shchua

Dear All,

I have a 18 speed mountain bike and I want to convert it into a fixie myself but i have many doubts.
Here a pic of my MTB.


1) Do I need to change the frame considering that the rear could be too loose after removing all the rear gear cogs?
2) Do I need to change the whole rear wheel considering that the hub may not be able to convert into a fixie?

Have anyone done such a conversion before?
If yes, perhaps you can share your experience with some step by step guides and advices?

Thank you very much.

Cheers.
Shunhui.

Jaytron

Fixed gear conversions

brauluver

YES

shchua

Thanks. I have read through the sites...now is to find the parts and start to disassemble my MTB...

Will post back here for help when I meet with difficulties.

My problem is that it seems difficult to find fixie parts.

frantik

I think you're going to need a new rear hub at least. if you have an 18 speed mountain bike the rear hub is probably 130mm but it could be as small as 126mm. If you can't find a fixed mtb wheel (i did a quick search and didnt I would go with a hub meant for 120mm spacing and use a longer axle and lace it to your existing rim.

actually.. i just did a search and you may be able to convert your wheel to a fixed wheel with a Surly Fixxer if you have a freehub (not a freewheel)

do your chainrings come off your crank or are they riveted together?

Bat56

What fixie part are you looking for that you can't find?

Scrodzilla

Do you live on the moon?

Bat56

I totally did not think of that; I always overlook the most obvious question!

IthaDan 

just ziptie the freewheel to the spokes and lose the RD.

ThimbleSmash

hairnet

Going by the apparent cheapness of the bike I will say he just needs to unscrew the 6speed freewheel and then install a fixed cog. Chainnrings are most likely riveted.

Scrodzilla

Wait...are you actually suggesting a suicide hub?

hairnet

fixedgearworld

I am very interested in this conversion, please when you have the final bike insert a pic to see your results, great!

frantik

yes i would say it's likely the OP's bike has a freewheel and not a hub. it also would be a bit overkill to use the expensive surly fixer on such a cheap bike

i've not use a "suicide hub" but there are some in this forum that say it's ok to use as long as you use brakes.

if you're trying to keep the project at a low price, i'd recommend just going with a single speed instead of a fixed gear. just replace the freewheel cogs with a single speed freewheel and ur good to go.

Scrodzilla

But dude, fixie!

frantik

yeah, i know

homebrewk

We need more gifs!

shchua

Yes, I measure it and my MTB rear is currently a 130mm hub.
I read about the surly fixxer too...not too sure if it is safe enough.
as for chainrings, it is riveted together......

shchua

Hi infact I am starting to have second thots about converting it...as its starting to look no so cost efficient.

shchua

Yup I am just interested in a fixie for now...maybe with a flipflop hub...for switching between a Fixie + SS is not a bad idea either. ;P

frantik

i'm pretty sure the fixxer is safe. it bolts on in a way where it's not going to come loose.

the other option is using a flip flop hub meant for 120mm and get a longer axle and some spacers. or cold set the frame to be 120mm. you might even be able to jam a 120 hub in the 130mm spaced rear without cold setting, though it'll be a pain in the butt

since your crank is riveted you're going to need to replace that too, unless you have the tools to separate them

zukahn1 

Well if one wants to go dirt cheap and fixie run a Schwinn suicide just beg borrow steel the fixed Shimano multigear freewheel off a old front freewheeling bike screw it on and short chain it to the middle gears front and rear. I have actually done this on beaters and it works ok.

IthaDan 

Wait, what? Both the rings AND the cogs had ratchet mechanisms. The back one may have been sticky, but it wasn't fixed.

zukahn1 

The late 70's frontfrweewheeling stuff had fixedgears in back no mech and the freewheel was on the crank.