dcombs

I just picked up my new flat bar road bike, and want to make some changes to my Iron Horse Transit 1.0 ( https://ready2beat.com/sports/other/i...-commuter-bike ). I want this bike to be a camping/commuter bike, and plan to put 700x32 cyclocross tires on it. The FSA cranks started making a loud annoying clicking noise after 600 miles or so. I live in southern New Jersey, which is almost entirely flat, and really only use the center chain ring of the triple that is currently on the bike.

I would like to switch to a single crankset, and eliminate the front derailleur all together. The bike has a 8-speed casette. Will any single crankset work??...or do I need something specific for a 8-speed set-up? I know this might be a stupid question, but when I search for single cranksets, most them say they will work with 9/10 speed systems. What length BB would I want to go with the single speed crankset? Should I just get a double and use the big chain ring as a guard?

Any input would be appreciated. I've done some reseach on this, but am still confused.

operator

Put the ring in the "middle" position. Take off front derailleur, shorten chain appropriately and ride.

Raiden

Before tossing out your old cranks, you might want to remove, re-lube and reinstall the cranks, the bottom bracket (its threads, at least), your pedals, and your seatpost.

If that doesn't solve the problem and you end up swapping the cranks, see what the manufacturer suggests for bottom brackets, and/or check Sheldon Brown's database on cranks and bottom brackets. Alternatively, attach the new cranks to the old bottom bracket and see how the chainline looks (and functions). Depending on what crankset you get, you can just mount the little ring to either side of the crank arm alone with short single-speed chainring bolts, or find a bash guard to act as the outer ring (you'll want to find it when you're shopping for cranks, or write down a list of BCDs and 4/5-bolt patterns of bash guards you can find for sale in your price range).

dcombs

That would be the simple answer, but you must have missed where I mentioned the current cranks are making a loud clicking noise, and I am replacing them anyway. I don't want another triple, so I figured I'd just put a single to make things simple.

operator

I did not.

That is a simple issue to fix, it's either related to the bb, chainring bolts or crank bolts. This is simple enough to diagnose and is much cheaper than replacing your entire crankset/bb en bloc, but maybe you don't care about that.

Any singlespeed crankset will work, provided you get them with 3/32 chainrings (which is all road cranksets, double or triple). It doesn't matter if it's 8, 9 or 10 speed. All road chains are 3/32 (except possibly campy 11).

There's no point going to a *new* crankset and buying a double and converting it because you can already do this to your crankset - the big ring will not function as a chainguard, it has teeth on it and it will still rip pants. It would be just a waste of money. Either get a SS/fixed crankset or convert your current.

dcombs

Thank you both for the replies, and the good, sound advice. I should have mentioned up front I am replacing the cranks and BB, not intersted in trying to fix them. Your second paragraph above is exactly what I wanted to hear (read). I've been doing more searching and found this: https://www.ride-this.com/index.php/t...ource=googleps ...This is exactly what I'm looking for. Just not sure if I need a 108mm or 113mm BB.

operator

Do not buy that.

Powerspline BB's are complete garbage - which is what you'll need for that crank. You'll also want to think about what chainring size you want up front before you start looking for cranksets. That's important because it places limitations on the crank you select, bcd wise. Especially if you want features like a bashguard.

dcombs

Thanks again !!....Gald I asked...Don't want to replace one garbage BB with another. My current center chain ring is 39 (i honestly never use the other two rings) so I want something close to that.

Thanks again for the advice, it is sincerely appreciated. I will keep looking around.

roberth33tiger

if you get a crank with a 110 bcd (compact), you have a wide choice of chain rings to choose from.
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