screaminDOHC

Well, I acquired this bike from a friend for nothing...I already have about 4 other (better) road bikes...so I didn't need another geared road bike. SOOOO....I decided to make a singlespeed. If I hate it, I can sell it (probably for a profit given the appeal of SS bikes here).

Anyway. I scrounged up a used 16T BMX freewheel, new tubes, DiaCompe aero-ish levers that I took off my 85 LeTour, and some bar wrap. Not sure how I like the yellow, and I STILL suck at wrapping...but for a 30 dollar project. The most expensive part was the NEW SRAM chain ($11.99).

I didn't F*&K it up by hacking off cable guides and such, just incase I decide to put it back to stock. It was, however heavier than I expected. According to my bathroom scale it's 25 pounds. It actually rides real smooth, and is quicker than I expected. It doesn't have enough gearing though. Maybe I'll put the chain on the big chainring.

Anyway, on to the pics (It needs a serious cleaning/polishing, just wanted to get it put together mechanically and try it out before it snows again)...









^^ 1-SPEED. Hah.

Oldpeddaller

That's the most sensible conversion I've seen for a while - and you kept both brakes in place, good idea.

Years ago club cyclists in the UK often used to do a similar conversion every winter. Most of us only had one frame so for the bad weather we'd put on an old pair of steel rims with solid axles and end nuts, fitted with robustly treaded tyres. These had what are now called "flip flop hubs" - a choice of fixed cog on one side and freewheel on the other. Mudguards and lights went on, derailleurs came off - they were expensive things to damage - and we'd get plenty of pedalling practice to keep warm. No fashion statement back then, this was a practical way to keep going in the worst weather.

Nowadays I admit I'm a bit too lazy and if I want to ride in the rubbish weather I use an old bike.

Good Luck with yours!

screaminDOHC

Thanks! Even though it's not a high end frame, I can't justify hacking off the cable guides and such. And I don't understand the reasoning behind only having a front brake. I wanted a simple (mechanically) around town commuting type ride, and so why wouldn't I want 2 brakes, right? Maybe I'll clean it up a bit more..it could use a good rub down.

mkeller234

Did you black out a zero on the chain stay decal? Pretty funny, nice touch.

screaminDOHC

I have a vinyl cutter for making decals, I just covered up the 2 in "12-speed" with a piece of black vinyl. It made me laugh...lol

jtarver

I had some cranks like that, they look better if you pull the small chainring off and go with a different freewheel. It looks kinda cool, like a built in bash guard.

Sirrus Rider

Now that's how you do Single Speed! Take a lower end good frame that doesn't have a following, clean it up, take off the old shifty bits and set them aside. and LEAVE the braze-ons for the off chance you need to convert it back. Good Job!

cobrabyte

Nice for a clunker, but whats with the extra Chainring? It can't be removed? It doesn't look like it, oh well. Ride & enjoi

screaminDOHC

No, I can't disassemble the chainrings. If I can find a suitable alternative for cheap then I'll swap it out.