nymtber

Yea, I know this could go in the SS forum, but I am a Clyde, and this is about more than just the bike

To start, I had found an older 1995? Specialized Rockhopper frameset on craigslist for a whole $20. When I bought it I wasnt sure what I would do, but I decided on a simple SS bike. I also had an extra wheelset anyway, the rear wheel which I had recently built up for my first wheel build!

Here is what I ended up with:


Specs:
-1995(ish?) Specialized rockhopper frame/fork
-Stock stem, handlebars, headset.
-LX front hub/mavic rim, XTR rear/Alex adventurer rim (That I built up!)
-Alivio front canti brake, New Altus rear canti brake.
-RPM "BMX" crankarms with a no-name 34t chainring and nickle plated chainring bolts
-Shimano BB UN54
-Origin8 single speed conversion kit with the 18t cog, with a leftover 11t and lockring to keep it all together.
-KMC BMX 3/32" chain (nice)
-"CyclePro Vigor" tires...$12.99 each...cheapies
-SDG Bel-air saddle that I had laying around
-some cheap black seatpost I had, had to use a 27.2-30.4 shim, which works awesome!
-Cheap fenders...They are ok.

I rode it up and down the road a few times. I actually took a link out from the picture, and loosened up the tensioner, because the chain was skipping a bit, and the tensioner was putting much more tension than I needed with the shorter chain. I took it out again after the adjustments, and now it is perfect I actually had to steal crankarm bolts from my mountain bike, because the RPM cranks didnt have them, I ordered replacements, which I will put on my mountain bike when they come in. It takes a bit to get her moving from a stop, but its about the perfect gearing to ride the canal trail near me, and that was my plan for it from the start. Will keep me at a pace that wont tire me out for 20+ miles

Also, I will add that this is now my LIGHTEST bike. I would guess its 20lbs. I think the nice double butted Cro-Mo frame helps that a bit... It weighs less than my Sirrus even. Gotta love SS bikes And, putting maybe 2 miles on it running around a bit, and getting up off the saddle for some quick starts, the rear wheel I built made no popping or anything, and is just as true as when I started...yay!

Tom Stormcrowe

Welcome to Single Speed! Next, you'll be building a fixed gear. Look for an old road frame with horizontal drops, or a track frame and join me in the Fixed Gear world.......you'll love it, and it really improves your pedal stroke.

TRaffic Jammer

ss for the win!!!

nymtber

Sorry Tom, no fixie or even SS road bike in my future. This has to be my last bike...Honestly running out of room! I want to build new/lighter/better wheels for my Sirrus this winter, that is my only other bike project left...besides a re-cable of my mountain bike (been 3 years and lots of dusty trail miles). Those will be for this coming winter.

I can't wait to get this thing out on the canal path. Maybe off-road as soon as I get into better shape and find some off-road trails. With only one gear, she sure accelerates quick, though top speed is limited...Might try the 16T cog that came with the kit if I spin out too easy on the 18T.

TRaffic Jammer

that's a dirt gearing you have there almost 2:1.
Here's mine 44x16 or 18



Now I have an old Cadex AL fork on there, it's lightened up the front end considerably, and I'm running 1.25ish inch cross style tires. Wicked quick on the road but virtually useless in the dirt.

Tom Stormcrowe

You may surprise yourself. SS is quite addicting, and it only gets to be a worse addiction once you go fixed. The zenlike simplicity just can't be beat.

TRaffic Jammer

Oh no, Tom you said Zen-like... I never took you for a hipster,

nymtber

yea I am running low gears...canal trail is usually with my girlfriend and shes no speed demon... If I was going to do rides with my brother or somone else, I would likely grab the hardtail/geared bike for the higher gears. This is just a light, simple bike to ride the rather flat canal path, and someday roll over some dirt

And, when I ride road, I definitely want gears. There are hills I would be forced to walk up with a fixed/SS road bike. The mountain like gearing on my sirrus allow me to spin up the steepest of them Fixies are too...hipsterish for me Ill take a coasting hub with front and rear brakes...although a coaster brake SS would be rather fun, and super simple

Edit:

Tom, I just thought of a bike I saw in one of the LBS yesterday. A Serotta Single Speed roadie/path bike. Ive seen it there a few times, let me tell ya I would LOVE to own it... Deep-V rims, bmx coaster cog (Still, no fixies for me), drop bars (dont like them, but these look somewhat upright)...its one sexxy lookin bike, but I do believe its way out of my affordability

jboyd

That is a great looking bike.

Brando_T.

My 18 year old GT Tequesta badly needs a replacement Suntour rear derailleur, which isn't an easy find. I should just go singlespeed.

gotls1

+1 I really dig grey bikes.

sooprvylyn

Looks nice, cant believe you got that frame for $20

funrover 

Very nice! Looks like a really nice ride! The SS can become addictive. I have built 3 and still have 2. My Stumpjumper is a great rigid SS. Enjoy it!

nymtber

Yea, the guy I bought it from just had it hanging in his barn. It does have some rust, nothing critical, and had a ton of stickers all over, which were promptly removed. I really dislike cantilever brakes with the post style brake pads, but I have v-brakes laying around and someday might just find some levers and go v-brake, or might end up learning how to better adjust the canti's

I have more money into the rear wheel than the frame and crank combined

Brando_T. I would definitely recommend turning that old GT Tequesta into an SS bike. I have seen a few of them and they look like a good bike to SS If you already have the complete bike, all you need is a SS/BMX chainring to fit the crankarm, likely a bmx rear coasting cog if your bike has a freewheel, and a chain and tensioner. Then take off everything that isnt needed, shifters, derailleurs, extra cables, and you will drop some bike weight!

And, thanks all for the kind comments