Vertical Dropouts... SS/FG
 

So I've read things like "no way jose" and other things which are more believable like "you can work around it if you don't have horizontal dropouts".

I'd ideally like to make this bike a FG/SS flipflop but if I can even just go SS I'll be happy.

Have any of you gone around the issue of vertical dropouts for a SS/FG conversion and if so how did ya do it?

I saw one guy using a "half link" which I'm not sure how I'd install or even get my hands on one of those.

Also how viable is just playing around with gear ratios to make it fit?

I'm not crazy about the idea of a chain tensioner, either. Going for simple.

I have a frame with vert drop outs

i just use a chain braker every time. And i dont have a half link the chain tension is actually pretty tight.

Use this magic gear calculator and save yourself the trouble of "playing with ratios":

http://www.eehouse.org/fixin/formfmu.php

white industries eno eccentric hub...'FTW', as the kids say.

i love mine.

i love you

well thank you.

I recommend the White Industries Eno Eccentric hub.

A chain tensioner may be a cheap and quick solution on a vertical dropout frame bike but it also looks ugly.

Avoid if you can!

i guess i just as well post a picture:

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k...d/DSC00749.jpg

If you grab a half link and a few different cog/chainring combinations, you'll be able to find one that is close enough for singlespeed use. Riding fixed you have to be a little more picky, but it's definitely doable.

i did it for about 6 months using a half link, the chain stretched over time and i took out the half link, after a while the bike had other problems and i wound up tossing the frame but i kept an eye on it and i never dropped a chain while riding that set up

what

chains stretch, well not really, really the pins between them wear out and add a little length but it's refered to as chain stretch, all chains do it

I'm more confused by the notion that your chain stretched so much that removing a half-link was a viable option, and you still considered the chain rideable.

it was a little loose when i had the half link installed and it was fairly tight(though not pulling) once it stretched

Without a proper tension method it can be tough. A 1/2in is a long ways.

You can make a magic gear work but an eccentric hub is better. It has enough adjustment in it that I can run a 16t fixed and 18t freewheel. Personally, I am glad I went this route. The wheel is now in its second frame (cyclocross) and if i ever go to a frame with horizontal dropouts i just need new axle caps. They make them in standard and eccentric in every width you could want.

I thought you loved me!

P.S, good luck with setting up a magic ratio dude.

We seem to have missed this magic gear calculator from post # 3 so I'm posting it again:

http://www.eehouse.org/fixin/formfmu.php

The best thing about the ENO hub is that once I built my wheel around it that thing was more expensive than my bike. So if there is ever a fire, and I cannot carry everything, the wheel comes, the bike burns.

This is what my roommate did with his geared bike. He is running 42/16 if i recall, and it works great. Well, chain is a little tight imo, but it works.

.Chris

how complicated can a chain tensioner possibly be? Probably easier to install than a half-link.

I have a beater with vertical dropouts. I did the half link thing.. Works fine and didn't have to find a magic ratio or anything. Chain is a tiny bit tight, but everything works just fine.

its complicated when you want to run a ss/fg flip flop setup like the original poster.

(ie, it wont work)

But he also mentioned he'd settle with SS if he had to....hence the tensioner solution.

no reason to settle if you have a nice frame.