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My 26" singlespeed conversion -- with pics

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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

My 26" singlespeed conversion -- with pics

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Old 03-03-07 | 02:35 PM
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My 26" singlespeed conversion [Updated]

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Old 03-03-07 | 03:56 PM
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Were you unsatisfied with your previous drive train?
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Old 03-03-07 | 06:08 PM
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Originally Posted by diff_lock2
Were you unsatisfied with your previous drive train?
Nah, I almost never rode the mountain bike and wanted to do a SS conversion as a fun project. And to have a simple, no-fuss bike that I could run errands on or cruise city streets on, on days when I just want to beat around and not do a training ride. Might also use it as a commuter, or try to do occasional group rides as a training tool.

(also, this is the singlespeed forum).
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Old 03-03-07 | 06:47 PM
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hotness! good job.
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Old 03-03-07 | 06:50 PM
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An armful of post?
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Old 03-03-07 | 06:52 PM
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Thanks lyledriver. I like the cleaner, simpler setup.

As for the seatpost, yup. Though the frame has a rather "compact" sloping tt geometry. It's not above the safety line I don't think. I have the fit set up similar to my road bikes, since I spend so much time on them it feels right for me. If I were taking it offroad I might lower a bit.
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Old 03-04-07 | 02:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Towlie
Nah, I almost never rode the mountain bike and wanted to do a SS conversion as a fun project. And to have a simple, no-fuss bike that I could run errands on or cruise city streets on, on days when I just want to beat around and not do a training ride. Might also use it as a commuter, or try to do occasional group rides as a training tool.

(also, this is the singlespeed forum).
well if you really didn't ride it that much, i would have done the same (if i could find a single or fixed speed hub).

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Old 03-04-07 | 04:06 AM
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Originally Posted by diff_lock2
well if you really didn't ride it that much, i would have done the same (if i could fine a single or fixed speed hub).
To convert a HG hub (splined freehub, the most common hub these days, in other words: the thang you gots) to single speed, you only need a $15 conversion kit, which you might even save, if you just get a PVC pipe of appropriate width and cut it to correct length. Keep the splined lockring from an old cassette, and get a Shimano BMX cog (by the way, anyone has an idea where I, living in Finland/Europe, could get one?).

In any case, to convert to singlespeed, that's all you need, no expensive SS hub necessary.
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Old 03-04-07 | 12:26 PM
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Updated this morning! Including more pics of the details and conversion process.
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Old 03-04-07 | 12:31 PM
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this is a pretty good post (as a resource) for others looking to do similar things.

i did kinda like the white though
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Old 03-04-07 | 12:35 PM
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that looks nice good job
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Old 03-04-07 | 12:36 PM
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good job. nice looking bike. bet it's much more fun now too
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Old 03-04-07 | 02:27 PM
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@ OP, indeed a very nice SS, i would get new levers though.

Originally Posted by wroomwroomoops
To convert a HG hub (splined freehub, the most common hub these days, in other words: the thang you gots) to single speed, you only need a $15 conversion kit, which you might even save, if you just get a PVC pipe of appropriate width and cut it to correct length. Keep the splined lockring from an old cassette, and get a Shimano BMX cog (by the way, anyone has an idea where I, living in Finland/Europe, could get one?).

In any case, to convert to singlespeed, that's all you need, no expensive SS hub necessary.
Actually, i do have a 26" rigid mtb. that i really want to turn in to a single speed cruiser. I asked for a new hub and i got that, but then the lbs added a cassette that i DON'T WANT, and he made me pay. I didn't have the money at the time, so i told him i will pay him later, and then when im ready to pay, his store is closed and he wont reply to my emails... And just before he closed i got a 4 speed shifter from him for my nexus hub, by the means of a friend.

Back to my SS, well i should figure out how to get the cassette off (if its the "screw type") and then a bmx cog from a local hard core mtb $tore ($ cause its costs!) i think i might be on my way. I really want to repaint the frame too... hope its in good condition, i kind of forgot about it... also it weighs a ton, which is not cool.

Yo this right here is pure inspiration, thanks!

PS im in turku... good luck though!


EDIT: here was V1 of that bike, i rode it so hard the rear hub just fell apart as i chased a bus (really pushing it) and i literally GRIND(ed) (the rear hub) to a stop, thats why i got the new wheel (which i don't have pics of). Defiantly need a new crank, and BB.






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Old 03-04-07 | 02:30 PM
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Don't forget you can sell the stuff you pulled off, costing you even less.
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Old 03-04-07 | 02:44 PM
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If you are referring to me, the only thing i can pull off is this 7sp cassette (not pictured).
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Old 03-04-07 | 02:46 PM
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I mean all the XT stuff from the OP
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Old 03-04-07 | 02:53 PM
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I "donated" the derailleurs to the shop in exchange for the stem. I don't know what they woulda gotten on ebay but I wanted to clean up fast and get rid of stuff I knew I wouldn't reuse.

Difflock_2, that Suzico frame is a definite candidate for powdercoat!
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Old 03-04-07 | 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by diff_lock2
@ OP, indeed a very nice SS, i would get new levers though.



Actually, i do have a 26" rigid mtb. that i really want to turn in to a single speed cruiser. I asked for a new hub and i got that, but then the lbs added a cassette that i DON'T WANT, and he made me pay. I didn't have the money at the time, so i told him i will pay him later, and then when im ready to pay, his store is closed and he wont reply to my emails... And just before he closed i got a 4 speed shifter from him for my nexus hub, by the means of a friend.

Back to my SS, well i should figure out how to get the cassette off (if its the "screw type") and then a bmx cog from a local hard core mtb $tore ($ cause its costs!) i think i might be on my way. I really want to repaint the frame too... hope its in good condition, i kind of forgot about it... also it weighs a ton, which is not cool.

Yo this right here is pure inspiration, thanks!

PS im in turku... good luck though!

To find out whether yours is a screw-on cassette-type-of-hub (freewheel and cassette are built together), or a splined freehub (the freewheeling mechanism is in the hub), you can check out
https://sheldonbrown.com/k7.html
or just post a closeup of your hub/cassette.

P.S. I think Turku people are friendly, and have an overall very positive opinion on them. I don't understand why Helsinki people think they're so superior I now expect a reaction, LOL!
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Old 03-04-07 | 03:28 PM
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Towlie: Ever heard of Suzico??

wroomwroomoops: I wills (lmao wills) start a new topic, once i get a pic, im sure its a screw one.

And i don't know much about Finnish culture... but ok, lol.

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Old 03-04-07 | 04:02 PM
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okay, time for me to post a few pics of my conversion. I actually made 2 attempts:


First attempt:



And second attempt:


Detail of the drivetrain:
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Old 03-04-07 | 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted by wroomwroomoops
okay, time for me to post a few pics of my conversion. I actually made 2 attempts:

. . .

Detail of the drivetrain:
Thanks!!!

That pic solved my chainline issue! I had simply missed that I can put the ring on the INSIDE the spider. As it is now, the ring is about 2-3 mm farther out than the sprocket, and the sprocket in turn is as far out as the splines reach. Now I can move the sprocket in a couple of mm and get a perfect chainline!!!
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Old 03-04-07 | 04:53 PM
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Originally Posted by CdCf
Thanks!!!

That pic solved my chainline issue! I had simply missed that I can put the ring on the INSIDE the spider. As it is now, the ring is about 2-3 mm farther out than the sprocket, and the sprocket in turn is as far out as the splines reach. Now I can move the sprocket in a couple of mm and get a perfect chainline!!!
Glad I could help, my nordic friend. Notice that, in my case, I needed to add spacers to further correct the chainline by about 1 mm. Also, notice that I used an ENO ecccentric hub (built the wheel myself).
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Old 03-04-07 | 05:02 PM
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Damn...

I forgot about the bulging chainstay... I knew there was a reason for having to get a 127 mm spindle.
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Old 03-04-07 | 09:41 PM
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To the OP. Why did you have to re-face your BB and head tube?
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Old 03-04-07 | 10:44 PM
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Originally Posted by odie91
To the OP. Why did you have to re-face your BB and head tube?
Good question. Powdercoat is really thick, particularly on the bottom bracket, where it seemed to coalesce. The shop re-faced (I think that's the correct word) them so the bearing cups and headset cups would have a flat surface to mate with once again. They had a tool that they spun by hand about the axis of the BB and of the headtube, and it sort of shaved off a thin layer.

The frame can be prepped ahead of time so this step isn't necessary (some sort of taping process), but the powdercoaters I took it to don't specialize in bicycles and apparently don't have this fine point down yet. However, a guy at the LBS knows the guy at the powdercoater and is going to teach them about prepping the frame. The result was still good; it just required an extra step.

Some powdercoaters (like Spectrum Powderworks) specialize more in bikes, and I assume they already know how to tape off these surfaces.
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