Single speed crank with 7 speed freewheel?
07-10-11, 11:48 AM
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Single speed crank with 7 speed freewheel?
I'm working on trying to convert a Miele road bike into a capable city speed machine...love the look of the bike but I am entertaining the thought of ditching the FD and using a single crank up front. I'm just not a huge fan of reaching for the downtube lever and fiddling with the FD on a busy big city street.
Other than having half the gears available are there any other problems with this setup? Anyone tried it? Group is Shimano Exage 300..
Other than having half the gears available are there any other problems with this setup? Anyone tried it? Group is Shimano Exage 300..
07-10-11, 01:38 PM
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I have to 650B conversions (an 80's Takara Medalist road bike and a KHS John Howard Turbo roadie). I'm running a 1 x 7 on the Takara (friction bar end shifter) and 1 x 8 speed on the "Turbo Dog." Takara drive train: Newish Deore. Turbo: Deore RX from the parts bin. The Turbo currently has a single DT shifter, but I'm planning on putting an indexed or friction bar end... as soon as I can find one or find someone who wants to trade for one. The Takara is my Oct - March commuter (I live in Wisconsin). I'm running a 44 Tooth Biopace up front (it's what was hanging around) and I never seem to drop the chain. The Turbo is a new conversion but after a couple busy weeks of biking, I"ve had zero issues with chain drop. I'm running a DIY chain guard on it. For city riding I love the 1 x 8. Just less cabling, less levers, less is better. Go for it. What have you got to lose? Take off the hardware, run it... don't like it? Put the stuff back on.
Picture of the Turbo
picture of the DIY Chain Guard (52Tooth chain ring, ground on grinder wheel, smoothed out on wire grinder wheel)
Picture of the Turbo
picture of the DIY Chain Guard (52Tooth chain ring, ground on grinder wheel, smoothed out on wire grinder wheel)
07-10-11, 01:44 PM
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At least the OP's chain will be worn evenly on both sides. How can a decent chain line be achieved with a seven cog spread?
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07-10-11, 02:14 PM
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That will actually work very well, even with a standard chainring. I've done it a number of times. My only advice is to set up the chain so that the RD is got very significant tension on it in the Big Big combination. That seems to help avoid dropping the chain.
07-10-11, 04:52 PM
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With me... I rarely drop the chain into the itty-bitty cogs in back, so chain line stays good. I spend most of my days in the middle of the cluster. Tension is key.
07-10-11, 06:17 PM
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They still sell plenty of bikes with that type of 7 speed setup. You may need to space the chain wheel over a bit. I have done it and used the #3 cog in the back to center the chain line on.
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
07-10-11, 06:22 PM
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Good advice. The chain itself looks like a 3/16"...huge but man does it feel good when pedalling. Thanks.
Last edited by RoboChrist; 07-10-11 at 06:25 PM.
07-10-11, 06:59 PM
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i've got a 1x7.. put the chainring on the inner/middle position for best chain line, and make sure the chain isn't too long. use the "b-screw" to increase tension on the chain.. you should be good to go.
Last edited by frantik; 07-10-11 at 07:03 PM.
