop wrong? Thanks a lot for the help.
06-08-08, 12:49 AM
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Its likely because ur 72 Raleigh doesn't have a cassette. It has a freewheel. Freewheel wheels can't be "converted" per se to a SS/FG. You can ghetto fix the rear wheel and set the chain to one of the various rings (guessing 5 speed) and simply ride it with no rear derailler.
What the mechanic was suggesting is true in a way. You would theoretically have to redish the rear wheel. In your instance, it makes no sense tho, since it wouldn't really apply...
Basically, just buy urself a new wheelset. You can get a crappy flip flop wheelset off ebay for like $90 shipped. Then you won't have to play these games.
First. Sheldonbrown.com
What the mechanic was suggesting is true in a way. You would theoretically have to redish the rear wheel. In your instance, it makes no sense tho, since it wouldn't really apply...
Basically, just buy urself a new wheelset. You can get a crappy flip flop wheelset off ebay for like $90 shipped. Then you won't have to play these games.
First. Sheldonbrown.com
06-08-08, 02:48 AM
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EivlEvo is right about the wheel having a freewheel instead of a cassette but these can make excellent SS wheels with a little work. Take off the current multi-gear freewheel and replace it with a single-speed BMX freewheel (threads right on). Then comes the more difficult part (that may not be worth doing to this wheel)... you will need to remove the axle and reinstall with the spacers re-arranged so as to be align the freewheel with the front chainring (take this opportunity to grease the bearings). Once the chain alignment is dead-on, redish the wheel so the rim is centered in the frame. When these steps are done correctly, you have a completely ghetto-free SS wheel (if you want a fixed gear set-up, though, you need a fixed hub), however if you can't do this yourself, you are probably better off getting a new wheel or wheelset as EivlEvo said. In fact, if the wheel has a rim that is steel or is 27" rather than 700c, you might want to upgrade anyway. Whatever you decide to do, Sheldon Brown is the man!
