Hello All.

I'm new here and have recently acquired an old (1980's) frame and considering turning it into a single speed. My mechanical skills are limited and am after some advice..

1- will I need a chain tensioner ? I think the angled dropouts mean I won't?

2- advantages of a specific single speed wheel over a conversion kit

And any other advice that will help with the build or things to look out for.

Cheers

Everything you need to know. From an expert.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html

Before you even start, make sure you've got horizontal dropouts, a frame with vertical dropouts isn't worth converting in my opinion.

To answer your questions:

1: With horizontal dropouts you won't need a chain tensioner, but you may need to get a half-link to get the right chain length.

2: You're better off with a single speed wheel, things will get wonky with the bottom bracket and chainline if you ever want to upgrade in the future. Be sure to check the spacing between the rear dropouts on the frame, I may be wrong but I think most single speed hubs are 120mm now.


And yes, Sheldon Brown has everything you will ever need to know in life.

Clarification: things will get wonky in the future if you don't use a single speed wheel now but eventually want to upgrade.

I'm not sure what a conversion kit would be for a bike as old as that. Assuming it uses a thread-on freewheel on the rear, you could just remove it, thread on a SS freewheel, shorten the chain, and ride. You won't be able to try fixed gear if you go this route though.

I think your nomenclature might be off. Single speed is a bike without derailleurs and the chain sized to one cog. You could do that minutes to any bike with 'gears'. Fixed gear means the cog is locked to the hub, no free wheeling.

In either case semi-horizontal drop-out might work without a chain tensioner. Try it first and see of you can enough slack out of the chain, but you do want a bit of slack -- if it binds, makes noise,,,it's too tight.