I've got an old 6 or 7 speed rear wheel on my Peugeot that I'd like to convert to SS. What's involved in this? Can I just pull the freewheel off, redish, thread on a cog, and go? I've also never redished a wheel before, do I need a dish stick and a wheel stand, or can I do it by eye in the frame?

screw that noise, just wrap the chain around whichever cog lines up with your chainring.

edit: and yes, your way should work as well. i just use a truing stand that's been centered, no dish stick, nothing bad's happened yet.

I had this done, and it seems about that simple. You'll need a BMX freehweel, or at least I did on my 1982 Fuji. As for redishing, that sounds less simple, but don't look at me. Are you in NYC? I can recommend Carlos at City Bikes on 38th Street. Aside from the cost of the freehweel (around $20?), he redished the wheel, broke the chain and got the chainline perfect — for $25. (I think. Or around that.)

just take off your cassette and thread on a freewheel. you might possibly need a few spacers to get a straight chainline.

but the way dirtyphotons just said is pretty much free and takes like 5 minutes to take off the derailers and shorten the chain.

I did it. It was pretty easy. In fact, if you go to https://www.fixedgeargallery.com/wheels/ and scroll to the third method.
To sum up....

1. remove old freewheel.
2. respace the hub.
3. I think the link says something to the effect of loosen all of the drive side spokes half turn then tighten non-driveside half turn. Continue doing this until the wheel is about center. However...Too much dishing with a wheel that was intended for 6/7speed and you could end up with spokes poking through your rim strip tape and puncturing your tubes. Mine are as centered as they are going to be and i'm totally fine with it. If you are a perfectionist, you might need to get yourself some shorter spokes for the non-drive side.

^good stuff.

did this about a month ago.

the hardest part was finding the right amount of spacers to go on either side. the easiest part was working the spokes and getting it true (something i'd never done before).


i think the wheel i had was spaced/dished for 5 or 6 speeds, but it might have been 6 or 7. i'm not sure.

my chainline is now great and my rear wheel is nice and (more) symmetrical.

forgot to mention.. drop some oil on the spokes.. makes your job that much easier.